Tennis

In the realm of tennis, the traditional image of the grass-court specialist has long been defined by towering height, a booming serve, and a refined all-around game. However, since the turn of the millennium, a shift has occurred, with versatile all-courters dominating the hallowed lawns of Wimbledon.Over the past 21 editions, Novak Djokovic has emerged as the undisputed king of grass, claiming seven titles. Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have each triumphed twice, while Lleyton Hewitt and Carlos Alcaraz have also etched their names on the trophy. Even Roger Federer, once the epitome of grass-court brilliance, has adapted his game to the changing conditions.In recent years, one player has emerged as a formidable challenger to the established order: Matteo Berrettini. The 6'5" Italian possesses an arsenal of weapons that make him a formidable force on grass. His monstrous first serve, hissing second serve, crushing forehand, and solid backhand have propelled him to four grass-court titles, including Stuttgart 2019.Berrettini's success on grass is not merely a coincidence. The surface's unique characteristics, with its faster ball speed and lower bounce, amplify his strengths. His powerful serve becomes even more effective, while his ability to control the pace and direction of the ball with his groundstrokes gives him an edge over his opponents.However, despite his impressive record on grass, Berrettini has yet to break through at Wimbledon. In the 2021 final, he pushed Djokovic to the limit before ultimately succumbing in a thrilling five-set encounter. The reason for this may lie in the fact that the grass courts of today are slower and bouncier than in the past, offering a wider range of players opportunities to excel.Modern-day returners, such as Djokovic, Murray, and Alcaraz, have developed specialized techniques to neutralize the power of Berrettini and other big servers. They employ abbreviated forehands and a mix of blocked and sliced returns to keep the ball in play and reset the point.Another aspect that has contributed to the rise of all-courters on grass is the improvement in movement. On clay or hard courts, players can slide to cover ground, but on grass, the slippery surface requires a different approach. Players must decelerate with smaller steps and quickly recover to the center of the court.As Wimbledon 2023 approaches, the question remains whether Berrettini can refine his grass-court game and overcome the challenge of the all-courters. Despite being unseeded and ranked 60th in the world, he has shown glimpses of his best form in recent weeks. With the absence of Federer and Nadal, and Djokovic and Murray recovering from injuries, the draw is more open than ever. Can Berrettini seize this opportunity and etch his name into Wimbledon history?