Subsonic
Throw in some top tier US players a la Sampras, Agassi, Chang, Courier, Connors, McEnroe, and Roddick and that perception might return. I also think tennis lost a little of it's appeal, and became less dynamic, when they slowed down the grass and hard courts (and deadened the balls). I miss players like Michael Stich, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Pat Cash, Kevin Curren, Richard Krajicek, and Goran Ivanisevic. Now every contest is a baseline battle. If it wasn't for shaking hands at the end of the match some players would never go to the net.😉