The best ever Server.

[Tamthewasp]

Officially Murray is the best returner of all time. According to the ATP but stats alone never tell the true story.

[Corbon]

Officially Murray is also the biggest grand slam choker of all time.

[Amazing Matheja]

Officially Murray is the best returner of all time. According to the ATP but stats alone never tell the true story.

Where did you see those stats ?

My opinion : Rafa and Djoko are the best returners nowadays, and Agassi the best ever so far (looking at the missiles he was receiving from the Sampras, Ivanisevic, Courier,...). I believe they are/were able to "do something" with the missiles they receive in a much better way than the others...

[Tamthewasp]

They said during the Raonic game that the ATP have ranked Murray the greatest returner of all time.

[Tamthewasp]

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.

I'm not disagreeing with Sampras being the GOAT. I said that aswell. I was asking what is the most important aspect of being a great Server. Is it technique, ball toss, timing, the push from the legs, the twitch muscle reflex and so on.

[Coolhand Texas]

murray definitely not the best returner of all time.

Its either sampras or karlovic for best serve. Remember when Karlovic beat fed in Cincy? Anybody remember the bombs he was hitting. Without his serve karlovic is not a tennis player.


PS. how can abybody take my arguments seriously when I have pic of justin bieber as my avatar. thanks cro

[Saarbrigga]

Best first service:
- Pete and Goran

Best second service:
- Pete and Michael Stich

Best 1st and 2nd in total package:
- Pete


No shame many guys outside Germany/Europe don t know it, but during his short prime 1991-1994 and a little bit in 1996, Stich won on % the most points on 2nd service alongside with Pete, they both were very close when it comes to 2nd service.

[NARCOSIS2009]

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.

Just read through this thread.... and have to say this just to annoy you Djarvik..... since you wanted debates like good old days and to prove you wrong... you forget about a certain Paris Bercy court

[Lucian86]

The are only 2 realistic options in my opinion:
Sampras and Karlovic

[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.

Just read through this thread.... and have to say this just to annoy you Djarvik..... since you wanted debates like good old days and to prove you wrong... you forget about a certain Paris Bercy court

...and you basing your opinion (cause that is what is is and only that) on what?

[safe_as_milk_]

I'd probably go with sampras too, but worth bearing in mind that ivanisevic apparently still holds the record for most aces in a season (1477 ) and most career aces...

[Vieira151]

If you want to go by Technique alone, I would say Lopez. It looks so perfect.

Otherwise you couldn't say anyone else besides Sampras has the best serve ever.

[Cro Morgan]

The best according to Murray....

"Andy Murray sat down with The New York Times to build the perfect player. Asked what the best shot in tennis history is; the one Murray would most want? He answered, “Pete Sampras’s serve would definitely be up there”. The Scot would take the forehand of his coach, Ivan Lendl. “From what I’ve seen on videos... he used to just dictate matches with it, make guys do a lot of running as well. It was very accurate and a heavy shot.” The World No. 4 would like to have Novak Djokovic’s topspin backhand, while he admired Tim Henman’s “fantastic, fantastic slice” and Andre Agassi’s return game. He also would choose the volleying skills of Stefan Edberg, “probably one of the best movers at the net”, Patrick Rafter and Rod Laver."

[Ali-Iqb93]

The best according to Murray....

"Andy Murray sat down with The New York Times to build the perfect player. Asked what the best shot in tennis history is; the one Murray would most want? He answered, “Pete Sampras’s serve would definitely be up there”. The Scot would take the forehand of his coach, Ivan Lendl. “From what I’ve seen on videos... he used to just dictate matches with it, make guys do a lot of running as well. It was very accurate and a heavy shot.” The World No. 4 would like to have Novak Djokovic’s topspin backhand, while he admired Tim Henman’s “fantastic, fantastic slice” and Andre Agassi’s return game. He also would choose the volleying skills of Stefan Edberg, “probably one of the best movers at the net”, Patrick Rafter and Rod Laver."

Why is there no federer in it? .. I hope Andy loses US open now

[Vieira151]

Because Federer can only really claim to have the best FH, in my opinion. I would choose it over Lendl, but that is because I have never watched Lendl play...

And everything else is probably 2nd or 3rd. Meaning he has the greatest all round game ever.