Smash pow-wow: Who’ll grow on grass?

 

Who are a few players immediately springing to mind that will benefit in the switch from clay to grass?

VC: Serena Williams clearly thrives on every surface, but I think grass will be the one that brings out her best in 2016. That big serve will make all the difference as she sets about at last equalling Steffi Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slam titles. Watch for Next Gen too: Belinda Bencic delivered stunning results on grass last season and while that creates pressure, it also underlines potential. Madison Keys is another player due a solid Slam run. And in the men’s game, I’d look for Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov (yes, still), Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic to step up.

PM: That’s easy – Milos Raonic, Tomas Berdych and any other player of that ilk. I always think the difference for some players between clay and grass is more pronounced in the men’s game, with the big men particularly feeling it. I think of all of them, Raonic will see the biggest benefit, and will fancy his chances at Wimbledon this year.

MT: Anyone with flatter strokes, quick hands and lovers of pace. For me, that’s players like Bernard Tomic and Agnieszka Radwanska. Both won matches at Roland Garros – on their least preferred surface – so must be feeling already pretty good about their games. When they return to the lawns they love, expect them to be even more damaging.

LR: Veterans such as Roger Federer and Venus Williams immediately spring to mind, but I’m most interested to see how the next generation fares. Milos Raonic is verging on a major breakthrough and his game is well-suited to grass. Having John McEnroe in his corner for the next few weeks enhances the intrigue in his chances. Nick Kyrgios’ explosive game is always dangerous but more so on grass than clay. As for the women, Madison Keys had a solid clay campaign which is only going to boost her confidence when she begins her campaign on her more-favoured grass.

Big names such as Roger Federer, Caroline Wozniacki and Juan Martin del Potro have made comebacks this week as the grasscourt season has commenced – how important is it to have them back, and how might they fare on the lawns?

VC: If you’re not hoping to see seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer back at his best on grass, then you’re not a true tennis fan. And in a slightly different way, that’s also true of Juan Martin del Potro … how can you NOT want a fairy tale return for such a talented and popular (but unlucky) player? But let’s look at this another way too: is it time for us to manage our expectations of the superstars and welcome a new generation of Grand Slam contenders? I’ve long said that we should cherish our champions when they’re at their finest. And those times have arguably passed for those aforementioned players.

PM: Being brutally honest, having Roger and Delpo back means a whole lot more than Caroline. Federer is, without a doubt, the biggest draw in the sport, and del Potro is a hugely talented and popular player. If they can both come back 100 per cent healthy then that can only be a good thing for tennis. As for Caroline… meh. It’s obviously a good thing to have her back as she is popular and can play good tennis. But while it’s great, it’s been a while since she has been a serious or consistent force on the WTA.

MT: Federer’s return is huge – the men’s game seems to be built around him and no player is more popular. His absences have been keenly felt in 2016 and his game is such a joy to watch on grass. As is del Potro’s – the towering Argentine’s flat power is a nice fit on the lawns, and should he be healthy, he could wreak some havoc. He would be a wildly popular success story. Wozniacki is increasingly a non-factor on the tour, especially on grass. Watch out for her not at Wimbledon but on North American hard courts later in the season, where she has typically thrived.

LR: There’s no doubt that tennis has suffered from Federer’s absence this season, so it’s great to see him back on court. He’s one of the greatest ever grass court players, yet at 35 and given his recent injury woes, there is a sense if he is to win a record eighth Wimbledon title, he has to do it this year. Del Potro’s decision to skip Roland Garros to begin his grass preparation early looks wise. His wrist injuries have prevented him from playing much in recent years, so it was clever scheduling to ensure he doesn’t push his body too hard, too soon. Can he have impact on grass? History suggests he can, but speculating on the impact he can have is hard considering he has missed the past nine Grand Slam tournaments and hasn’t played on the surface in three years. Wozniacki is one of the biggest personalities on the WTA Tour and she’s certainly been missed. Yet grass is not her best surface and after an early loss in Nottingham, it’s hard to see her reversing her fortunes to challenge for the Wimbledon title.

The grasscourt season has expanded by a week in a recent years and new events – such as the remodelled Stuttgart tournament (replacing clay with grass) and the soon-to-debut Mallorca Open – have sprung up. What’re your thoughts on the lengthier lawn tennis swing?

VC: I’ve always felt a bit short-changed by the fact that the grass court season comes and goes so quickly. An extra week has been a real boost in the season. To be honest, I’d love it to be even longer still …

PM: I’m a Brit so the grass season always conjures up memories of fleeting summers and barbecues in the rain. So yes – I love it. On a purely tennis level, I always enjoy the speed of the grass courts – it’s a refreshing change from the ever slower conditions imposed on players on the ATP and WTA. It’s also good to see who can adapt to the most inconsistent and arguably difficult surface we play on.

MT: I love it. The tours have increasingly become populated with gritty hard courts that rival clay for their lack of pace. Throwing in a few more tournaments on slicker, quicker lawns not only gives fans and players a change, but it contributes to a more well-rounded calendar – if a player wants to thrive at the top, they need to do so on all surfaces. With the grasscourt season now longer and more prestigious, it could have a bigger impact on a player’s ranking.

LR: The grasscourt season is one of my favourite parts of the season, so I’m all for it. It makes for more entertaining matches than the slow grind of clay. The extra week is a win not only for players, giving them more time to recover from the French Open and prepare on grass, but for tennis fans too.

What’s the one most interesting storyline that you’ll be keenly following in the run-up to Wimbledon?

VC: Can Novak Djokovic maintain his awe-inspiring dominance? The world No.1 waited so long for his Roland Garros title; surely a letdown has to occur at some point? That said, I truly hope not. A fourth Wimbledon for Nole would build on an incredible story: a calendar-year Grand Slam, and maybe even a Golden Grand Slam, is well within reach…

PM: Honestly? Maria. It’s going to be fascinating to see what happens next – and also see how some of the players respond to this story when they get questioned about it at Wimbledon. On the court it will be interesting to see where Roger is at. If he’s going to win something big this year it will happen in the next six weeks (Wimbledon or the Olympics), so he needs to be back to his best right about now.

MT: Will Serena ever catch Steffi? She’s been stuck on 21 majors since last Wimbledon, perhaps the Grand Slam tournament offering her the best opportunity to add to her haul. She’s reached the Australian and French finals already this year, so it’s not like she’s playing bad tennis – should her serve be clicking and her belief bubbling, she’ll be hard to stop at the All England Club. But rarely has she looked more vulnerable in big matches. It all adds up to create a compelling narrative – an ageing Serena’s race to create tennis history.

LR: Just how Garbine Muguruza handles the pressure as a Grand Slam champion. The new world No.2 headlines the inaugural Mallorca Open in her homeland of Spain next week, adding extra pressure to her return to court. The 22-year-old has finals points to defend at Wimbledon too, so there’s no escaping the spotlight in the coming weeks. Will she thrive or flounder?