It’s Just a Difference In Taste

Written by: Hayley Hranicky-Galitzer on 27th July 2010

It's Just a Difference In Taste |

“Great point! Did you see that forehand?” The man next to me is flabbergasted by Horacio Zeballo’s out of the air, approach shot forehand. Me on the other hand, less than amused. To me the Argentine’s style, which can be described as very spin-y, very clay court-y, but very unpredictable, is not pretty to watch. I like tennis that is ordered, has a rhythm, and is predictable. One point Zeballo hits a drop shot that barely makes it to his side of the net, and the next he hits an on-the-run, drop shot volley, winner when he is down break point.

Ernests Gulbis is next on. This is more like it. Gulbis hits crosscourt for rally balls and when he has better court positioning, uses the angles of the court. Though he and his opponent, Lukas Lacko, have two close sets, Gulbis breaks at 6-5 in both sets and walks off the winner. Simple, but ingenious. Hold serve, play the percentages, get a break, and walk off the court.

So, I wondered, why did this man next to me have such an affinity for Horacio Zeballo’s play, while I found it to be loathsome? Why do some people love Federer and some Nadal? Why are tennis aficionados so different in their taste?

For those who like Federer, they appreciate the easy elegance of his play. He is able to so easily create spin and power, without seeming like it is any stress on him. It looks as though he can place the ball wherever he desires.

For those who like Nadal, they appreciate the tenacity and vigor of his style. On a scale of 1-10 in terms of the perception of intensity, while Federer is given a 10, Nadal is given a 15. Every point is explosive and physical.

This man and I merely have different tastes. I like strawberry, and he likes vanilla. In actuality, both Federer and Nadal are easily able to do whatever they want with the ball, not just Federer. In actuality, both Nadal and Federer are explosive and intense, not just Nadal. Maybe the reason why this man and I are so different in terms of taste, is purely aesthetics. To me I like the way Gulbis’ play looks and he likes the way Zeballo’s looks. Why someone appreciates someone else’s play and not another’s cannot be argued. To each its own.

Topics: Actuality, Affinity, Angles, Balls, Clay Court, Different Tastes, Elegance, Gulbis, Intensity, Opponent, Percentages, Perception, Rally, Rhythm, Strawberry, Tenacity, Vanilla, Vigor, Volley, Walks