Who is the Greatest Server of All-time?

[uncooling]

It's hard to judge players from different generations, but I thought this would be an interesting topic to discuss. Couple of tihngs that must be taken into account though:


Old days:
-not as good racquet technology, so lower serve speed
-but this means it's also hard to block the serve with weak string/racquet, etc.

Nowadays:
-coursts are WAY slower, so harder to ace/hit service winner
-players return much better because of racquet technology/better reflex, etc.

[Leelord337]

This is such a hard question to answer. I might go roscoe tanner on this one because he hit huge with a wooden racket. imagine him w/a modern racket!

[The-Champ]

Karlovic


Queen Serena a.k.a the GOAT on women's side http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4PtT9Ly-yA

[MonkeyBoy]

Roscoe Tanner.

[Sri]

Nginx is pretty good for static resources. Haproxy for the rest.

Do I win?

[helloworld]

Federer has the worst serve by far in the poll, but he gets the second most votes. LOL!!!

[Leelord337]

^^he's the tiger woods of tennis. (recognizable name) and I wouldn't say its the best serve...but the most Clutch server of all time Definitely.

most non-tennis fans don't know those other players!

[PseudoFed]

It is I, of course. You're welcome.

#humble

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Nadal has an argument for being one of the greatest servers of all time.

-Broken only 5 times en route to the USOpen2010 title, broken by Verdasco, Youzhny, Djokovic (a record shared with Andy Roddick)
-Broken only TWICE en route to the final at USOpen2010 (broken by Verdasco and Youzhny)
-Held 71 of 72 service games at RolandGarros2012 from 1R to SF (was broken by Bolelli in the first round)
-Has consistently had the best first serve percentage in the top 4 for the past few years
-Broken only TWICE en route to the final at Wimbledon2006 (held 80 straight times)

[Jeffrey573639]

Originally Posted by 6-1 6-3 6-0

Nadal has an argument for being one of the greatest servers of all time.

-Broken only 5 times en route to the USOpen2010 title, broken by Verdasco, Youzhny, Djokovic (a record shared with Andy Roddick)
-Broken only TWICE en route to the final at USOpen2010 (broken by Verdasco and Youzhny)
-Held 71 of 72 service games at RolandGarros2012 from 1R to SF (was broken by Bolelli in the first round)
-Has consistently had the best first serve percentage in the top 4 for the past few years
-Broken only TWICE en route to the final at Wimbledon2006 (held 80 straight times)

Calling
10letmegogravities

[Romismak]

Sampras again leading the poll.... omg i don´t have words really

Best server is Ivanisevic or Karlovic - in Ivo´s case he is up there among best servers in every department statistically and he is by far worst besides serve from all top servers.

Goran is arguably best server from 90s and also he can be choosed as best ever

Sampras was great, but to claim he is best server, because i have seen him hit 5unreturnables from 0-40 to win service game or that he was that good and so good is one thing, but honestly he is definitely not best server ever, he wasn´t even best server in his era with Goran, Krajicek clearly better servers, i mean he was way better than those guys besides serve and still they were able to beat him, Krajicek was even tough match-up for him, if Pete was better in all aspects including serve than how the hell he loose so many times?

[The-Champ]

Originally Posted by helloworld

Federer has the worst serve by far in the poll, but he gets the second most votes. LOL!!!

he has more votes than Karlovic

[Romismak]

Originally Posted by 6-1 6-3 6-0

Nadal has an argument for being one of the greatest servers of all time.

-Broken only 5 times en route to the USOpen2010 title, broken by Verdasco, Youzhny, Djokovic (a record shared with Andy Roddick)
-Broken only TWICE en route to the final at USOpen2010 (broken by Verdasco and Youzhny)
-Held 71 of 72 service games at RolandGarros2012 from 1R to SF (was broken by Bolelli in the first round)
-Has consistently had the best first serve percentage in the top 4 for the past few years
-Broken only TWICE en route to the final at Wimbledon2006 (held 80 straight times)

I hope you are joking, otherwise you are so stupid you can´t say difference between serve and service game hold

Nadal is statistically and also in reality one of best ever in holding his serve - which is thanks to his groundgame. But his serve - his serve was major weakness at least half of his career, now he is serving o.k, but still he is not even one of better servers among top 20 guys.

[helloworld]

What separates Sampras from the pack is his SECOND SERVE, not his first serve! Goran and Krajcek can hit as good first serve, but nowhere as good on the second serve.

[Relinquis]

Sampras has the complete serving package. Placement, speed, spin, consistency and disguise on both his first and second serves. His second serve really was a cut above the rest.

Federer is very close to this imo. Maybe better on the disguise though, although Sampras' serve looked cooler.

Interesting thing about racquet technology, wasn't there a test where they measured Mark Philippoussis' serve and then gave him an old wooden racquet and he served within 1-2 mph of the speed of the new ones?

[SystemicAnomaly]

Poll/thread fail.

Where are Pancho Gonzales, Bill Tilden, Roscoe Tanner and Mark Phillipoussis?

[TennisLovaLova]

Originally Posted by helloworld

Federer has the worst serve by far in the poll, but he gets the second most votes. LOL!!!

Variation ( a lot)
Also, not very powerful, but hard to read
in his peak, he could pull 3-4 straight aces to secure a game
Also: I find his serve the most beautiful in terms of style and grace

[Phoenix1983]

Of those I have seen, Sampras.

However all-time it may be Pancho Gonzales.

[axel89]

if anyone votes for federer they are mororns
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Matchfac...px?c=4&s=0&y=0
karlovic is easily #1 on that list

[estigma2001]

Sampras many players said that they can not read his serve and he can ace you with the second serve!