Research On Playing Styles Of Elite Tennis Players From The Tennis Open Era

Modern tennis playing style have changed so much from open era, Serve and volley style which once received great results has gone, baseline style received great results in grass court.Through using the method of literature research, expert interview, mathematical statistics. This paper research on data about quarterfinals of Grand slam from tennis open era, macro-grasp the trend of playing styles. Based on that, we can discuss and reveal the distribution and changes of tennis players'playing styles. The findings show:(1) Baseline style has been dominated in both male and female tennis since open era. While altogether 25 baseliners taken the spots in the quarterfinal of Grand slam in the men's side since 1999,29 players of such advanced in the woman's since 1998. The development pattern of Serve and volley style was categorized as following according to the amount of players that made it in the quarterfinal. As for men's side: up(1968-1980), top(1980-1986), down(1987-2004), and gone(from 2005), woman's side:up(1968-1981), top(1982-1985), down(1986-1999), and gone(from 2000).(2) Regards to the development of play style of men's tennis in Australia open:three playing styles changed alternatively, Serve and volley style take dominated, baseline style take dominated, Serve and volley style gone. Women's side:baseline and Serve and volley style changed alternatively, baseline styles take dominated, Serve and volley style gone; Playing style of both men and women in American open:three playing styles changed alternatively, baseline styles take dominated, Serve and volley style gone. Playing style of both men and women in Wimbledon championships:Serve and volley styles take dominated, baseline style take dominated, Serve and volley style gone; baseline style always dominate in French open. (3) Players'weight and height have been raised from open era. The average height of men's Serve and volley style player (185.79cm) more than baseline style player (183.66cm), so did in weight. Different styles'average height and weight have small difference.