Interesting. I kind of wish you would have explained HOW the 40 year old was schooling the bangers -- drop shots, angles, less errors, better serving...? I miss the finesse game that McEnroe and Borg played... the racket acted like an extension of McEnroe's arm when he was at his best
Older recreational and semi-competitive players are better than young recreational and semi-competitive players. At the professional level, it is a different story. Younger players have evolved the groundstroke offense in the game to such a degree that older players have to be able to adapt to compete (look at how much more offensive Djoker was in the Olympics). Younger players that aren't at this high level simply lack the skillsets to consistently execute. Hitting hard is the most optimized way to play IF you can execute consistently, but it comes with a higher error risk than the more conventional groundstroke play of 2003-2021. If a younger player is executing that offense, there's nothing an older player can combat it with unless they have that cracked offense themselves. Live or die by your own sword, and get as good as possible at doing so. As a nearly self-taught 4.5 I have faced some of these guys and had trouble because of the fact that I simply lack the experienced-based knowledge of shot selection, point building, and just knowing how to deal with certain balls. When I beat them, it's because my serving, net play, and passing shots don't let me down. When I lose, one of those 3 things had a rough day. I see you say that no young players will ever player quality 40 yo's, but in my experience that is the fault of the 40 yo's. Where I'm from, all the 4.5+ players that are on the older side are wealthy guys who exclusively play at/for their tennis or country clubs and never venture out into independent singles leagues or tournaments. They rarely make themselves available to play for younger players, who are far less likely to be playing at country clubs. Like you said, they don't want to play us.
Okay so some high level 40 year old players are capable of beating high level players that are younger? This proves exactly nothing, some female pro's are capable of beating college players but are they better than men? No... 4:26 You ask why they unnecessarily hit so hard, but in the very next sentence you say they would lose if they didn't. What could the reason for hitting hard be? Maybe that they want to win. Also pretending like hitting hard is not a real quality makes no sense, because it requires a tremendous amount of technique and skill to do so. Yes old people are better at volleying and have more experience, but that does not make them "better", because "better" means winning but the best 40 year old in the world loses 6-1 6-0 to Sinner. So no old players are not better and you have provided no evidence to suggest the opposite.
Most young people won't even play quality 40 and overs....ever so we will really never know the truth of the matter. Im not sure how much I want to reply because you dropped the S word. Sinner maybe played in a legit match ZERO men over 40 in his life.
Interesting. I kind of wish you would have explained HOW the 40 year old was schooling the bangers -- drop shots, angles, less errors, better serving...? I miss the finesse game that McEnroe and Borg played... the racket acted like an extension of McEnroe's arm when he was at his best
I’ll drop a video later today.
The older players let go of that strong desire to win, so they just enjoy the game and enter a flow state.
You read The Inner Game of Tennis
Older recreational and semi-competitive players are better than young recreational and semi-competitive players. At the professional level, it is a different story. Younger players have evolved the groundstroke offense in the game to such a degree that older players have to be able to adapt to compete (look at how much more offensive Djoker was in the Olympics).
Younger players that aren't at this high level simply lack the skillsets to consistently execute. Hitting hard is the most optimized way to play IF you can execute consistently, but it comes with a higher error risk than the more conventional groundstroke play of 2003-2021. If a younger player is executing that offense, there's nothing an older player can combat it with unless they have that cracked offense themselves. Live or die by your own sword, and get as good as possible at doing so.
As a nearly self-taught 4.5 I have faced some of these guys and had trouble because of the fact that I simply lack the experienced-based knowledge of shot selection, point building, and just knowing how to deal with certain balls. When I beat them, it's because my serving, net play, and passing shots don't let me down. When I lose, one of those 3 things had a rough day.
I see you say that no young players will ever player quality 40 yo's, but in my experience that is the fault of the 40 yo's. Where I'm from, all the 4.5+ players that are on the older side are wealthy guys who exclusively play at/for their tennis or country clubs and never venture out into independent singles leagues or tournaments. They rarely make themselves available to play for younger players, who are far less likely to be playing at country clubs. Like you said, they don't want to play us.
Yea it can go both ways for sure.
Okay so some high level 40 year old players are capable of beating high level players that are younger?
This proves exactly nothing, some female pro's are capable of beating college players but are they better than men? No...
4:26
You ask why they unnecessarily hit so hard, but in the very next sentence you say they would lose if they didn't. What could the reason for hitting hard be? Maybe that they want to win.
Also pretending like hitting hard is not a real quality makes no sense, because it requires a tremendous amount of technique and skill to do so. Yes old people are better at volleying and have more experience, but that does not make them "better", because "better" means winning but the best 40 year old in the world loses 6-1 6-0 to Sinner.
So no old players are not better and you have provided no evidence to suggest the opposite.
Most young people won't even play quality 40 and overs....ever so we will really never know the truth of the matter. Im not sure how much I want to reply because you dropped the S word. Sinner maybe played in a legit match ZERO men over 40 in his life.