As the sport continues to evolve, many players and fans of tennis will debate the merits of the most important skill that a player can possess.

There are arguments that can be made for a handful of different elements of the sport, and while it may all boil down to a matter of opinion, it\’s still fun to look at the possibilities.

I have listed a few elements to consider. Which do you think are important?

Is it volleying? After all, a well rounded net game can pose a threat to any opponent and easily end a point. Look at the past success of players like John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, and even Pete Sampras to a degree.

What about baseline play, is that important? Many experts would say that it is the more modern approach as opposed to playing at the net. Take Rafael Nadal for example, he spends a lot of time hanging at the back of the court rather that up at the net. And other players such as Andy Roddick have changed tactics in favour of the baseline play.

Any player with a powerful serve can easily take control of the court if their opponent is unable to break them and this will give them an overall advantage. Take Roddick as a good example of a big serve.

And what about the speed of the players? It obviously helps out a lot if the player can reach the ball every time and the opponent then has to work that bit harder to gain a point.

The last factor is the x-factor, and the one that I personally feel matters most. This is the mental game. The superstars like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have some of the toughest mental games in the history of the sport.

With the ability to rarely be rattled, their stoic composure and never say die attitude wins them so many more matches than the stats would indicate.

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