Finesse is not dead!

The quality in men’s tennis today is undeniable – especially at the top. And even though the top 3 have now captured 29 of the last 30 majors, you can argue that they have pushed the rest of the field to raise its level. It has been invigorating and entertaining to watch.

That said, many of us have mourned the seeming passing of the age of finesse for the age of power. The serve and volley has largely fallen out of fashion in favor of the baseline bludgeoning. In fact, one of my friends commented today as we watched the Wimbledon final that the worn spot on the court is purely at the baseline now – while in years past the venerable grass court wore down in a t-shaped path that also marked repeated approaches to the net – no more.

Federer's backhand in "full flight"
- a thing of beauty!

Well – not so fast! Today’s Wimbledon final was a much-welcome return to what many of us miss as a more varied and interesting game. There were long rallies, for sure – but today featured more guile, disguise and cunning than pure displays of power. 

Don’t get me wrong, both Murray and Federer are powerful competitors - check out the 20 minute (10 deuce) game at 2-3 in the third if you doubt. But today the power came from the misdirection, from holding the ball just a fraction of a second longer on the racket to outsmart the opponent, from foot-speed and pin-point accuracy. Tennis is a game of inches, and never more than today.

And of course, as much as I respect Murray and hope he does get a major someday, I was thrilled with the outcome. As a die-hard Federer fan for so many years, I just don’t think there is anything more beautiful on a tennis court than Roger Federer free-flowing and in full flight. It was a vintage performance on a venerable stage – and one I will long remember as one of my hero’s best, even at the “ripe old age” of 30 (exactly one month shy of 31!).

Federer's twin girls with Mom and
Grandma - cheering daddy on!

Hats off to one of the greatest ever – and if you watched today you know he’s far from done! Roger Federer: 7^th Wimbledon title (ties Sampras for all-time record), 17^th major title (extends his record for most in the open era), and here’s the one that no one (I admit even I) never expected – a return to the #1 ranking which will tie him with Pete Sampras for all time number of weeks ranked #1 at 286! Yet another amazing achievement in an amazing career – and one that he was determined to reach against the odds. 30 is definitely the new 20 when this guy is around - count Roger out at your peril!

I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention yesterday’s women’s and doubles finals. Although Serena did win the Women’s championship (and the women’s doubles with sister Venus for that matter) with what is more typical of today’s “power game,” Aga Radwanska of Poland did put up more of a fight – with the same type of cunning and guile – than anyone thought she could have. Next time I wouldn’t count her out!

Doubles team of Britain's Jonathan Marray
and Denmark's Frederik Nielsen accepting
the Gentleman's Doubles trophy on Saturday

And as disappointed as the Brits are over Murray’s near miss, they did actually end the 76-year drought since having a Gentleman’s champion at Wimbledon. Talk about against all odds, the men’s doubles team of Jonathan Marray (Great Britain) and Frederik Nielsen (Denmark) needed a Wildcard to even get into the tournament. But apparently the improbability didn’t concern them much as they took out higher-ranked teams right and left (including the US’s Bryan brothers) en route to their first major title as a doubles team. Not bad for a first time out! Brits – don’t forget you did have a monumental win!

I’m just excited that we get to come back to this hallowed tennis ground for the Olympics in a few weeks. Let’s hope for more artistry on Centre Court! As for the rest of the season, I realize it may be more of a tall order on the hard courts to come, but…More finesse, please!