TennisGrandstand

I cannot for the life of me understand why Wimbledon has gone ahead and slowed the courts and changed the balls at SW19. They have changed the balls to make play slower to ensure longer rallies and slow serves. This is what made Wimbledon a classic battlefield throughout the decades because players had to change tactics and mind sets in order to compete directly after the French.

Bjorn Borg does not get enough credit for what he did in winning all of his titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, back when Borg, McEnroe, Connors, Edberg, Lendl played, the clay was slow and the grass was lightening fast with fast balls. The clay required incredible fitness, great patience and solid ground strokes. The grass required a great understanding of fast court tactics, excellent returns and an attacking mentality.

This has become a blur as most players are making the transition onto the grass very easily nowadays not because they are adaptable or better than past generations but because it is so much easier, point in case David Nalbandian and Lleyton Hewitt making the Wimbledon final?

Federer has dominated Wimbledon for the last five years because he has the most complete game on tour, possibly ever. Nadal made the final last year and pushed Federer to five sets but Nadal will struggle on the grass as he relies on his movement and defense too much to make a serious recurring threat at SW 19. Federer will win Wimbledon another 2-3 times before ending his career as he is the most comfortable player in the world moving from defense to offense in a blink of an eye and grass allows him to do this as the grass still gives him an edge as the bounce is lower and the ball skids towards the player robbing them of time to try and make a passing shot or offensive shot.

I believe they have taken the tradition of Wimbledon away as they have tried to make it to much like the other majors. Wimbledon was different and that is what made it great.

Other players to watch:

Mario Ancic is the last player to beat Federer at Wimbledon and is healthy and charging back up the rankings after been out with injuries.

Novak Djokovic: Great serve, great ground strokes but still needs to work on his volleys to be effective at Wimbledon.

Kevin Anderson: Huge serve, great all round game for a 6′7 South African.