Serve-and-volley stats discredit case for defense

LONDON - At Wimbledon, where once players would charge the net almost on autopilot, the only time many get there now is when they shake hands at the end.

But for all the naysayers who complain that changes to the grass have made it too easy for the baseliners, players at Wimbledon would do well to remember that serve-and-volley still has its merits.

Tennis analyst Craig O'Shannessy said 81 percent of all points in the men's singles at last year's Wimbledon (and 77 percent in the women's singles), were finished in the first five shots.