I know I am going to get into trouble here, but having watched tennis matches over the years,it is interesting to see how the physique of the top women players has changed .
In the past going back to the days of Evan Gollagong, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graff the women players were all slim, played without grunting and won their matches. Over the last five to seven years the younger women players tend to be stouter and much more vociferous . The men players have not changed. They tend to be slim and while there might be an occasional grunter, it is quite a contrast to the women players. Having said that in spite of their physical appearance the women players tend to move just as fast and probably volley harder then their predecessors from the seventies and eighties.
While Ascot might have its share of strange hats, Wimbledon has its women and occasionally men walking the courts making their own fashion statements. Beating everybody hands down are the William sisters. Their dresses and their "dont give a damn"attitude makes them very different from the other players. Not that they are just about attitude. They have a fantastic track record and now choose the matches they want to play.
On the mens side the Federer - Nadal duo continue to dominate , but of late Djokovic has been trying to gate crash the party. The loudest fashion statement is Nadal's sleeveless shirts and his long shorts. Both have their own slight distracting mannerisms. Federer gently pushing his hair back toward his head band and Nadal constantly tugging at his wedgies. On the doubles side the players with their high fives, their chest bumping, and bottom patting are a sight.
Having said that the tennis players, particularly the men are a contrast to the other athletes - if I may use the term - in soccer and cricket and are much lower keyed.The exception to this were the the temper tantrum throwers such as Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe and Andy Rodrick among others . While their purses and endorsements might be just as big, they tend to be much lower profile and do not strut around or make the headlines with their shenanigans.
It is amazing how over the decades the three gentlemanly games, tennis, gold and cricket have diverged. Tennis and golf still continue to be elitist games whereas cricket has been democratized and now is a common man's game. Will this also change or stay the same. My guess is it will remain as will golf , both not being team games and only person you are trying to outshine is your opponent.
In the past going back to the days of Evan Gollagong, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graff the women players were all slim, played without grunting and won their matches. Over the last five to seven years the younger women players tend to be stouter and much more vociferous . The men players have not changed. They tend to be slim and while there might be an occasional grunter, it is quite a contrast to the women players. Having said that in spite of their physical appearance the women players tend to move just as fast and probably volley harder then their predecessors from the seventies and eighties.
While Ascot might have its share of strange hats, Wimbledon has its women and occasionally men walking the courts making their own fashion statements. Beating everybody hands down are the William sisters. Their dresses and their "dont give a damn"attitude makes them very different from the other players. Not that they are just about attitude. They have a fantastic track record and now choose the matches they want to play.
On the mens side the Federer - Nadal duo continue to dominate , but of late Djokovic has been trying to gate crash the party. The loudest fashion statement is Nadal's sleeveless shirts and his long shorts. Both have their own slight distracting mannerisms. Federer gently pushing his hair back toward his head band and Nadal constantly tugging at his wedgies. On the doubles side the players with their high fives, their chest bumping, and bottom patting are a sight.
Having said that the tennis players, particularly the men are a contrast to the other athletes - if I may use the term - in soccer and cricket and are much lower keyed.The exception to this were the the temper tantrum throwers such as Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe and Andy Rodrick among others . While their purses and endorsements might be just as big, they tend to be much lower profile and do not strut around or make the headlines with their shenanigans.
It is amazing how over the decades the three gentlemanly games, tennis, gold and cricket have diverged. Tennis and golf still continue to be elitist games whereas cricket has been democratized and now is a common man's game. Will this also change or stay the same. My guess is it will remain as will golf , both not being team games and only person you are trying to outshine is your opponent.
