Four Key Aspects in Tennis #3: Serve and Return

Serve and return are the fundamental techniques that underpin the game of tennis. They serve as the initial exchanges that set the stage for every shot that follows.

First Serve and Second Serve

Firstly, the mindset behind the serving techniques is clear-cut: 

The primary objective of the first serve is to secure an advantage over the rally, while the second serve aims to prevent the opponent from offending.

TennisSup

It's important to acknowledge that hitting a service winner, as seen among top-level players, may not be a realistic goal for amateur tennis enthusiasts. The primary objective of the first serve, in our context, is rather to take the upper hand of the rally. For instance, executing a well-placed slice serve out wide can open up a substantial area of the court, providing you with strategic options. You can direct your next shot into this open space, forcing your opponent into a hurried chase.

Imagine if Nadal hits a slice service out wide and then follows up with a forehand into the open court. So much court space to cover for the opponent! The more you move the opponent across the court, the higher the probability of them missing. (Image edited, reproduced from Wiki Commons.)

However, hitting to the open space is rather an obvious move. That’s why by hitting your subsequent shot in the same direction as the serve, you can catch your opponent off-balance, effectively hitting behind them. Another strategic option involves utilizing a short drop shot near the net, a move that can prove especially perplexing for your opponent. This tactic is highly effective because previous shot choices force your opponent to move sideways along the baseline, making them vulnerable to shorter shots. In tennis, strategies and tactics are just as vital as power and precision, and these nuanced strategies can significantly impact the outcome of a match.

After serving wide and maneuvering the opponent off the court, we have two additional options: either directing the ball to the same side once more, or opting for a drop shot, compelling the opponent to move forward. Fun Fact: Did you know that the drop shot is particularly effective on clay? The court's surface enables greater precision when executing a drop shot, as the red clay absorbs the pace of the opponent's shot. Additionally, a softly placed, spin-infused drop shot will result in a low bounce on clay, making it extremely hard for the opponent to reach out. (Image edited, reproduced from Wiki Commons.)

Moving on to the second serve, its primary purpose is to deter your opponent from launching an offensive return. An effective second serve typically targets your opponent's weaker side, whether it's their backhand or forehand, and incorporates sufficient spin for accurate placement within the service box. Employing topspin can be an effective strategy to push your opponent further back, limiting their ability to take an aggressive stance. Additionally, a well-executed slice serve with a low, skidding trajectory can be effective in denying your opponent the opportunity to slap powerful returns from significant heights.

The Austrian tennis player, Dominic Thiem is a strong contender against the clay king, Rafael Nadal on the surface of red clay. Both his forehand and backhand groundstrokes are world-level strength. What's so impressive is his second service, which employs significant levels of topspin, often forcing opponents to stand way back at the court to return the serve.

Arts of Returning

Lastly, we come to the art of returning serves, an aspect of the game that encompasses a vast array of techniques, making it nearly impossible to cover everything comprehensively. In the past, returning was relatively straightforward, with players targeting the middle of their opponent's court and then constructing the rally from there. However, the landscape of tennis has evolved, with some players opting for deeper court positions, even on hard courts, and employing powerful returns, much like Medvedev.

Famous for "Stan The Man", Stanislas Wawrinka is a tennis player with extremely powerful groundstrokes, compatible to the "Big 3". His unique, slow block returns are the basis of his return games, giving him the time and opportunity to position himself comfortably on the court and launch his offense thereafter. From the photo, we can see his intention of executing a block return based on the continental grip, often used for slice shots and volley.

On the other hand, some seasoned players, such as Wawrinka, prefer to utilize block returns, incorporating volley techniques to execute slice shots. In contrast, contemporary players like Alcaraz and Tiafoe have embraced a dynamic approach, which I call “return dashing”, a tactic primarily employed against second serves. It involves quickly approaching to the net as soon as the return is made. Nevertheless, with the ever-evolving nature of the game, we often witness strategies branching out and influencing one another.

The tennis prodigy, Carlos Alcaraz, executing the return dash up to the net. From the photo above, we can see a very compact and short backswing, which allows him to prevent any late responses to rapid serves. His eyes are fixed to the incoming ball and the body makes a sufficient unit turn, evident from how his head sits steady onto his right shoulder.  

Finals Words

Today's blog was on the topic of Serve and Return.  Here are the key takeaways of today's lesson:

• The primary objective of the first serve is to secure an advantage over the rally, while the second serve aims to prevent the opponent from offending.

• Strategy and tactics are just as vital as power and precision.

• On the second serve, using different types of spin has different effects on the opponent’s return.

• In modern tennis, a variety of returns is employed: from returns from way back of the court, to block returns, to return dash.

Next up is the fourth and final key aspect in the sport of tennis. Stay tuned and keep up the good tennis!