As the sport continues to evolve, many players and fans of tennis will debate the merits of the most important skill that a player can possess.
There are arguments that can be made for a handful of different elements of the sport, and while it may all boil down to a matter of opinion, it’s still fun to look at the possibilities.
Here are the most important factors. Let’s see which one you think matters most.
Is it volleying? After all, a well rounded net game can pose a threat to any opponent and easily end a point. Look at the past success of players like John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, and even Pete Sampras to a degree.
Many tennis buffs would argue that the modern game favors baseline play over the net. After all, look at the dominance of Rafael Nadal from the back of the court. Even players like Andy Roddick, who once spent more time at the net, are recently favoring the baseline and opting for ground strokes.
On the other hand, a powerful serve gives a player an edge no matter what the circumstances. Someone with an elite serve (i.e. Roddick) can easily dictate the tone of a match if their opponent has a hard time breaking them. A big serve makes the rest of every point far easier.
How about speed though? Guys like Nadal can get to just about every ball, making it extremely difficult for their opponents to win points. The harder your opposition has to work for a point, the more unforced errors you’ll ultimately cause.
The last factor is the x-factor, and the one that I personally feel matters most. This is the mental game. The superstars like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have some of the toughest mental games in the history of the sport. With the ability to rarely be rattled, their stoic composure and never say die attitude wins them so many more matches than the stats would indicate.