Category: Tennis

The Rise of High-Risk Tennis: Players Embrace Explosive, Point-Ending Shots

In the modern era of tennis, players are increasingly embracing a high-risk, high-reward style of play, characterized by relentless aggression and a willingness to push the boundaries of recklessness. This trend is evident on both the ATP and WTA Tours, with players exploring the benefits of playing explosive, point-ending tennis.

Caroline Garcia’s recent upset of Coco Gauff at the Miami Open epitomizes this shift. Garcia’s uber-aggressive style, which involves standing on or inside the baseline to receive serve, has helped her overcome some of the game’s top players. Similarly, Aryna Sabalenka has undergone a complete makeover, transforming from a wild child prone to over-hitting into a consistent force with a newfound belief in her go-for-broke instincts.

This emphasis on bold tennis is also evident in the applied power of Jannik Sinner, the serving exhibitions put on by Ben Shelton, and the creativity of Carlos Alcaraz. Even younger players like Martin Damm are rekindling interest in the serve-and-volley tactic.

On the WTA Tour, the mindset has been flipped like a mattress. The methodical, precise artisans are now in a minority, replaced by players like Sabalenka and Garcia who are willing to take big cuts and accept greater risk in search of point-ending winners.

This greater willingness to gamble has made the game more exciting to watch, but it also comes with challenges. Any fail can be groan-worthy, and players must maintain unwavering faith in their high-risk style. Garcia’s ability to weather a second-set charge by Gauff without losing confidence is a testament to the mental fortitude required to succeed in this new era of tennis.

Ironically, the preponderance of slow courts may have contributed to this shift. The physical toll of struggling through long hitting contests has led to a new interest in ending points with greater dispatch. The ace, or any winner, is more coveted than ever before.

Operating at the edge is not easy, but more and more players are embracing the risk. Those who fail to do so may find themselves spinning their wheels. As Garcia says, “If it isn’t paying this week, it will pay next week.”