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The Rocket - Rodney Laver
by Allen Fox
Rod Laver was a pivotal figure in the history of tennis, a quiet man who's impact changed forever the way the game was played. Up to his time volleyers had a tremendous advantage over baseliners. Laver figured out a way to make the playing field more level. What can the ordinary mortal learn from Rod Laver? Maybe that it pays to be a genius.
When Laver came on the scene, most of the best players in the world served and volleyed
and won their matches at the net. Jack Kramer, who noted the volleyer had the advantage
over the baseliner, first promulgated the strategy of persistently attacking the net in
the 1940’s. He theorized if a player came to net at every opportunity (deep approach
shots and serves), the enduring pressure would cause the ba
seliner to make too many
mistakes. Kramer’s version of "percentage tennis" proved to be correct and
almost all the champions who followed him (Pancho Gonzales, Frank Sedgman, Tony Trabert,
Vic Sexias, Neal Frazier, Alex Olmedo, John Newcombe, etc.) played like he did.
Kramer’s theory held for two reasons. First, most major championships were played on grass, a surface that greatly favors the player who gets to the net first. Second, (and most important) most of the top players hit their backhands flat or with backspin making it very difficult to hit crosscourt passing shots. Although they controlled the ball well with their backhands and rarely missed, they could not pass effectively when they were pressed deep in the court. If an opponent approached on their backhand side (which was most of the time), they would most likely dink the ball crosscourt, low and short, lob, or hit relatively flat down the line. By doing this they were able to make the volleyer work hard, but if the volleyer had good hands and controlled the ball well, he would rarely lose serve. Serve would ultimately be broken when the volleyer lost concentration and made mistakes or the receiver got hold of a few forehands.
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