Is Djokovic the Best Returner of Serve Ever?

[Daniel Thomsen]

I really think that Djokovic has put the art of returning serve to a whole new level.
If I'm not mistaken, in 2011 he won over 40 % of return games. That is extremely impressive.

And in Nadal's interview after the final, he said:

"Is something unbelievable how he returns, no? His return probably is one of the best of the history. That's my opinion, no? I never played against a player who's able to return like this. Almost every time. "

All the other 3 guys in the top 4 returns very well also. But what I think makes Djokovic returns better is his level of agression of the returns - specially on 2nd serves.

What do you guys think? And do you see Djokovic doing anything different technical wise than the others guys on the tour when returning serve?
Do you credit his level of returning to technical changes or more of a "feel" based one?

Daniel

[Satch]

i give credit to his athleticism.. he is really a flexible guy.

[kragster]

Havent looked at the stats but the average depth of Djoker's return must be one of the best in history. He consistently gets the ball deep even on serves he barely touches!

[statto]

I would put Agassi ahead of Djokovic. He played when courts were much faster and stood in insane receiving positions.

Older people than me may also bring Connors into the equation but I didn't see enough of him to make a determination.

[Limpinhitter]

Agassi, Connors, Laver, prime Sampras then, maybe, Djokovic!

[gtshark1]

Originally Posted by statto

I would put Agassi ahead of Djokovic. He played when courts were much faster and stood in insane receiving positions.

Older people than me may also bring Connors into the equation but I didn't see enough of him to make a determination.

I'd have to 2nd all of this

[Tammo]

Nalbandian was fairly good at returning. Tsonga on grass courts is also deadly.

[Seany]

I would have to say yes

[Daniel Thomsen]

Agassi also returned very agressive and is indeed also one of the best returnes of all time. But I don't think Agassi's level of returing was as consistent as Djokovic.

[Daniel Thomsen]

Originally Posted by Limpinhitter

Agassi, Connors, Laver, prime Sampras then, maybe, Djokovic!

Just wondering what your criteries are for saying Connors and Laver? Did you see a lot of their matches?

And Djokovic is deffinately at least one level ahead of Sampras, when it comes to returing serves.

[kragster]

Originally Posted by Daniel Thomsen

Agassi also returned very agressive and is indeed also one of the best returnes of all time. But I don't think Agassi's level of returing was as consistent as Djokovic.

I think the commentators pointed out a very good difference:

1) Agassi had to guess/pick a side and so you could ace him but if he picked the right side he would smack a killer return back

2) Djoker doesn't really lean to a side, he has such amazing flexibility and reach that he can get back most serves even without leaning towards a side. But his return of serve shot is not as deadly as Agassi (although it probably has more on it than any other player in the current mens game)

Guys like Tsonga/Nalbandian shouldnt even be in this discussion. They may have a few good matches but on a day in day out consistency basis, I highly doubt their stats are as good as Joker.

I'm hoping someone will eventually provide stats to compare.

[NikeWilson]

I'm a huge Agassi fan, but I think Djokovic might have surpassed him as the greatest returner of all time. If he can continue throughout this year or 2, that is.

Also, let's keep in mind... Rafa doesn't have too great of a serve to begin with. It makes Djokovic's return look even better.

[ZeroSkid]

I think it's between Djokovic and Agassi

[Zildite]

2011 Djokovic won 39% of return games.
Highest I found for Agassi so far was 37% in 1993. That was only 44 matches though.

[rkelley]

Originally Posted by Limpinhitter

Agassi, Connors, Laver, prime Sampras then, maybe, Djokovic!

Sampras? Really? I always looked at returning as one of the weakest parts of his game from what I remember (given how insanely good all aspects of his game were). Players with a good serve always stood at least a chance against Sampras to get to a tie-break - so they could lose there. But still it offered a ray of hope.

I always thought that was why Courier was a tough match for Sampras, even after Courier started to come down in the rankings a bit. Courier had a good serve, especially for the time, so he could hang with Sampras for a while. Agassi, OTOH, only an OK serve so holding for Agassi was less of a given. It was hard for anyone to break Sampras, so once Sampras got the break the set was probably his.

[Breaker]

Best of this generation.

Can't compare him to players who were consistently against bigger servers on quicker courts.

[Tammo]

Kubot is a great returner. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOTgo7zU1t8

[rkelley]

Originally Posted by Daniel Thomsen

Just wondering what your criteries are for saying Connors and Laver? Did you see a lot of their matches?

And Djokovic is deffinately at least one level ahead of Sampras, when it comes to returing serves.

Connors was very, very good in his day, or any day. Brad Gilbert mentioned in his book that Connors didn't kill sitter serves so much, but he'd dish out big returns from big serves. Kind of like Connors' whole game - he'd use his opponents pace against them.

Agassi was better at generating his own pace than Connors, so if you put something in Agassi's wheel house he'd be more likely to kill it.

Again, as great as he was I don't get Sampras in a conversation about great returners.

[fed_rulz]

Originally Posted by Limpinhitter

Agassi, Connors, Laver, prime Sampras then, maybe, Djokovic!

please quit talking about modern day tennis; you're embarrasing yourself.

[djokovic2008]

Originally Posted by Limpinhitter

Agassi, Connors, Laver, prime Sampras then, maybe, Djokovic!

Sampras return better than djokovic.? I think someone is being a bit TOO nostalgic about the good old days.