Then and now

[DMP]

In 1968 the first Open Tennis tournament was played at Bournemouth, starting on 22nd April.

On 28th January this year (give or take a day) Federer was the same age as Rosewall when Open Tennis started, and in a few days he will be the same age as Rosewall when he won that first French Open.

In February 2016, a year from now, Nadal will be the same as Laver was when Open Tennis started.

Food for thought on how things change.

 

[robow7]

Very nice points, hadn't thought of it that way and it does allow a different perspective. Just think of the numbers that Rod and Kenny could have put up if Open tennis had started 8 years earlier while they were in their prime.

 

[DMP]

Very nice points, hadn't thought of it that way and it does allow a different perspective.

Yes, I think although it is easy to read their ages when they were playing in the Open Era, to relate it to players who are playing right now really brings it into context.

In the case of Rosewall he had been appearing in major finals for 15 years, since he was 18.

 

[jaggy]

Bournemouth was the first time I saw Edberg (on TV), I was very surprised at his serve and volley game, I expected him to be another baseliner.

 

[Mustard]

A few things are factors in making players younger today:

1. The sheer power in today's tennis game
2. The number of long, gruelling baseline rallies
3. The number of tennis matches on hardcourts

That's not to say that tennis was easy back in the 1960s, as it certainly wasn't. In some ways, it was even tougher. Back then, they didn't have anywhere near as much money or facilities, and they couldn't sit down at the change of ends. But I do think that the 3 things I mentioned above have massively contributed to players' careers being shorter.

Bear in mind that players in the early open era would usually play a lot of doubles too, to get the extra prize money etc. whereas today there's a lot of prize money and sponsorship money and they don't have to bother as much with doubles. It's just a different tennis world altogether.

 

[DMP]

A few things are factors in making players younger today:

1. The sheer power in today's tennis game
2. The number of long, gruelling baseline rallies
3. The number of tennis matches on hardcourts

I would also add

4) The amount of money available to winners

If you can set yourself up for life with one big win, you aren't going to pace your body the same way as if you know you have to keep going week after week. You are going to risk your back, your joints, etc., for that one big breakthrough win.

Having said all that I think the biggest factor curtailing careers now is 3), the wear and tear from the courts. Not only are they hard on ankles, the fact they are designed to put the ball into the hitting zone, so that rallies are extended and winners are harder, all makes for gruelling matches and stress on the body.

But... it is all more complex than some think. For instance there have been lots of posts about how players are now older than in the past. I have posted before that I am not convinced the current crop of older players is anything more than a statistical variation and in a few years it could well flip back to a cohort of young players. After all if it was just about gruelling matches favouring older players then the FO would always have had older champions, and that isn't the case (look at e.g. Borg, Chang, Nadal among others, while Federer won Wimbledon when he was at his oldest). So expect to see lots of posts in a few years about how it has become a young man's game and you need to be young to withstand the stresses of the modern game!

And...how to explain Connors and Agassi who both played on a lot of hard courts and still played into old (tennis) age?

So it is all more complex than some might think, but yes, it is a very different environment.

 

[mattennis]

Yeah, quite amazing, I know.

These and other facts is why I can not put anyone above Tilden, or Gonzalez, or Rosewall, or Laver, or some others...

There have been at least 8-10 absolutely amazing players from different eras. No one is the greatest ever.

 

[urban]

In Sport in general the champions tend to get older, after the youth wave of the 70s and 80s. We see that in boxing with the Klitschkos, Mayweather or Hopkins at or over 40, who make Ancient Archie Moore turning over in his grave, even in ski jumping with a 42 year old Japanese jumper on top, in Basketball with many NBA stars over 35. In indurance sports like long distance running most people thought of 35 at the ideal age, but in Swimming the ideal age was thought to be 14-17 for a while, now swimmers over 25 or 30 are still competing and making comebacks.

In tennis it was a tendency in the 70s to 80s, that players like Borg, Wilander, Mac, Becker, Edberg or Sampras reached the top very soon, but had declined by the Age of 26 or alltogether retired by the age of 30. Now we see Serena, Fed, to a lesser degree Wawrinka, Robredo, Ferrer or other oldies, who are doing still well on the tour. Maybe the better medical and physical treatment and the better coached preparation are factors here.

 

[DMP]

Just to complete things...

Rosewall dropped out of the top 10 at age 39-40, played his last DC aged 41, and won his last title aged 43. To do the same Federer will have to continue playing until 2023/2024, and Sampras would just have won his last title.

Laver played his last DC at age 35, and dropped out of the top 10 and won his last title at age 37. To do the same Nadal will have to play also until 2023.

What are the odds both Federer and Nadal are playing in 2023? Pretty small I would think!