# The Evolution of Tactics and Style · Tennis Level 9: Master

Tennis · Level 9: Master · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/tennis/level-9/the-evolution-of-tactics-and-style/)

The Evolution of Tactics and Style in Tennis (Level 9: Master) on Insporta: 40 sourced facts behind 4 tests. Covers: the serve-and-volley era; and more.

How the way tennis is played has changed: the serve-and-volley era on grass, the rise of topspin baseliners, the power baseline game, and the modern all-round player.

## Test 1: The serve-and-volley era

- On fast grass, the server could follow the serve in before a strong return came back. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Wimbledon, the US and Australian Championships were on grass; the French was on clay. (Source: Grand Slam tournament histories (usopen.org, ausopen.com, wimbledon.com))
- Roland Garros was the clay major while the others were on grass. (Source: Grand Slam tournament histories (usopen.org, ausopen.com, wimbledon.com))
- With small, heavy frames, attacking the net was often safer than out-rallying. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- The style depends on the first two shots of the point. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- A low return forces the incoming server to volley up. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- With grass mainly at Wimbledon, baseline styles gained ground. (Source: Grand Slam tournament histories (usopen.org, ausopen.com, wimbledon.com))
- 1968, 1970 and 1975. (Source: Grand Slam tournament histories (usopen.org, ausopen.com, wimbledon.com))
- The US Open left grass after 1974, the Australian Open after 1987, and Wimbledon is still played on grass. (Source: Grand Slam tournament histories (usopen.org, ausopen.com, wimbledon.com))
- Only the French Championships were on clay. (Source: Grand Slam tournament histories (usopen.org, ausopen.com, wimbledon.com))

## Test 2: The rise of the topspin baseliner

- Borg won five straight Wimbledon titles. (Source: Wimbledon, history of The Championships)
- Borg showed a topspin baseliner could win on grass. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Their success in the 1970s spread the two-handed backhand widely. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Topspin brings the ball down into the court, giving margin to big swings. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Slow clay rewards patience and consistency from the back. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Borg's results showed the baseline game travelled to fast courts. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Two hands make a heavy ball easier to control, though with less reach. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- His run ran from 1976 to 1980. (Source: Wimbledon, history of The Championships)
- Serve-and-volley era, Borg's era, then the modern power game. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- He won all five years shown. (Source: Wimbledon, history of The Championships)

## Test 3: The power baseline game

- Fast swings and heavy topspin made power from the back reliable. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Better returns made it harder to win behind the serve. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Many players and writers felt the grass played slower afterwards; the club says soil matters most. (Source: Wimbledon, history of The Championships)
- Hewitt's win from the back showed the change at Wimbledon. (Source: Wimbledon, history of The Championships)
- Heavy topspin bounces high and deep, which is hard to attack. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- The modern return and slower courts favoured staying back. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Better movement turned more defensive positions into chances to counter. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Equipment changes led step by step to the power baseline game. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- 1976, 2001 and 2002. (Source: Wimbledon, history of The Championships)
- Net approaches fell as the power baseline game took over. (Source: General tennis history references (playing styles))

## Test 4: The modern all-round game

- Top players blend power from the back with net play when it pays. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Even baseliners come in to finish points they have set up. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Strong returners attack serves, especially second serves. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Statistics on serve directions and patterns now shape match plans. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Slower conditions were partly a response to very short serve-dominated points. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- The best movers counter-attack from positions that once meant defending. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Pace and spin keep players moving more in longer, faster rallies. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- The game moved from the net, to the baseline, to an all-round power game. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- Modern players build from the baseline and finish forward. (Source: General tennis history references (ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame))
- The serve-and-volley era ended the most points at the net. (Source: General tennis history references (playing styles))

Sources: ITF history, International Tennis Hall of Fame, the Grand Slam tournaments' own histories, Davis Cup, Olympedia and ATP. Original questions authored, nothing reproduced.

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