1 Globalization: No longer just the domain of a comfy cluster of core countries, tennis is now one of sports’ most varied global happenings. Croatia beats Slovakia in the Davis Cup Final. Swedes, Germans and Belgians rise and fall. Argentines roar, Chinese are on the horizon. So who is that 17-year-old left-handed Slovenian anyway? And these days it ain’t “ova” until the thin Russian falls.

2 Money Matters: From the days when someone who pocketed $100,000 was considered a big money winner to an era where Clijsters collects $2.2
million at the U.S. Open; the elite now can bank a $500,000 guarantee just to show up; Sharapova has $20 million in endorsements and the U.S. Open (where first round losers earn $14,000) gives new meaning to the phrase “You lose, you cruise”.

3 Wake’em up at the Country Club: In a “win a tournament gain a bundle of endorsements” age where “image is everything”, advertising moguls, PR handlers, swoosh savants and marketing mavens are now interwoven into a very modern, worldly sport. But how do you “just do it” if you’ve lost your mojo?

4 Return to Sender: All those power baseliners with big rackets, open-stance forehands and, most importantly, lethal returns of serve have made net chargers as endangered a species as the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Still, you better pack an imposing 120 mph heater on your first serve or you’ll find yourself in a world of hurt.

5 Technology On Parade: In this post-wood era, rackets with their souped-up strings are wondrous space- age composites.

6 If You Build It They Will Come: Not only did the USTA build the imposing 23,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium, but each of the other three Slams implemented snazzy new venues. Plus, stadiums rose from Indian Wells and Key Biscayne, to Cincy, L.A. and Shanghai, with its $250 million palatial arena
with a petaled roof. So what’s next, a roof right on top of Wimbledon’s sacred Centre Court? (You bet ‘ya.)

7 Gym Dandy: Navratilova and Lendl led a lean/mean revolution in fitness and nutrition. Hello Haas diet, good-bye Haagen Dazs. (But too bad that in an era of designer steroids, tennis has too many of its own Rafael Palmeiros.)

8 Embrace Your Friendly 800-lb USTA Gorilla: Once a pleasant, gentlemanly federation in sleepy Princeton, which quietly celebrated amateurism, the USTA now (despite plenty of 19th century governance) is a not-to-be-ignored juggernaut with a clear mission and hefty bank accounts swollen by U.S. Open profits and prophets (from Slew Hester to Arlen Kantarian). At its innovative best the behemoth in the straw hat pushes the envelope and saves endangered tennis species. Plus, (unlike the USA) they’ve actually been led by a woman. Join the jolly big parade or get out of the way.

9 Teen Angels: Okay, Capriati, Graf, Hingis, Seles, Serena and Sharapova weren’t the first teen queens in tennis history. Nonetheless, these days they say if you’re 16 and still haven’t caused a stir on the WTA circuit you’re in trouble. Pass the Clearasil.

10 Outsourcing: Remember when Philly, Boston, Dallas, and even little ol’ Chicago (population 2.8 million) were happy hosts of tennis tournaments? But guess who has the power “Dubai” tournaments these days.

11 Fashion Fling: Short shorts and quaint (predominantly white) outfits are but distant memories. Denim and lime had their day. But are we ready for clamdiggers, sparkling on-court bling and “holey” peekaboo shirts? Sleeves and collars on your shirt? How yesterday!

12 Have Support System, Will Travel: Remember when Mac, Connors and tennis’ merry pranksters pretty much toured solo? No more. Led by Navratilova, doting entourages are now a mainstay and crowded “friends” boxes are happening spots. You’re an odd “Federer-esque” exception if you don’t have a full-time coach, as winning ugly is a collective happening in an era when your Svengali agent in his blue blazer may well be your biggest cheerleader, best friend and, of course, most treasured meal ticket. And what’s a tournament with out a player’s lounge crowded with chatty parents, publicists, physios, massage therapists and sports psychologists?

13 Welcome to the Big Leagues: Roland Garros and the Australian Open are no longer mere step-children in the Grand Slam family.

14 Media Mayhem: Remember NBC’s “Breakfast at Wimbledon” with Bud Collins, Pat Sumerall doing U.S. Open commentary or when PBS had more tennis than pasta shows? Well, no more. Cable channels, ESPN and websites abound. Certainly, Cliff Drysdale, John “You Cannot Be Serious” McEnroe and Mary Carillo have entertained. But, sadly, TV commentary ain’t exactly inspired and, unlike golf, a lot of good tennis doesn’t even make it to the tube. “Oh my,” just think of all those millions of American couch potatoes suffering from “Mac-cam deprivation” syndrome.

15 A League of Our Own: Bowling leagues beware, here come hordes of 3.5ers loaded with ringers.

16 Academy Rewards: Look what Nick [that would be Bollettieri] has begotten. Quick, launch an investigation; my neighborhood club doesn’t have a tennis academy.

17 So What Ever Happened to the Concept of the Even Playing Field?: The Best 18 rule means some losses essentially are mulligans that don’t really count and inflated guarantees (errrr, we mean “appearance fees”) have been known to top $1 million. (So will a player who already has pocketed $200,000 be that hungry to win a tournament’s $40,000 first prize?) Plus, virtually no one is trying to change the system.

18 We Are Family: What other family has had more impact on sports than the big, bold, brash Williams clan? But don’t forget the McEnroes, Bryans, Blacks, Maleevas, Sanchezes, Safins, Krajiceks and Gulliksons.

19 Dirtballers Unite: You Have Nothing to Lose But Your Stains: Unleashing their topspin and drop shots, clay-court specialists from Spain to Argentina are now a serious subculture. Yankee beware.

20 Whither Doubles and Davis Cup?: Once grand and celebrated competitions, the impact of doubles and the Davis Cup (in America) has slipped. So can the Bryan brothers revive both?

21 Cleaning Up Their Acts: Reeling from the Nastase, Mac, Jimbo era of the Super Brat, tennis implements a slew of control-freak rules: (“code violation, Mr. Wiseguy – audible obscenity”). But have we some how overdone done it? Do all the Eagle Scout (“If you don’t shape up, you’ll get a timeout”) scoldings effectively subdue spontaneity and personality? Sure Hewitt, Safin and Capriati can unleash a decent hissy-fit or two, but they’re pikers compared to the old monarchs of mayhem.

22 Three-Ring Circuits: The WCT and the Jimmy Connors senior circuits are but distant memories. Now the ATP, which ran the old MIPTC out of town, has the Master Series, the U.S. Open Series defines summer play, plus the (post-Virginia Slims) WTA finally has a hefty and happy deep-pocket sponsor.

23 The Neverending Season: It used to be that players could kick back during the holidays. Now Davis Cup doesn’t end until the first week in December, stars are playing exos the week before Christmas and almost everyone spends New Year’s Down Under at an Aussie Open warm up.

24 Troubling College Grads: Before: Stanford dominates as college tennis is a serious feeder for the pro circuits. After: parity reigns, foreigners dominate and campuses are no longer pipelines.

25 The End of Innocence: Seles is stabbed, tournaments are subject to semi-draconian security, and armed bodyguards emerge. Okay, it’s
post-911, but…