Variety may be the slice of life. It is also, forgive the pun, the slice of tennis. As much as we accord importance to power and strength and foot-speed, the key to tennis is often gears. Players who can offer offense… and defense; players who can serve…. and return; players who can derive…and slice that can adjust the circumstance; players with a variety of options. It not only helps them respond to the styles and strengths (and weakness) of the opponent; it imbues the complete player with confidence knowing the battery of resources they have at their disposal.
That was thrown into sharp relief on Centre Court of Wimbledon today as top-seeded Ashleigh Barty of Australia won her first Wimbledon singles trophy, defeating Karolina Plíšková of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3.