The net results; Midtown Tennis founder holds court on game's changes over four decades
Midtown Tennis Club co-founder Alan Schwartz is a member of the Tennis Industry Association Hall of Fame and is a driving force behind the creation of the U.S. Open series.
So how has the game changed since the Midtown Tennis Club opened in October, 1970?
"The rackets are the biggest single difference," Schwartz said. Rackets were wood in 1970, now they are composite (fiberglass, graphite). "And larger frames," he said.
Today's racket strings also have more power.
Other changes:
- Eastern European influence.
"The advent of tennis as a way out of what used to be the Iron Curtain has changed the game completely," he said. "This is not just an American-French-English-Australian Grand Slam game. Russia changed the game for women. Asians are now playing in greater percentage per thousand than the Caucasian population. The African-American population is exploding with tennis players. They have the Williams sisters, Jim Blake.
"We have not kept pace with the Hispanic population. It's increased but not in proportion in the way tennis in general is growing. There are Hispanic heroes from [Rafael] Nadal [of Spain] on down, but soccer is still the big sport for Hispanics."
- Physical regimen.
"Training, weightlifting didn't exist in 1970 nearly like it does now," Schwartz pointed out. "These players are stronger, quicker and more athletic."
- Top spin.
"They're hitting with such precision now and they're so athletic they're able to chase down the ball," he said. "The baseline has become more prevalent than serving volley. At the top level there's more open stance hitting versus turning sideways."
