Technology
Arguably the number 1 reason people say the sport has
changed to the power game we have today.
The Racket
The change of rackets from wood to graphite was the biggest
change since the introduction of the racket in the 14th century by
the Italians. The racket itself did
change to metal in between with the famous T2000 used by American Jimmy
Connors. From its metal composite it
moved to “graphite”, really is metal composite and plastic resin, which players
use today. The rackets we see today
allow the stiff feel with a lighter weight and more opportunity to modify to
the player’s needs. Players today are
able to swing the racket at a higher velocity because of its lighter
characteristic but do not sacrifice the control put on the ball like earlier
models.
The Strings
Some would say this is the biggest change in equipment all
time. Rafa’s furious spin to Djokovic’s
control is mostly credited to what’s between the frame. In the early days, strings were made of cow
intestines, better known as natural gut.
Even though players can still acquire this type of string, made for control,
they have moved to polyester which adds durability, spin, and power. Strings are the one part of the equipment
which are not regulated and have added a large window of opportunity for
manufacturers to play around with material to acquire better results for the
players. The added “pop” on the ball
has eliminated those serve-and-volley players as they are not able to get to
the net fast enough. Those brave ones
that still attempt to come to the net warrant a return to be hit passed
them.
Players
To me, this is the biggest change with 2nd place
far below. It is not the technology, or
the surfaces, but rather the change in physique, conditioning, and mentality
along with a plethora of other significant variables that players have brought
to today’s game.
Physique
There is not one player today in the top 50 in men or
women’s tour that is not “ripped”. These
athletes from head to toe are in top physical form which allows them to cover
the court for hours on end. In the past,
players had various types of bodies as some didn’t train as hard as others,
allowing for those love handles to show up in different players. Today, the men and women on the tours are
lean at the core, wide at the shoulders, and have legs that match tree trunks
to endure long rallies from the baseline.
Conditioning /
Nutrition
Ivan Lendl might be given credit for the change in how
conditioning is looked in tennis. This
man was known as a machine for the work he did off-court which made him
stronger, faster, and fitter on it.
Players now have their regular coaches but also physios , physical
conditioning coaches, who travel with them and make sure they are in the top
physical shape. Along with the off-court
work, their conditioning and nutrition go hand-in-hand. Many players are going to a glutton-free diet
in order to have more energy on the court.
Other types of diets have become staples in the way these athletes eat. A perfect example is Mardy Fish, America’s
best tennis player. He trimmed down
30lbs with diet and exercise in order to compete at the top of the men’s game. He has maintained those habits and has been a
force to reckon with on the ATP Tour. The days of hamburgers and beer are long gone.
Mentality
The factors we spoke above can be summed up with this
concept, mentality. Players now see
tennis as a complete job where they can have a life style that most dream
off. These have pushed players all over
the world to be disciplined in a way many in the past didn’t’ have to. Players now work harder in the gym, eat
better, watch tape and scout players more than ever before. The latter
specially has come to fruition within the past decade or so. Players now watch video of other players to
better understand where they can attack, what tendencies they have, and what
tactical advantage they will be able to exploit. The days where players sent their coaches or
other players to watch a practice session or match to obtain minimal
information are long gone. Technology is
another tool that has changed the game.
Coaching Ideals
Maybe the topic that is discussed the list but should not be
ignored. Coaches now, have the
technology at their fingertip to better inform their players of how to be a
better player. The internet has allowed
coaches to gather more information than they could have in their lifetimes 20
years ago. Anything from stroke
production, to tactical play, to an opponent’s match is able to be seen
instantly. This flow of information
allows the players to better prepare for their matches. The idea of a single coach could be said to
be prehistoric. The physio has come into
play where he/she will take care of the off-court training. A nutritionist is also consulted to make sure
the player is ingesting the right foods, vitamins, minerals, etc to better
perform on the court. Also, players have been known to use sport psychologist
to help them with their game. The coach
is now part of a coaching team. He/she
still directs the player but there is more help now to better suit the player
of today.
Surfaces
Players from the past keep making comments on how comparable
the 3 major surfaces are in today’s game.
Tournament directors have manipulated their surfaces to make room for
longer rallies which arguably bring more excitement and a larger audience to
the sport.
Grass
The baseline game is driving the sport in today’s age and,
because of it, we have seen Wimbledon courts become slower than they were 15
years ago. The fast low-bouncing courts
of the hollow grounds of The All England Club have been screeched to a halt
having some would argue that they are slower than the courts at Flushing
Meadows. This is evident by the most
recent champions. Most recent trophy
winners include Djokovic, a baseline machine, and the King of Clay, Rafa
Nadal. These players, of course, have
the ability to come up to the net but are not in the serve-and-volley league of
Pete, Becker, Ivanisevic, Lendl, McEnroe, Laver. The women’s game which has included legends
like Martina, Stefi, Billy Jean, and Evert now see the trophy engraved with
baseliners like Davenport, Serena, and Venus to name a few. The quick points we were used to seeing have
all but disappeared at Wimbledon. We can
be surprised with a serve-and-volley play from time to time by players who now
elect to use this tactic as a sneak attack.
Clay
The clay courts of Roland Garros have not changed much as
the points there are longer than any other tournament. The one thing that has changed in the home of
The Musketers is the ball. These balls
are a little heavier but have are not those “flat” ones used in the past. These allows players to stay back and hit the
ball even harder to stay in the point.
Counterpunchers have really excelled at this tournament and other clay
court events as they are able to stay back behind the baseline and be surgical
about their offensive opportunities.
Hard
The hard court is a phenomenon now. If I were to tell Jimmy Connors 30 years ago
that the courts at Flushing Meadows would be faster than those at The All
England Club he would have laughed but it’s true. Hard courts for the most part play similar
but can different a bit as well.
Comparison of a true hard court in New York to those at Melbourne, which
are made from Plexicushion, the balls are much faster. Plexicushion is a softer type of hard court
used at the Australian open.
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