SERVE AND VOLLEY PLAYER
UNDERSTANDING GAME STYLES
We are going to take a tactical journey in an attempt to make some short lists of the most important game styles and what each style relies on to make themselves successful. We will also take the time to analyze how each style matches up against the others.
SERVE AND VOLLEY PLAYER
To become a successful serve and volley player you must be tough and extremely quick. You don’t need to concentrate for a long time but you have to have a good serve, think quickly and be able to finish points fast.
In tennis games today we don’t see serve and volley players that often. With evolution of racquets, increasing speed of serves and returns, and physical strength of tennis players it is very challenging to play serve and volley game.
The perfect examples of serve and volley players are: Patrick Rafter, Stefan Edberg, and most successful of all Pete Sampras. In today games the good example is Radek Stepanek.
CHARACTERISTICS:
- More comfortable in the front court, finishing points off at the net
- Looking to put instant pressure on the opponents return
- Hits his targets on the serve very well, and volleys to the appropriate spot on the court very well
- Serve T, first volley behind
- Serve wide, volley open court
- Serve body, volley short angle, cover the line
- Plays the match on his terms and at his rhythm
TACTICAL PATTERNS:
- Serve wide first ball open court
- Serve T, first volley behind
- First volley deep, second volley short
- First volley to weaker side
- Defensive volleys, keep deep and in front of you
- Volleys deep middle to take away angle on the passing shots
