Comments - Whatever Happened to Grass-Court Tennis? - Tennisopolis : Tennis Social Network2024-03-29T15:06:50Zhttp://tennisopolis.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=1869403%3ABlogPost%3A109670&xn_auth=noHi Patrick. I think also the…tag:tennisopolis.com,2008-06-12:1869403:Comment:1101262008-06-12T20:37:16.363ZVan Siashttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/VanSias
Hi Patrick. I think also the Wimbledon organizers began to feel like the tournament was just becoming a serve-fest, but I don't think that was really the case. I think those big servers also had solid all-around grass-court games. It's a shame to see that's become such a thing of the past.<br />
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Even with all of his game, Roger Federer is winning Wimbledon pretty much from the baseline. I can see why you hear about Pete Sampras wishing he could have played against these guys since they all stay back…
Hi Patrick. I think also the Wimbledon organizers began to feel like the tournament was just becoming a serve-fest, but I don't think that was really the case. I think those big servers also had solid all-around grass-court games. It's a shame to see that's become such a thing of the past.<br />
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Even with all of his game, Roger Federer is winning Wimbledon pretty much from the baseline. I can see why you hear about Pete Sampras wishing he could have played against these guys since they all stay back nowadays. I'd like to see that return a…tag:tennisopolis.com,2008-06-12:1869403:Comment:1100312008-06-12T17:35:07.638ZPatrickhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/Patrick40
I'd like to see that return as well. Grass-court tennis caters to baseliners lately, and I have begun to miss the days when clay and grass really were different seasons dominated by very different types of players. It made for interesting tennis, really. Just like the idea of a serve-and-volleyer getting to the French final, if a defender/baseliner made it into the big show in a grass tournament like Wimbledon, it was a big deal. Then, later in the year, the odds were evened on hard courts and…
I'd like to see that return as well. Grass-court tennis caters to baseliners lately, and I have begun to miss the days when clay and grass really were different seasons dominated by very different types of players. It made for interesting tennis, really. Just like the idea of a serve-and-volleyer getting to the French final, if a defender/baseliner made it into the big show in a grass tournament like Wimbledon, it was a big deal. Then, later in the year, the odds were evened on hard courts and you could see who really had it in those opposing match-ups. Now there isn't a serve-and-volleyer to be seen on tour and that makes for very little variety. Don't get me wrong, I like seeing a couple guys bash around the long ball for a while. But at some point, I want to see something different. Maybe a Boris Becker vs. Stefan Edberg type of match with oftentimes quicker, but more exciting individual points.<br />
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Why did the All England Club change that? I have some speculative reasons. I think the most likely is that the US Open was fast becoming the focal event of the year, since no player had a distinct advantage on hard courts (the Australian being the off-season event). The organizers at Wimby wanted to maintain their status as the most important tournament, by playing halfway between the speed of the other two surfaces. Unfortunately.<br />
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Where have gone the days of variety in professional tennis? I guess if you want to see some S&V, you'll have to watch doubles.