During his active years between 1980 and 1996, Bates primarily avoided playing on surfaces with reduced pace.
“Back then, the professional circuits were essentially divided into two distinct categories,” he clarified.
“There were those who specialized on clay courts, and the rest who preferred faster surfaces. The clay-court specialists would only appear at the French Open, while we, the fast-court players, would only cross paths with them at Wimbledon and the other Grand Slam events.
“All indoor venues featured extremely rapid courts. Success depended on how swiftly you could advance to the net.
“The majority of the top 20 players employed serve-and-volley tactics, although some opted to play from the baseline. This contrast created compelling matches, but nowadays, most players tend to neutralize each other’s games.”
Patrick Mouratoglou, who previously coached Serena Williams, argues that slowing down court speeds “devastated an entire generation of serve-and-volley players.”
“However, it’s likely beneficial for the sport as a whole, as an excess of aces and service winners could become tiresome,” he suggested.
“Consider that tennis matches proceed at a leisurely pace. An ace accounts for one second of play, followed by a 30-second pause, which is problematic, especially in our modern, fast-paced world, where a lack of action can lead to disengagement.”
What would happen if the Cincinnati tournament decided to further accelerate their court surfaces?
“We would certainly be informed; the players would undoubtedly voice their opinions,” Moran responded.
“I believe we were slightly quicker than usual last year. The players commented that we were exceptionally fast, almost like playing on ice. I’m unsure if we could achieve any greater speed than we did last year.
“In my opinion, captivating points, well-constructed plays, and extended rallies are what truly appeal to the fans.”
