Tisitsipas’ of Greece wins first Masters 1000
From any angle of interest, the Municipality of Monte Carlo is appealing to visit. An unusual geography, history and economy. A visionary leader in 1928 designed Monte Carlo. His patience and perseverance is what we see as Monte Carlo of today. The Municipality conducts high-end sporting events. Of recent home for many elite tennis players. The ATP, Monte Carlo Masters 1000 is the gateway tennis event to the Europe’s clay court season.
For tennis, Monte Carlo event, this year in particular is a morale booster. A news item reported just a week back French government has requested the French Open officials to postpone the Paris event due in May to a later date. Monte Carlo holding and concluding the event last Sunday is commendable. French Open could follow suit.
Players cannot move even within European countries at will. Globally even with restrictions ATP and WTA have done well to conduct nearly 40 top end events plus others, all only with TV coverage.
Dan Evans – British No.1
Monte Carlo, event did not have the full strength of elites. Dan Evans, ATP ranked 33, in the round of 16, beat Novak Djokovic. In the post-match interview, Djokovich said nothing worked from his side. Then, in the quarter-final round, the red-hot fast rising Russian star Rublev beat Nadal. In the final, Tsitsipas beat Rublev, with the score of 6/3, 6/3. An evenly matched game where two services of Rublev were broken. It was a good exhibition of clay court Tennis. These two with few others will be the future of ATP Tennis. Evans also reached the doubles finals. Pointers show Federer, Nadal and Djokovic era could end this year.
Events without lustre
The 10,000 capacity audience stands were empty and it did take lot out of the Monte Carlo Mediterranean aura, for which it is famous. Players did show stress signs. The long spell of virus prevention life style, delays, cancellation of events, virus oriented politics and vaccine doubts are lingering in all of us. In fact, a top five-ranked player Russian Daniil Medvedev, was tested positive for COVID-19 and was taken out from the Monty Carlo draw. It will be interesting to know if he had the vaccine.
Monte Carlo courts
Monte Carlo red-clay courts is another story when it comes to playing tennis. It is crushed burnt clay. Being burnt clay, it does not become muddy with rain as the unburnt anthill clay. Ideal for Europe, where it can be very wet. Red Clay known is the slowest tennis playing surface. Very tiring to the legs. These courts, absorbs great deal of the ball speed upon the bounce. Hitting an outright winner is difficult unless supported with excellent placement. A tough task. Even an average player can hold out a top player into a long rally on red clay.
Angular stroke technique
Ever since alternate to wooden tennis racquets appeared in the mid 1970s, speed of the game of tennis has been increasing. First of which was from ‘Wilson’, made an all-metal racquet Jimmy Connors used. With wooden racquets, players could not generate this amount of speed consistently. The asphalt base synthetic surface of tennis court that came along with it added to this speed. Since then the game became more physical, less artistic to watch.
Speed also changed the stroke making. The original slower surfaces enabled linear stroke making with artistry and variety in playing style. A veteran player told me ‘it had the human touch’. Pete Sampras and Roger Federer were linear stroke makers even on fast surfaces. They were phenomenal and appealing to watch at their peak.
With the surface getting faster, angular arm movement is the order of the day in player development. The game has become so fast there is no time to accommodate linear movement now. In angular movement, body provides the dynamic stability and the power with core muscular strength. Core muscular development is the open secret in player’s physical development in modern tennis.
All of these developments are limiting time availability to players. Increased speed of the game means eye arm coordination has to mature to an exceptional competency. Rather a complex notion to understand and even more complex to instill them in development. Accommodating speed will be easier understand. The key towards this development is to operate in the right global platform. The local and ITF junior platform will keep the tennis standard low in a country, unappealing to watch and make players stagnate tactically.
Monte Carlo burned clay surface, permitted audience to notice the artistry and tactical progression of a rally like on a Chessboard. Red Clay is tennis made for audience experience. Many event venues are moving to slower surfaces, natural is preferred to artificial. Tennis match is a story, better narrated on red clay.
WTA
Women Tennis has moved to Europe with many of their top players intact in events. The prize money has come down noticeably. The winner of Stuttgart Germany event is offering mere $12,500; peanuts compared to what it was. In ranking too, due to travel issue WTA has adjusted points system. Ashleigh Barty is still ranked number one, with Osaka and Halep in two and three respectively. The world awaits the pass over.
—George Paldano, Former international player; Accredited Coach of German Tennis Federation; National coach Brunei and Sri Lanka, coached ATP, WTA and ITF top 200 ranked players, Davis Cup, Federation-Cup coach. — geodano2015@gmail.com