Renowned coach Facette discusses the significant changes in women's tennis over the past two decades.

Recently, Swiatek's current coach Facette painted a vivid picture during an interview: stepping into any professional tennis tour gym today would leave coaches from twenty years ago speechless. The gym is filled with sweating female players; the weights they lift, the sets they complete, and the muscle definition they showcase all herald the arrival of a new era. As Facette stated, the intensity of women's tennis has undergone a qualitative transformation. Winning shots that once could end a point now merely serve as a backdrop for opponents to display their astonishing mobility. This silent physical revolution has not only reshaped the technical aspects of the game but has also fundamentally rewritten the aesthetic standards and gender narratives in women's sports.

Looking back at women's tennis twenty years ago, a common characteristic was the finesse in technique but a lack of power. Hingis's exquisite touch and Henin's one-handed backhand defined that era, relying heavily on talent and skill. Gyms occupied a marginal position in players' schedules, with the prevailing belief that excessive strength training would harm female players' flexibility and coordination. This mindset concealed deep-rooted gender biases in sports, suggesting that female athletes should exhibit grace rather than strength, and that skill should triumph over physicality, or else it deviated from the expected image of women's sports.

The turning point came with the rise of the Williams sisters. When Venus and Serena dominated the court with unprecedented muscle power, they not only disrupted the rhythm of the game but also shattered various myths about female athletes' physical capabilities. When Serena delivered a serve at 123 miles per hour in the 2012 Olympic final against Sharapova, it became a declaration for a new era: women's tennis can and should pursue extreme strength. This demonstrative effect gradually spread, leading a new generation of players to systematically reshape their bodies. Halep increased muscle mass through rigorous training to enhance her serve, while Osaka incorporated boxing training into her routine to boost explosiveness, marking a complete shift in training philosophy.

Modern female tennis players' bodies have become precisely engineered athletic machines. Their average muscle mass has increased by 23% compared to fifteen years ago, serve speeds have risen by 18 kilometers per hour, and their defensive coverage has expanded by 1.5 meters. Behind these numbers are 4-6 hours of specialized strength training each day: resistance exercises targeting hip rotator muscles enhance forehand penetration, single-leg stability training optimizes movement efficiency, and systematic strengthening of core muscles allows them to maintain shot quality even in extreme positions. Polish star Swiatek's training videos show her effortlessly completing weighted pull-ups and barbell squats, exercises once exclusive to male players, which have now become standard for top female competitors. The leap in physical ability has directly altered the dynamics of the game; tactics that once relied on angles now require 3-4 consecutive high-quality shots to score, and defensive players must develop offensive weapons to survive.

The cultural resistance to this physical revolution should not be underestimated. When Clijsters returned in 2009 with a more robust physique, the media focused more on her "loss of femininity." When Sakkari showcased her clearly defined arm muscles, social networks were flooded with mockery about being too masculine. Such comments reveal societal norms surrounding women's bodies: women should remain slender and graceful, while overly developed muscles are seen as a transgression of gender boundaries. Interestingly, similar comments about male athletes' physiques always revolve around "whether the strength is sufficient." Female tennis players must navigate challenges on two fronts: defeating opponents on the court and fighting for the right to define their own bodies in society.

The most profound impact of this body transformation may be the awakening of female athletes' subjectivity. When Kvitova boldly states, "My muscles make me proud," and when Stephens shares weightlifting videos on social media with the caption "Girls can be strong too," they are redefining the aesthetic value of female strength. This shift transcends the realm of sports, forming a cultural rebellion where women's bodies need not be trapped in the gaze of others, allowing them to choose to be athletic machines rather than mere objects of observation. The case of German player Kerber is particularly illustrative; after transforming from a slender, technique-based player to a muscular, well-rounded athlete, she not only won three Grand Slam titles but also publicly stated, “I love my body more now because it can achieve all the shots I want.”

The evolution of women's tennis reveals a more universal truth: the essence of sports progress is the continuous reinvention of the body. When we see Sabalenka serve at speeds approaching male players at Rod Laver Arena, and witness Swiatek executing incredible saves at Philippe Chatrier, we are witnessing not just technical innovations but a courageous exploration of possibilities by a generation of women. The sweat in the gym ultimately crystallizes into breathtaking performances on the court, reshaping societal perceptions of women's bodies.

The endpoint of this silent revolution has yet to arrive. With advancements in sports science, female athletes' physical performances continue to break boundaries. But more important than numerical records is the presence of these strong women on the tennis court, rewriting the history of sports and culture. They prove that strength and beauty are not opposites, and that muscle definition can also embody femininity. When the next generation of girls looks at these athletes, they see not just champions but countless possibilities: regarding how strong the body can be and how far women can go. In this sense, the evolution of women's tennis has long transcended the realm of sports, becoming an undeniable wave in the tide of gender equality.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Mei )