The Big Apple of Tennis
Of all the titles that exists in the Tennis world, the one every player would like to win in their career, is the All England Lawn Tennis Championships – the Wimbledon Title. It is the event which made Tennis to be what it is now. In the by gone era its winner was described as the ‘Champion of Tennis’ and the event was colloquially referred as the ‘Championships’. So hard is the name of ‘Wimbledon’ engraved into the history of Tennis. The big Apple of Tennis.The Wimbledon Grass
At present, the only player with an effective reputed game for grass is Misha Zverev of Germany. With Hard and Clay courts dominating the professional circuit, his ranking is not in the top ten. His younger is brother Alexander Zverev ranked three in the world has a contrasting game. Years ago, all the good grass court players looked like Misha. Federer is effective on grass and won in Stuttgart and lost to New-Gen player Borna Coric in Halle, both in Germany.
Among women a reputed net player like the looks of Martina Navratilova cannot be seen today. Some players coming through doubles competition, are comfortable on grass. Most of the top ten players often go to net to finish the rally with a volley.
Wimbledon in last four decades has genetically engineered a strain of grass that slows the ball that give a profound bounce. It is also takes the strain to keep the grass green into the second week. This has made the ground stroke rallies little longer and increased spectator interest on Wimbledon grass. Still a big serve, low volley and power packed ground strokes will win a point easily on grass. There are a few in both genders who can exploit these advantages.
Size of the draw
Wimbledon, which begins tomorrow, is a Grand Slam event and will have 128 in its main draw, largest in Tennis. Men’s event will be best of five. The preceding events to Wimbledon had only 32 in their draws. The cut off mark for Wimbledon entry in the ranking is around 160. Although there are marginally little more grass court events in Europe, it is possible some players in the main draw of the Wimbledon may not have had enough grass court time to adjust their game. The extra and its unusual challenge of grass courts will always linger even to the best of players.
Players
Wimbledon is compulsory event for ranking in the world. Some players whose game needs a big adjustment normally enter to mark attendance. Events before Wimbledon are important to gain the momentum and confidence to play Wimbledon. Grass being shortest season, some players use the time as a recess.
Murray the English hope is not ready yet even after his long lay-off. The winners on grass in the last three weeks are Roger Federer, Richard Gasquet; Marin Cilic Borna Coric in Halle beat Roger Federer in the finals.
Women also show the same trend as men. None of the big names were seen in the first three draws on grass. The winners were Aleksandra Krunic, returning Kvitova, and Germany’s Maria Tatyana. However, Birmingham and East Bourne were packed.
To remain tactical
Strong players plan their game within the context of the opponent. This means they really settle into playing to win only after the fourth to sixth game. The change of surface into grass needs even more prudent approach.
Many make ‘engaging’ the opponent with placement which reduces opponents ‘shot selection options’ as the first tactical approach. Although not easy but it is the most effective way to lead into a match. Then players will have to commit themselves to ‘lead’ the match with dominating game plan. Only the well-equipped, observant and the cool head will be good at doing this.
Regardless how long a player has been playing, when the umpire says love all, even the best of players has to put the guards up and settle down. At high levels of competition every match is like the first match a player faced. Tennis is game where giant killers lurk from the very first round. It being so every point has to be won to build up a game and then the sets.
In this game harder a player hits, opponent gets less time and if it is returned, the player is also subjected to the decrease in time from the increase of pace they generated. It is not possible for one player to have less time, both will have to face the time limitation. This often a over looked factor especially by the captains of teams seated on the side line.
This aspect will be most telling on grass court Tennis.
Best grass court show
When Wimbledon begins tomorrow it will be the best Grass court Tennis could offer. Not only the Tennis but also the clock work precision of the organisation, glamour of tradition, most educated audience of the game world-wide, showmanship of players and national pride which takes over the attending spectators.
Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza, Katerina Pliskova, Jelena Osterpenko, Caroline Wozniaki, Caroline Garcia and others in Women, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Marin Cilic, Borna Coric and others among men will light the London green for the next two weeks.
-George Paldano, Former int. player; Accredited Coach of German Federation; National coach Sri Lanka & Brunei, Davis-Cup, Federation Cup captain/coach– contact 94 77 544 8880 geodano2015@gmail.com –