The best ever Server.

[supinesmokey13]

but djarvik fed has a better percentage in terms of points won on second serve in his overall career granted he is still active put were he to stop playing he would have a higher percentage. plus fed does own the record for most aces in a final. but i do agree about as a single stroke karlovic tops the list the stats also back that up

[djarvik]

but djarvik fed has a percentage in terms of points won on second serve in his overall career granted he is still active put were he to stop playing he would have a higher percentage. plus fed does own the record for most aces in a final. but i do agree about as a single stroke karlovic tops the list the stats also back that up

That is likely because Fed back up his serve well. Second as well. But in terms of serve itself - I'll have what Peete is having all the way.

If Pete breaks you - the set is over. If Roger breaks you - you have a chance to break back. That is how I felt when watching Samprass and how I feel now watching Federer.

[supinesmokey13]

but djarvik fed has a percentage in terms of points won on second serve in his overall career granted he is still active put were he to stop playing he would have a higher percentage. plus fed does own the record for most aces in a final. but i do agree about as a single stroke karlovic tops the list the stats also back that up

That is likely because Fed back up his serve well. Second as well. But in terms of serve itself - I'll have what Peete is having all the way.

If Pete breaks you - the set is over. If Roger breaks you - you have a chance to break back. That is how I felt when watching Samprass and how I feel now watching Federer.

but that had only become a theme recentlywith roger. the irony of what you said is roger went cincy unbroken and has yet to be broken and the open

[djarvik]

Hmmm... I actually think his serve got better with time and is likely at its best now. He had slightly more pop a few years back, but he has a better placement now and his kick serve got better.


Cincy is the fastest court in ATP, not surprising Fed was not broken.

[Tamthewasp]

So am I the only 1 who thinks Del Potro has a strong Serve?

I really do like Roanic. Its a smooth serve. I haven't seen his ball toss stats but I believe Roddick was the best at grouping his toss so it was pra tically the exact same every time . I think Fed has the nicest serve to watch although from a coachong aspect idk who would be the best to watch and learn from. Al would know more about that than myself. What about the older guys? 70s and 80s Serving has come a long way sonce then bit we need to give yjose guys a shout aswell

[djarvik]

So am I the only 1 who thinks Del Potro has a strong Serve?

Strong? Yes. Best on current tour? No. In best 10 on current tour? No? Best ever? HA-HA!

I really do like Roanic. Its a smooth serve. I haven't seen his ball toss stats but I believe Roddick was the best at grouping his toss so it was pra tically the exact same every time . I think Fed has the nicest serve to watch although from a coachong aspect idk who would be the best to watch and learn from. Al would know more about that than myself. What about the older guys? 70s and 80s Serving has come a long way sonce then bit we need to give yjose guys a shout aswell

Roddick's strength is the quick toss and fire. Leaving very little time for opponent to react. But his toss does vary and in slow motion you can see it. Court side - too fast. Dolgopolov enjoys the same benefit now. Monfils has semi-kinda looking motion, but the toss is much higher.

Raonic's toss is higher then Roddick, more readable then Roddick as well..but...the big BUT, he places the serve better then Roddick IMO. With that height, pace and placement, hell, you can read the serve all you want - you will still get aced a ton.

I also think the serving has a lot to do with technology nowadays as well. Sure the technique evolved a bit, but much of the serve is having a "live" arm and timing. These things usually are talent related and people are born with them. One can improve the serve, but that one wont reach the heights of the natural talent. Just nowhere to compensate, as with ground strokes for example, where one can compensate by speed, having more time to setup. So I think if the older guys had the technology - they would serve just as fast, maybe slightly slower.

[C4iLL]

I agree with Djarvik, Sampras is the best server ever, by far.

Philipoussis, Krajicek and Ivanisevic were great servers too.

[Corbon]

Nole was not broken in Cincy untill the final either and he's far from the top servers (though his serve has improved a lot in the past 2 years) but he's more likely to win rallies just like Fed after a successful return. 1st Serve Win % only tells half the truth.

As of now I would give Isner the edge over Raonic but n 2 years it might look the other way around.

80's: Becker
90's: Sampras, Ivanisevic
00's: Roddick
10's: Let's see

[Tamthewasp]

Nole was not broken in Cincy untill the final either and he's far from the top servers (though his serve has improved a lot in the past 2 years) but he's more likely to win rallies just like Fed after a successful return. 1st Serve Win % only tells half the truth.

I think the top 4 excluding Fed Murrays Serve has improved the most. I'm not just saying that because I'm a fan but it clearly has made the best improvement. I thing becoming physically stronger has played a great part in that.

Al. What do you mean by "fire" Like fast muscle twitch movement where you either have it or you don't?

So you think Raonic is the most accurate Server? Combined with his power aswell makes his serve the best. As I said I cant talk about Karlovic not seen enough. I think Sampras was the best Server ever. An Raonic has the potential to take his crown on that basis.

Edberg was the best tactical server. Utilising placement and getting easy returns for such a weak serve

[Corbon]

Edberg's serve alone didn't win him points, his volleys did. Becker and Stich could play an entire match without S&V and would still be successful. Not sure what you mean by tactical, mixing his serves up? Sampras would often enough kick on his first serve to keep his opponent guessing.

Murray had a great serve mix up against Raonic. Never faced a break point too.

[djarvik]

Al. What do you mean by "fire" Like fast muscle twitch movement where you either have it or you don't?

So you think Raonic is the most accurate Server? Combined with his power aswell makes his serve the best. As I said I cant talk about Karlovic not seen enough. I think Sampras was the best Server ever. An Raonic has the potential to take his crown on that basis.

I meant his motion is very fast, from the moment the ball leaves his hand to the racket contact. That leaves very little time for opponent to read the toss.

Fast twitch arm and shoulder muscles is what allows for that serve to happen, but not always. In case of Karlovic, I think it is his height, combined with long arms, impeccable timing and kinetic chain. He is as far from "fast twitch" as they come in tennis world. But he did maximized all the other aspects. Including equipment and training. The guy tuned EVERYTHING towards his serve.

Raonic is not the most accurate now, I'll put Fed before Raonic in that category, even if not by much, but he is accurate enough. He has more pace then Fed, it also comes from a different height. Fed is a "volleyball server", he spikes the ball, while Ranoic and Karlovic and Isner are more of a "baseball server" - they "drop the hummer". All of them have great kinetic chains, from the ground up and all the way into the ball.

[supinesmokey13]

you are right his serve has gotten s
better with age just like the rest of his game a he has become a much more wiser and savy player. but he had become prone lapses in concentration fans call it 'mirkaland 'which see him lose serve for no apparent reason

[Tamthewasp]

So what is the most important aspect of a great Server. Is it timing, the toss, the ability to drive from from the legs( which Roanic does so well) the height/reach or technique. All are key but something has to be the most important

[djarvik]

Personally - the "best server" has to be define by two things:

- How much the player relies on his serve to win.
- How much did that serve win for that player.

Both categories Samprass is the top choice by far.

[Corbon]

Sampras also has a solid 20-14 w/l against Agassi, arguably the best returner of the game.