The Amazing Disappearing Volley in Tennis

While the Wimbledon final between Federer and Nadal provided great drama and shot-making, it was also probably the first time a grass court finalist won without volleying to any extent. Nadal treated the net like a contagious disease in quarantine. Bjorn Borg was almost exclusively a base line player but when he won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles, he goaded himself into approaching the net despite being uncomfortable doing so. Nadal exhibited no such compunction. Future generations of tennis players may require the equivalent of the Rosetta stone to explain what the volley was and why anyone used it.