I enjoy life more now, says Cash

Dubai: Get onto a time machine for a quick rewind: Pat Cash reaching out for a volley. It still looks the same: the lithe figure, a trademark chequered bandana or even a fancy earring. Only this time, it's not an Ivan Lendl or a Boris Becker on the other side of the court, but a golden oldie like Illie Nastase or Mansour Bahrami.

Not that the 1987 Wimbledon champion, whose triumph over Lendl in that final gave birth to the famously used headline: 'Cash is better than Czech,' minds. One of the younger players on the seniors Tour at 42, the Australian says: "I enjoy life more now." No more of the back-breaking training schedule, playing three-setters in the sun, pressure to perform and maintain his own - though that does not necessarily mean less travel.

"I was in Belfast last week, the US the week before and back in Australia before that. It's really bizarre," said Cash as he settled down for a chat.

It's been his third visit to Dubai, this time as one of the tennis ambassadors of Barclays, sponsors of the ongoing Dubai Tennis Championships. The conversation soon drifts to the forthcoming men's event, the rich field that it has on offer and of course, Roger Federer. And soon, the plain speaking Aussie was holding court: "He [Federer] is one of the greatest all-court players that I have come across. This, keeping in mind the exploits of Sampras, who may have had the odd weakness on clay."

Somewhat predictable

However, hasn't this level of domination on part of the Swiss also made the men's game somewhat predictable over the last three to four years? "It's true, but then you can't blame him for the quality of the field - or the lack of it. I would consider Nadal, who has a fair record against him, and Roddick as two of his main rivals so far. The scene, may, however change over the next few years with the likes of Murray, Djokovic and Tsonga all capable of pushing him," said Cash.

If it has been too Federer-centric in recent times, the game has also witnessed major qualitative changes over the last few decades, and the Australian has seen it all from very close quarters. "The men's game has become too one-dimensional, no doubt about it. There seems to be no variety left: all you get to see is the big serve, big forehand and a big backhand. Not many of them wants to come to the net."

With both the Tours almost becoming round-the-year affairs, there seems to be a mechanical ring to the men going about their motions now - making one crave for the colourful, often brash, characters of the Cash generation. "The '80s and '90s saw the golden generation of men's tennis ... McEnroe, Connors, Becker, Edberg or Wilander. They were all larger-than-life figures, had different styles of play. It's quite difficult to match up to something like that," reflected Cash, who had his own musical band and even performed with the INXS at the 2003 Australian Open.

A guitar for company

"Yes, the guitar was a constant companion for me and few others like Wilander. The circuit being a much more close knit one those days, we somehow found enough time to often hang around together even during the big tournaments. I don't see four-five players of this generation having dinner together," he says.

Would he, then, blame it on the demanding nature of the Tour these days? "I wouldn't agree with it entirely," said Cash, adding: "You've got a guy like Roger [Federer] who speaks five languages or Nadal who is quite a character. However, the unrelenting nature of the sport may have taught the new generation to be more level-headed."