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For more than 50 years, through the last half of the 20th century, the volley played the lead role in tennis’s premier drama, Wimbledon. On the slick grass courts of the All England Club, a ball struck in the air skidded low and fast.
Volleys that landed deep into the court rushed opponents, forcing them to hit difficult passing shots from compromised positions. Volleys that fell short — a staple of Bjorn Borg’s run of five straight titles from 1976 to 1980 — were also lethal, caressed into closure on the velvet lawn.