Tradition is not something the All England Tennis and Croquet Club, home of the Championships Wimbledon, is used to tampering with, you would think. Well, think again.
Things have changed at SW19 over the past few years. Major changes have been brought to the grass court event that did alter the game itself in a major way.
I am not talking about the retractable roof over Centre Court to be operational next year, or about the new Court 2 to open next year as well. Those are mere improvements. And improvements and tradition can get along without changing the game.
But the alterations to the 131-year-old event I am talking about are the grass, and the balls.
The grass is still green and apparently shorter. The balls are still yellow, but I am told heavier.
Tennis on grass was traditionally fast, the tennis played at Wimbledon the fastest of the four Grand Slam events. No more.
The red clay at Roland-Garros is still slow. The green grass at Wimbledon may now be the second slowest and it shows.
Rafael Nadal, the king of clay, has reached the final in London the past two years and looks as strong as ever after two rounds this year.
Andy Roddick has reached the final twice in London, in 2004 and 2005, but was eliminated in the 2nd round this year. His earliest exit ever here.
There is one American man, Bobby Reynolds, left in the singles draw after two rounds, while five Spaniards are still in it. Doesn’t that sound like something we would say in Paris?
After his win over Novak Djokovic, Marat Safin said it: “they changed the grass.”
A few years ago, a four-shot rally was unusual on grass. One serve, one volley was enough to win a point. Sampras won seven titles in such fashion.
Today, long rallies are the norm. Back-court grinders feel good and know they can advance far in the draw. The game has changed for the better.
This raises a question: How many titles would have Sampras won on the slow grass of London?
