who had the better serve Ivanisevic or Roddick?

Azzurri · 10-02-2009, 04:00 PM

Although both have great serves, which was better? Roddick and Goran had very different games and backed those serves accordingly. Would Roddick be ane even better player if he had the athleticism of Goran? One issue I believe that really hurt Goran was, Goran.

pc1 · 10-02-2009, 07:27 PM

My initial thought would be Goran but the stats show Roddick is better I think.

Like you wrote it may be just because Goran loses a service game all on his own while Roddick may not make the foolish errors Goran makes.

Roddick is usually in the 90% plus range and I think his high was 93% which may be the ATP record since they have been keeping records.

Here's the stats for Goran as far as holding serve is concerned from 1991 on.
1991-84%
1992-89
1993-86
1994-87
1995-86
1996-89
1997-88
1998-86
1999-80
2000-76
2001-87
2002-82
2003-52

The ace totals for Goran is amazing. He was over a thousand aces in four out of five years from 1994 to 1998 with a high of 1477 in 1996. I think that still may be the ace record for a tennis season.
Roddick's stats for this year is 753 aces in 815 service games and 91% of his service games held. He's number two in the latter stat behind Karlovic who is number one at 92%.

The only year Goran was number one in holding serve was 1992. That's really not bad because he was behind Sampras a few times who usually was number one in holding serve in the 1990's.

World Beater · 10-02-2009, 07:58 PM

Roddick.

more reliable, consistent effective weapon

abmk · 10-02-2009, 09:00 PM

goran's was more devastating when on, but roddick's is more consistent and reliable. But I'll go with goran by a slim margin noting that roddick's serve doesn't usually get the credit it deserves ...

10-02-2009, 09:45 PM

Roddick's is more consistent, and he tends to back it up usually with his game.

Zimbo · 10-02-2009, 09:49 PM

I would go with Goran cause of the lefty spin and i think it was a harder serve to read. That said, I agree that ARod probably backed his serve up better.

Datacipher · 10-03-2009, 12:25 AM

If any player had a choice, they'd be foolish to take Roddick's serve over Goran's. Goran's disguise and placement....it's not even close on the first serve. Add in the lefty spin....

I believe Andy would trade with Goran any day...HE knows, who had the bigger weapon...

Darth_Timmaayyy!! · 10-03-2009, 02:47 AM

As they both play two hand back hands. Goran could hit his 1HBH just as well..

Just thought I would throw that in there...

Azzurri · 10-03-2009, 06:06 AM

anyone know how I could start a poll?

Borgforever · 10-03-2009, 06:13 AM

With all due respect to Roddick's steadier thunder-clap of a serve I give the better serve to Goran.

IMO Goran was a better and more consistently lethal player -- overall -- than Andy...

pc1 · 10-03-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borgforever

With all due respect to Roddick's steadier thunder-clap of a serve I give the better serve to Goran.

IMO Goran was a better and more consistently lethal player -- overall -- than Andy...

I agree. I was thinking about it and it's hard of course to separate the actual effectiveness of the serve and how they may back up a serve. A Federer is usually around very high for holding serve and in some years he may have a higher percentage of holding serve record than perhaps even a Sampras but if you asked anyone whose serve they would rather have, I think just about anyone would rather have Pete Sampras' serve.

Goran's serve was fabulous and his first serve would one of the greatest ever.

drwood · 10-03-2009, 07:26 AM

Same as with their games...Roddick more reliable, Goran more fantastic. I'd take Roddick's serve...he doesn't DF in pressure situations like Goran did (i.e. 92 Wimbledon final 5th set).

tennisdad65 · 10-03-2009, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pc1

..
Here's the stats for Goran as far as holding serve is concerned from 1991 on.
1991-84%
1992-89
1993-86
1994-87
1995-86
1996-89
1997-88
1998-86
1999-80
2000-76
2001-87
2002-82
2003-5...
The only year Goran was number one in holding serve was 1992. That's really not bad because he was behind Sampras a few times who usually was number one in holding serve in the 1990's.

7 years in a row at 86-89 % service games held and he was behind Sampras most years?! I guess Sampras must have been at 90% a couple of years.

what's Roddicks numbers for a 7 year stretch since we are comparing the two?

drwood · 10-03-2009, 07:46 AM

Goran's serve numbers should really start with 1990, since that was the first year he made the big-time -- beat Becker at the French and made his first Wimbledon SF.

