Annabel Croft: Is Tennis About to Be Ruined by a One-Dimensional Game?

As a former professional tennis player, I've been watching the evolution of the game with a mixture of excitement and unease. Tennis has always been a sport that rewards versatility, but I can't help but wonder if the increasing focus on power hitting is stifling the artistry and nuance that once made it so captivating.

In the past, players like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were known not only for their power but also for their incredible touch and finesse. They could hit delicate drop shots, spin the ball with astonishing accuracy, and control the pace of the game with surgical precision. Today, however, it seems like every player is trying to hit the ball as hard as they can, often at the expense of technique and strategy.

This shift in playing style has not only made tennis more predictable but also less entertaining. When every point is decided by a thunderous serve or a blistering forehand, it becomes harder to appreciate the subtle nuances of the game. The art of volleying, once a key component of tennis, is now becoming a lost skill as players prefer to stay back and blast the ball from the baseline.

I'm not suggesting that power hitting should be eliminated from the game. It's an exciting part of tennis that brings fans to their feet. However, I believe it should be balanced with other aspects of the game, such as footwork, shot selection, and tactical awareness. Otherwise, tennis risks becoming a monotonous spectacle where only the strongest and biggest hitters prevail.

To avoid this fate, I propose the following changes:

• Reduce the size of the court: A smaller court would force players to hit with more precision and finesse, as they would have less time to react to the ball.
• Introduce a "no-serve" rule: This rule would eliminate one of the most powerful weapons in tennis, the serve, and force players to win points with their groundstrokes.
• Encourage more volleying: The introduction of a "no-serve" rule would make it easier for players to volley, as they would no longer have to worry about facing a thunderous serve.

These changes may seem radical, but I believe they are necessary to preserve the spirit of tennis. Tennis is a game of skill, strategy, and elegance. If we let it become a game of brute force alone, we will lose what makes it truly special.

"The true measure of a tennis player is not how hard they hit the ball, but how well they control it." - Bjorn Borg