Is your second serve a key strength in your game? For most players around the globe, the answer is likely no.

Let's look at some statistics from recent US Opens, covering both men's and women's matches.

MEN US Open: 2nd Serve Points Won

Consider this: the top male tennis players in the world, after playing over 80,000 points beginning with a second serve, achieved only a 321-point advantage. This highlights the challenge of winning second serve points, even for the elite.

For the average player, who may not be as skilled with their second serve or as adept in the Serve +1 scenario, these statistics are sobering. If the world’s best are struggling to maintain a slight edge, it suggests that most players are likely winning less than 50% of their second serve points.

Here are the top five men who have excelled in winning second serve points over their careers:

1. Rafael Nadal = 57.28%
2. Roger Federer = 56.83%
3. John Isner = 56.01%
4. Andy Roddick = 55.94%
5. Novak Djokovic = 55.37%

Now let’s take a look at the women at the US Open.

WOMEN 2015-2021 US Open: 2nd Serve Points Won

This data set is somewhat limited, missing information for 2016 and 2020, and lacking data from 20 matches in 2021. However, these omissions do not detract from the consistency and significance of the remaining data. It reveals a compelling insight: women at the US Open win only 45% of their second serve points, indicating a significant weakness in their game.

From the data presented, two key points are particularly noteworthy.

1. There is an “art” to winning 2nd serve points.
2. The 2nd serve, and everything that follows, must take up a bigger chunk of your time on the practice court.

Let’s delve into the first topic.

The “ART” To Winning 2nd Serve Points.

There are many more 2nd serves that come back into play than 1st serves.

2021 US Open MEN

• 1st Serves Unreturned = 36%
• 2nd Serves Unreturned = 18%

2021 US Open WOMEN

• 1st Serves Unreturned = 29%
• 2nd Serves Unreturned = 18%

Interestingly, both men and women have an equal percentage of second serves that go unreturned, standing at 18%. This means that 82% of second serves are returned, marking the critical point where the game intensifies.

Focusing on the 82% of serves that are returned, the objective becomes clear: to win more than 50% of these points. Here are the key elements to consider:

• Are you mixing your 2nd serve enough so the returner can’t simply step into it?
• Are you targeting the weaker return side on big points and mixing to the strength when you can afford to lose a point?
• Are you able to hit both a slice and a kick 2nd serve?
• Is your Serve +1 shot strong enough defensively against aggressive returns?
• Are you good enough at blocking your way out of trouble when you have limited time to prepare for your Serve +1 shot?
• Are you comfortable extending the point behind your 2nd serve to attempt to move from defense to offense?
• Is your technique strong enough to hold up under pressure? Do you have a consistent high point of contact?
• How often do you double fault? Are you more prone to double-faulting in tight situations?

These topics, and a lot more, are covered in detail in the Serve Strategy webinar. The art of winning 2nd serve points involves mixing serve locations and having a strong defensive foundation with your Serve +1 shot. It also involves having a positive mindset and clean fundamentals with the service motion.  The “art” is initially understanding all of these specific elements and then developing them one by one into a strength of your game.

The drills for the practice court are also be in the webinar.

Looking forward to having you along and helping to make the second serve a strength of your game.