TMF · 10-03-2009, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drwood

Same as with their games...Roddick more reliable, Goran more fantastic. I'd take Roddick's serve...he doesn't DF in pressure situations like Goran did (i.e. 92 Wimbledon final 5th set).

Agree! In addition, he even has more pace.

hoodjem · 10-03-2009, 08:54 AM

I agree: Goran's serve was "flashier." Roddick's is more consistent.

Azzurri · 10-03-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pc1

I agree. I was thinking about it and it's hard of course to separate the actual effectiveness of the serve and how they may back up a serve. A Federer is usually around very high for holding serve and in some years he may have a higher percentage of holding serve record than perhaps even a Sampras but if you asked anyone whose serve they would rather have, I think just about anyone would rather have Pete Sampras' serve.

Goran's serve was fabulous and his first serve would one of the greatest ever.

I know Sampras is regarded as having the best serve ever, it had been common knowledge back in the 90's that Goran was considered to have the best serve. This was also a time of great, power servers. So Goran was probably better than we can recall.

Azzurri · 10-03-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drwood

Same as with their games...Roddick more reliable, Goran more fantastic. I'd take Roddick's serve...he doesn't DF in pressure situations like Goran did (i.e. 92 Wimbledon final 5th set).

LOl..maybe you meant Roddick's MENTAL fortitude over Goran's. Pressure is more mental than physical. But I do get your point...Goran just had madness to deal within between the ears.

Azzurri · 10-03-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMF

Agree! In addition, he even has more pace.

Pace? placement is more important when you consider how hard both served. karlovic his a harder serve than both,m but I would rather Goran/Andy serve.

President · 10-03-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azzurri

Pace? placement is more important when you consider how hard both served. karlovic his a harder serve than both,m but I would rather Goran/Andy serve.

You lose all credibility with this statement. Ivo Karlovic has a much more effective and consistent serve than either Ivanesevic or Roddick. The stats back this up at well; he is at 92% games held without anything else but a serve.

10-02-2009, 04:00 PM	#1
Azzurri Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Next door to Elisha Cuthbert. Posts: 7,587	who had the better serve Ivanisevic or Roddick? Although both have great serves, which was better? Roddick and Goran had very different games and backed those serves accordingly. Would Roddick be ane even better player if he had the athleticism of Goran? One issue I believe that really hurt Goran was, Goran. __________________ "I may come across as a Pete-hater, but I'm not. I have utmost respect for his abilities" Fed_Rulz 2011

10-02-2009, 07:27 PM	#2
pc1 Legend Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7,146	My initial thought would be Goran but the stats show Roddick is better I think. Like you wrote it may be just because Goran loses a service game all on his own while Roddick may not make the foolish errors Goran makes. Roddick is usually in the 90% plus range and I think his high was 93% which may be the ATP record since they have been keeping records. Here's the stats for Goran as far as holding serve is concerned from 1991 on. 1991-84% 1992-89 1993-86 1994-87 1995-86 1996-89 1997-88 1998-86 1999-80 2000-76 2001-87 2002-82 2003-52 The ace totals for Goran is amazing. He was over a thousand aces in four out of five years from 1994 to 1998 with a high of 1477 in 1996. I think that still may be the ace record for a tennis season. Roddick's stats for this year is 753 aces in 815 service games and 91% of his service games held. He's number two in the latter stat behind Karlovic who is number one at 92%. The only year Goran was number one in holding serve was 1992. That's really not bad because he was behind Sampras a few times who usually was number one in holding serve in the 1990's. Last edited by pc1 : 10-02-2009 at 08:08 PM.

10-03-2009, 06:06 AM	#9
Azzurri Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Next door to Elisha Cuthbert. Posts: 7,587	anyone know how I could start a poll? __________________ "I may come across as a Pete-hater, but I'm not. I have utmost respect for his abilities" Fed_Rulz 2011

10-03-2009, 07:26 AM	#12
drwood Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,512	Same as with their games...Roddick more reliable, Goran more fantastic. I'd take Roddick's serve...he doesn't DF in pressure situations like Goran did (i.e. 92 Wimbledon final 5th set). __________________ "I thank the Lord Jesus Christ, because without Him, I am nothing." -- Michael Chang after beating Stefan Edberg to win the 1989 French Open

10-03-2009, 07:46 AM	#14
drwood Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,512	Goran's serve numbers should really start with 1990, since that was the first year he made the big-time -- beat Becker at the French and made his first Wimbledon SF. __________________ "I thank the Lord Jesus Christ, because without Him, I am nothing." -- Michael Chang after beating Stefan Edberg to win the 1989 French Open