Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Robert
Lv 4
Robert asked in SportsTennis · 3 years ago

Tennis question?! Only people that know about Tennis history please?

So I've started watching tennis over the past few years so I don't know much really, but I want to expand my knowledge. Mainly, how has the way that tennis is played changed over each decade/era? For example more or less power, speed, finesse shots, baseline positioning, etc.

4 Answers

Relevance
  • 3 years ago

    More power these days, and really every generation has played with increased power since the last, but you can attribute that to modern technology. Also these days the vast majority of players on both the men's and women's tour have two handed backhands. Back before the 70s the reverse was true, with the vast majority having one handed backhands. Also these days there are hardly any serve-volleyers on either tour, back before the 80s there were many, if not most players, especially on the men's tour.

  • 3 years ago

    If you watch Wimbledon now, and Wimbledon back in the day, you only have to look at the grass wear to SEE that most play happens from the baseline today. In the past, there was way more net play. There are of course, some players who still know how to use the net but in my view, too many just get into a baseline slug until the last man standing, wins.

  • Anonymous
    3 years ago

    it's similar to basketball in that huge powerful people are playing a game invented for people 5'5" tall , when tennis players reach 7 feet tall the game will fade away into tedium just like the giants who play basketball can drop a ball through the hoop which was way out of reach when basketball started

  • 3 years ago

    More power, mostly baseline play also. Very little net play these days.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.