The Case for Modern Tennis

Anybody who follows tennis understands that the game has changed. The argument from tennis purists is that racket technology has sped up the game to the point that every pro is a baseliner, and matches are repetitive.

The truth is that racket technology has drastically changed the spins imparted on the ball. The larger sweet spots allow players to take huge swipes at the ball and still keep a great pace on the ball. This basically means you have much more topspin than ever seen before in the game. The ball naturally dips when a topspin shot is hit. The consequence is that athletes can now hit balls well above the net that still bounce in, and balls that clear just above the net will find areas of the court that couldn't be reached twenty years ago.

So what is really happening to the game? The new combination of spin and power opens up the court. Players drive each other back and forth able to win points without ever leaving the baseline. Players are less compelled to approach the net.

And that is why I remain a Federer fan. Historically, I don't root for the favorite. In sports betting, I prefer to take the underdog. The only other athlete I root for who's an overwhelming favorite is Tiger, but that's just because Tiger's too likable. You can't even say that Federer's the favorite anymore. Point is, everyone should be a Federer fan because his game is beautiful. He has every shot and the shot making ability to use them on the offensive. You can never count him out of a point, and you never know what kind of winner he might hit. In the age of topspin baseliners, he frustrates opponents by changing the pace on the ball and utilizing unexpected spins. In my opinion, Federer is the natural evolution of the game, the right way to use spin.

Read this article by the late David Foster Wallace if you need further convincing:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html.

His recent frustration by way of Nadal is fascinating. Nadal has essentially turned himself into the ultimate baseliner. He's naturally right handed but plays southpaw. He hits a reverse forehand that puts 28% more spin on his ball than the second highest rpm forehand, Federer's. His backhand has less topspin, yet he hits it with almost as much power due to the fact that it's his dominant side. He plays way behind the baseline with the range and fitness to run down any ball. No other player is built like Nadal, and his style of play is physically matchless.

His game plan against Federer is simple and effective. Abuse Federer's backhand with his high spin forehand. Even on service, he serves almost exclusively to Federer's backhand. This is probably more because Federer's service return on his forehand side is deadly. He focuses on commanding the point by pouncing on a weaker backhand return rather than simply winning the point via serve. Something about the topspin doesn't allow Federer to rip his backhand winners. Federer doesn't have a weak backhand. Compared to his exceptional forehand, it's definitely his weaker side, but his backhand is still highly regarded. I can't say I know enough about the mechanics to know why he can't just rip the backhands when he knows exactly where the ball will be returned to.

This matchup will remain one-sided until Federer can solve Nadal's riddle. Nobody can replicate Nadal's forehand, so Federer can't really practice a counter strategy against anyone else. It's also clear that Nadal has gotten into his head a bit. A friend recently argued that Nadal-Federer is the greatest rivalry in sports. They're at the top of the rankings, and if they meet in a Grand Slam, it'll be in the finals. So almost every time they play each other it'll be for all the marbles...up to four times a year! Still, it's hard to see Federer beating Nadal until he figures out how to hit Nadal's forehand with his backhand. Even if he continues to stretch every match to an epic five sets.

For more on topspin studies visit:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/25/news/rwtechnic.php?page=2.