The Powers That be Down Under

The current era of tennis is defined by power, and that power was on display in Melbourne during the 2015 Australian Open. What was fascinating to me after watching Novak Djokovic defeat Andy Murray for an eighth Grand Slam title is that these players are not the biggest hitters on the tour. The power most prominently displayed in the finals was power-endurance which allowed Djokovic and Murray to hit, run and battle consistently hard for an incredibly long time.

The women's finals were more of a slugfest as Serena Williams blasted 18 aces to defeat Maria Sharapova for her 19th Grand Slam title.

On the men's side, perhaps the game will evolve away from huge hitters to reward more frequently, a balanced game of power, endurance, speed and skill.

On the women's side, the era of what Mary Carrilo describes as "Big Babe Tennis" seems well-entrenched for now.

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USTA NTC

January/February 2024 Digital Edition