Every season has its surprises. Tennis players who have spent months struggling for consistency can suddenly become genuine threats, while higher-ranked opponents find themselves vulnerable against competitors they would normally expect to beat. Now that the grass season has begun, we provide an analysis of some of the players who have become fearless during the grass swing in recent years.
Why Grass Produces Different Results
Although modern grass courts play slower than they once did, they remain the fastest surface in professional tennis. The ball stays lower after it bounces and travels across the court more quickly, reducing reaction time and shortening rallies.
As a result, matches are often decided by powerful serves, aggressive shot-making, quick decision-making, and effective net play. These have all become far more valuable than they are on slower surfaces.
The Power Players
While players such as Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sabalenka, and Rybakina are expected to contend on grass, the surface also rewards several less obvious players whose games become especially effective during the short grass-court swing.
Matteo Berrettini
Few active players demonstrate the grass-court effect better than Matteo Berrettini. The Italian’s game is built around one of the most effective serve-and-forehand combinations on tour. Grass allows him to shorten points and maximize his biggest strengths, helping him produce some of his best tennis. His run to the Wimbledon final in 2021 and four ATP grass court titles highlight just how dangerous he can be during the grass swing.
Taylor Fritz
The American has also become a major threat during the grass season. His powerful serve, aggressive baseline game, and ability to take the ball early make him particularly effective in fast conditions. His strong results at both ATP grass tournaments, where he has won five titles, and Wimbledon performance throughout the years have established him as one of the surface’s most consistent performers.
Donna Vekic
Vekic is another player whose aggressive style thrives on grass. Her powerful serve and flat groundstrokes allow her to dictate points, while the faster conditions reward her attacking mindset. Her status as a former Nottingham champion and finalist, together with deep runs at Wimbledon and Bad Homburg in 2024, showed how dangerous she can be.
The Artists
Alexander Bublik
Bublik has become one of the most dangerous players on the surface thanks to his creativity and unpredictability. Drop shots, slices, surprise serves, and frequent trips to the net create unique challenges for opponents, particularly on a surface that offers little time to react. His two titles at Halle and two-time runner-up finishes at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport underline his potential during the grass swing.
Ons Jabeur
Although currently on maternity break, Ons Jabeur deserves recognition for her success during the grass swing. Her ability to mix spins, angles, and pace allowed her to disrupt opponents’ rhythm in ways that were especially effective on the surface. Her two titles on grass and back-to-back Wimbledon finals in 2022 and 2023 showcased how well her creative game translated on the surface.
Lorenzo Musetti
Lorenzo Musetti offers another example of how artistry can flourish on grass. His elegant one-handed backhand and willingness to use a slice make him particularly effective in fast conditions. His ability to vary the tempo of rallies and keep opponents guessing has made him an increasingly dangerous grass-court player, as evidenced by his runner-up finish at the 2024 Queen’s Club Championship and semifinal run at Wimbledon that same year.
Why Grass Swing Is Always Worth Watching
The grass swing may be short, but it consistently produces some of the most interesting storylines in tennis. The unique characteristics of the surface can quickly shift the balance, allowing certain players to thrive and making others far more dangerous than their rankings or recent results may suggest.
That unpredictability is part of what makes this part of the season so compelling. Whether through power, creativity, or a combination of both, the players whose games naturally suit grass often seize the opportunity to make deep runs and challenge the sport’s biggest names.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
