Return Serve Like Andy Murray

Wimbledon ushered in the big serves again. It seemed more than ever that players have developed both speed and kick, which is very challenging for anyone’s serve return game. In fact, the fastest serve ever recorded at Wimbledon was hit this year by Giovanni Perricard, reaching 153 mph. What is the major cause for this increase in speed? 

The answer is that tennis players are hitting faster serves due to a combination of factors, including improved technique, advancements in equipment, and increased physical size and strength. Specifically, advancements in racket technology, such as the strings and materials, enable more power and spin. Additionally, the modern training regimen focuses on developing the kinetic chain, maximizing racket head speed, and transferring body weight effectively, resulting in faster serves. Add that to the slightly warmer conditions at Wimbledon this year, and you have record-breaking service speeds. 

Nonetheless, it is a trend that is becoming increasingly apparent at all levels, simply because the contributing conditions mentioned are available to anyone who picks up a racket. This means that, again, at all levels, players need to respond with a better approach to returning the serve. 

First, every player needs to find a comfortable stance that will provide agile and flexible movement. The server has many options, and often, in the case of recreational players, the server can be very unpredictable. This means that at most levels, reading a serve or putting in place a strategy to handle the wide range of possible locations, spins, and speeds of a serve is required. 

If you watch professional-level play, most players initially take on a somewhat wide stance, but then transition to a forward movement once the server begins their service motion. This same motion should be comfortable for most recreational players. The action is much like what we saw with Andy Murray. His style of starting further back and then moving forward as the server went into motion was very effective. The purpose of this movement was to provide the ability to move quickly in any direction. If he were to stand still and let the server’s ball charge him, he would need to make a last-second adjustment that could result in being late to the point of contact with the ball. It’s simple: being in motion helps create motion; standing still requires a brief amount of time to start up. 

The next actions are equally important: how much of a swing is needed, what type of stroke is best, and what footwork is used. Grouping these three aspects is important because they result in providing the complete package. 

If you hope to take a full stroke at the ball, you will likely have to make that commitment on both wings. Each player needs to assess whether they have that skill and ability on both the forehand and backhand for this type of return. The other option, which is quite common among senior players, is using a short chip or bunt with a very abbreviated backswing. The goal here is to get the ball in play and put pressure on the server to play into the point, no freebees. 

With this type of serve return, it is very important to have footwork much like what is used on the volley, which is having your step executed at the same time the ball is contacted. Stepping too soon and you could be vulnerable to any movement in the flight and bounce of the ball. This footwork is also helped by having a Murray-like movement; it provides momentum, adjustment, and commitment. 

Lastly, mainly in doubles, always consider the value of the lob serve return. Again, mostly used by recreational and senior players, this strategy can take the opposing player at net out of the picture, but also be a great tactic to adjust to a server who prefers hitting cross-court groundstrokes after their serve.  

No better way to create change and progress in how a student performs than having them find new practice games that will test their serve return. Once again, here are three games that a coach can have their students play in hopes of helping them become better at both returning the serve and winning those points.

Game 1: Back-to-Back Trouble

Learn from this game the importance of getting the ball back into play. Each player serves a total of seven points, which represents a game. A game can be won by a score of 4-3, 6-1, and so on. The points are played regularly except for one additional rule: if the returnee misses two returns in a row at any time during those seven points, they automatically lose that game. For example, the server may have lost the first five points of his turn, but if the returnee makes errors on the last two returns, the entire game goes to the server. To equalize the playing of this game, you can add the rule that if the returnee can put back in play all seven points, then they automatically win the game no matter the score. Play a set.

Game 2: Pressure Points

Serve returns are crucial on breakpoints, and this game will help make them happen more often so that you can experience that pressure. Play a regular set, except having each game start at 30 all. This will help bring about the breakpoints more often. If you miss the return on a breakpoint, you automatically lose the game. If the server on the ad-out hits an ace on break point, it does not count as a missed return, and the game goes to deuce. Any ball touched but not returned is an error. Add a wager to your play and increase the pressure on your performance!

Game 3: It Takes Two in a Row to Break

To break serve in regular scoring, you have to win two points in a row. This game will help learn that. Play is to 21, but only the server can win points. Spin to find out who serves first, but after that, the right to serve can only be achieved by winning two points in a row as the returner. As the players returning will find out, they can win every other point and lose 21 to zero! The obvious goal is to develop a more consistent serve return. It’s also a game where the rules can be adjusted based on the level of the players, so if there is one player much stronger than the other, the number of points needed to earn the right to serve can be increased.