The London Daily News


29 June, 2009 15:28 (GMT +00:00)
Is this what tennis has descended into?
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Editorial

Remove the "tennis tourists" from the equation what is being shown at Wimbledon highlights either the failure of top coaches to encourage their players to play effective grass court tennis.

When has it been the norm for players to be fixed on the baseline on grass?  The spectacle and the entertainment value of this years Wimbledon has evaporated with very low risk tennis being shown by the "top players" a reluctance to chip and charge as used to be the case with Sampras and Edberg.

The reason for this maybe down to top coaches encouraging more play from the baseline and to dictate the course of the came with power play rather than quick hands and strategy.  

For coaches who want to encourage flair and skill in students of the game what is being displayed is not what you want them emulate.  Take for example the recent fourth round matches, how many players served and volley?  How many had the foresight to command the game from the net?  Answer none.

The game is now about power, super fitness and not about the skills that used to be shown by Steffi Graff who would step into the forehand and within two-three shots attack from the net.

In terms of your paying punter, because most of the "tennis tourists" queuing up are not that interested in game play or flair but are there as an annual event, there is no entertainment value in what is being shown at Wimbledon.

Hence the emphasis to put the "girlies" on the show courts because the tennis on show is boring, has not excitement quality at all.  Do we all have to wait for Murray to play Federrer to see any "action"?  Go help us!

 
Wikio

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