THE RETURN OF SERVE (Advanced Players)

So much time is spent by players working on their groundstrokes, yet in my opinion the Return of Serve is a bigger factor in winning matches.

If each player is dominating with their service games during a match, it's up to the Return Of Serve to create the break of serve to win the match. The Return of Serve is the key to unlocking tight matches.

                                     

THE GOAL WHEN RETURNING SERVE

Your goal when Returning Serve is consistency. You want to get as many balls back to start the rally as possible. 

Put yourself in the Server's shoes for a moment. You've been serving really well and landing lots of first serves, but your opponent keeps making their returns and forcing you to engage in the point. What should they do? Do they change something or continue to play the same?

Whichever course of action the Server takes, you have managed to get into their head, create doubt and influence their decision-making.

When you are returning the Serve... 

Aim for consistency. Make the Server play. 

TAKING THE BALL EARLIER

You should take the ball earlier whenever you need to "take time away" from your opponent. This may occur when the opponent serves and volleys. By taking the ball earlier, you force the incoming server to volley from deeper in the court, making it more difficult for them to finish the point with the first volley and perhaps setting you up to pass them on the next ball.

You should also take the ball earlier when you sense the opponent can be rushed into mistakes. You could have been returning from deep off the baseline for most of the match, but by sometimes changing tactics and taking the ball earlier, you can surprise your opponent and gain cheap points.

The term I use when instructing a player to take the ball early is "Inside Returns", meaning that the returner should aim to contact the ball with their feet positioned inside the baseline. 

Begin by standing deep and try to time your movement forward once the Server has started their toss. Bring your feet over the baseline and continue the forward momentum as you hit the ball, reducing your swing and relying on perfect timing from the ground.

...TAKING THE BALL LATER

Standing deeper to return the service gives you time to control the serve. In today's power game, you're often better off getting the ball back and giving yourself a chance to engage in a rally. Standing deep is the best option if you feel you are the stronger player in the ground-stroke exchanges.

If you stand deep to return the serve, you must return the ball with depth; otherwise, your opponent will take advantage of the short ball and attack you. Give the ball height and try to create a "heavy" ball that is not easily attacked. 

Standing further off the baseline has created a greater angle for your opponent to work with, so the higher, heavier ball will give you time to recover to the centre of the court. 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ON THE "BIG POINTS"?

There is no rule to perfectly cover what type of return to adopt on the "Big Points". But there are a few considerations that will help you make better decisions.

When reaching a break-point, you must ask yourself what will work best at this particular point and at this stage of the match. The answer will either be to be consistent or take more risks. 

Your decision should be based on your opponent.

If your opponent is a steady player and comfortable on the baseline, you should take the ball early and hopefully get to the net. This will give them less time to react and shorten the point.

If your opponent is the aggressive type, who often hits big shots to get their way out of trouble, you should get the ball back consistently and try to engage them in a rally. The pressure is now on the server; they will feel the need to take risks, and you may be able to hustle them into adopting poor shot selection.

VISUAL BLOCKING

Visual Blocking is a term used to describe when you physically block one of your opponent's shot options by standing there.

Imagine that your opponent hits a wide serve to your forehand really well and is winning a lot of points that way. If you physically stand wider, where the wide serve has been going, you tell your opponent to change their preferred target and serve down the "T", which means you can now anticipate where the serve is going.

Visual Blocking is a way to dictate which target your opponent chooses

The Return of Serve is an aspect of your game that must be isolated and practised. Try to include the Serve and Return of Serve in drills during practice so that you get more comfortable starting the point that way. Time spent working on the Return of Serve will be time well spent.