Need for Speed: Comparing the Court Speeds at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: September 16, 2010

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There is a very famous video on YouTube (starts at 6:20) where Jason Goodall compares the speed at which a Roger Federer’s serve reaches the returner at Wimbledon 2003 and 2008 respectively. In both videos, Federer had served at 126mph and in 2008, the ball reached the returner at 9mph lesser compared to the one in 2003 (a little less than 20% difference). There is a general consensus that the courts at Wimbledon have considerably slowed down since 2001, and hence it has supported the baseline bashers more than it used to do in the 90's.

The above video provides a considerable proof for that; but what the above video doesn’t mention is that the trajectories of the two serves (even though it originated at same speeds) were different.

In 2008 (the yellow trail), the ball was hit with more topspin, which is why it was already higher up in the air than the one in 2003 (the blue trail). The different trajectories ultimately result in different speed at which the opponent hits the ball.

But it is indeed true that the courts at Wimbledon definitely seem to look slower than in the 90's and the consensus is that the U.S. Open has officially become the fastest surface among the majors.

There is a varied opinion on this matter as well, and hence I thought to look it from different angles.

Players’ Opinion:

Both Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have been mentioned that Wimbledon is still the fastest surface compared to U.S. Open. But the balls used at the latter are lighter and hence zip through the court faster than the ones at Wimbledon, which makes the courts appear faster.

Q. How does it compare with Wimbledon, for example?

RAFAEL NADAL: Everybody talks about Wimbledon is very slow. Maybe because I won two times. (Smiling.) When I started to play on Wimbledon in 2003 or 2002, I don't remember, 2003 we are in 2010, so I played like eight Wimbledons. The sp...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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