Better raquet tech allows players to hit harder. When you hit harder, the ball goes faster. The faster the ball goes, the further away from the net you need to be to hit it back.
If you try to play close to the net, your opponent will slam the ball to your left or right faster than you can run. So you will lose, and your playing style will be eliminated from top end tennis. If you try to draw your opponent close to the net with a soft shot, they will take the opportinity to line up on a slow target, and then power it to the part of the court where you are not, while you have even less time to react. So you will lose, and your playing style will be eliminated from top end tennis.
Is it the racket , the ball or playing style that changed?
Yes
Better raquet tech allows players to hit harder. When you hit harder, the ball goes faster. The faster the ball goes, the further away from the net you need to be to hit it back.
If you try to play close to the net, your opponent will slam the ball to your left or right faster than you can run. So you will lose, and your playing style will be eliminated from top end tennis. If you try to draw your opponent close to the net with a soft shot, they will take the opportinity to line up on a slow target, and then power it to the part of the court where you are not, while you have even less time to react. So you will lose, and your playing style will be eliminated from top end tennis.
The technology drives the playing style
Exactly. The baseline game has become the dominant form (which imo is rather unfortunate and makes it much more one-dimensional)
Or the grass is more resilient
Playing style changed to keep up with faster shots.