Kafelnikov: This is a Weak Era

Interesting interview with Kafelnikov.

He talks about Russian tennis, how it's easier to "make" female than male tennis players as girls apparently have more belief, hopes Rublev will get physically stronger...and says that tennis in his time was stronger than today:


"I really have no regrets over my early retirement.
Honestly, I can't explain how players are still able to play in late years now - Federer is nearly 34 and still playing at a high level.
I think that's because the average level of tennis today is a lot lower than in our day, I talked about it with Boris the other day and he agreed with me.
That's why the best players can enjoy themselves and keep winning slams, noone can touch them.

In our time, we had 15-20 players that could potentially win slams.

The whole approach is different: in our era, there were many more different styles of play.
We had S&V players, there was a lot chipping and charging, now, most play from the base line trying to hit the ball as hard as possible.
That is not the right direction for tennis, we need variety.
Nothing will change unless something is done with courts.
It seems to me all fast courts play the same, they even made Wimbledon play like a hard court.
Unless something changes, the situation will remain the same."

I am surprised he can't see why older players are able to play longer now, esp Federer...

http://www.b92.net/sport/rolandgarros2015/ozmo-na-sljaci.php?yyyy=2015&mm=06&dd=09&nav_id=1002283

He is right and wrong at the same. I agree that if you work hard and make yourself extra fit, then it is, for now, easy to beat all the players who rely somehow on some talent. Those guys are ridiculously consistent. And they can only be consistent cause they took the guile out of their games.....except for federer (Stan cannot be considered consistent yet).

It was hard back then cause the conditions were really fast and the strings were unforgiven which meant every match was a bit of a roulette.

He is wrong cause it's simply physically much harder nowadays, though it's true it is easier for those super fit players.

It's good to hear them speak out and ask for something to be done.
I know a few players have killed tennis with fitness and moreso with muscle, but even they are falling to bits...leaving us with tall, flairless hard-hitting giants.

Those balls in RG were a monstrosity.

Imagine the pace Stan would've generated with some decent balls!
I am pretty sure players must have complained a lot about them, esp Fed.
Even Nadal couldn't hit through the court with them and that says something...
We'll see how it goes in Wimbledon.

Then you could not play the game blindfolded like now.
You had to solve the problem with placement and guile. Nowhere to hide.
Watch young Zverev if you get the chance tomorrow and you'll see what goes as "talent" now.
I was with some Serbian tennis juniors today, you should hear them...they really have no clue about anything, just robots/clones bred to rally.

It would be good to hear one of those oldies coaching current top players to describe a week of training in the 80/90s and now.

Becker and Edberg vs Nole and Fed.

What they did for their fitness, what they ate, how they practised on the court.

Where is our OTF photo?
I can't see it on the home page any more.

noleisthebest wrote:Where is our OTF photo?
I can't see it on the home page any more.

I can....time to change it I guess!

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Where is our OTF photo?
I can't see it on the home page any more.

I can....time to change it I guess!

That's strange...maybe they are filtering all things Murray here in Belgrade!

I think that's because the average level of tennis today is a lot lower than in our day

Its the returning game that has improved a lot in the last 7-8 years. Players these days make so many balls in, the server has lost a lot of edge. And its not just about players ability, but more about court pace, racquets and strings. Plus the gigantic climb to reach super fitness. Not everyone can reach there.

Thats' why the difference in average level of play.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

I think that's because the average level of tennis today is a lot lower than in our day

Its the returning game that has improved a lot in the last 7-8 years. Players these days make so many balls in, the server has lost a lot of edge. And its not just about players ability, but more about court pace, racquets and strings. Plus the gigantic climb to reach super fitness. Not everyone can reach there.

Thats' why the difference in average level of play.

In fact, it's got nothing to do with players ability sadly.

All the best shot makers died out by 2007/8 (Coria, Nalby, Blake, Safin, Gonzo, etc.....) were players who had learnt the game with nat strings but could give their great shots added security thanks to the new strings.

Then came those who learnt to play with those new strings (younger generation) and realised that fitness was everything with such strings. Started with Hewitt but Nadal came with a much higher fitness, then Djoko and Murray. Shot making was never their thing. However it is all about being able to send the ball back with a purpose after the 20th shots....but more important keeping a minimum of fitness to keep pushing the opponent to run. It is in effect a marathon and the proof is that those good at running make consistently finals of TMS1000 and slams.

It's actually 2 different generations.

I think worse than strings, courts and fitness is introduction of DBH.
That was the beginning of the end.

I am surprised nobody in tennis world mentions or cares about it.

I wonder what Wilander or Mercer would say on the topic...

PS
I can see the picture again!

noleisthebest wrote:I think worse than strings, courts and fitness is introduction of DBH.
That was the beginning of the end.

What end? We have Stan!