An ode to great returning

[Spin Diesel]

Anyone else sharing the satisfaction of seeing great returns? I actually don‘t even have a problem with all the people returning from far behind the baseline. If you don‘t have that rare talent of making your best returns while staying close, sure it makes sense.
But I really do enjoy when someone has it! Maybe that‘s the reason, why I enjoy Sinner so much. And Karatsev. And today Struff was returning like crazy as well. So I just wanted to see if anybody shares the same fetish

 

[PURETENNISsense]

Who do you say tops the list for you? Top 3 of all time or from 2000 and later?

 

[Spin Diesel]

Who do you say tops the list for you? Top 3 of all time or from 2000 and later?

I‘m only watching pro tennis for about 10-12 years and follow it really passionately for about, I don‘t know, 5 years. So I‘m the wrong one to answer that!
When watching old highlights, Agassi seemed to stand out. But it‘s not really possible to judge only by highlights and if I don‘t really know the opponents so well.
There‘s obviously Djokovic who returns really well but I think not as often in the most aggressive way but rather to give him a neutral rally starting point, which is probably the best strategy for him.
I think Sinner is my personal favourite returner, even though he doesn‘t find his very best returning in every match. But I think this will improve over time. And when he‘s on his returns are rather scary.

 

[junior74]

Struff's returning yesterday made the match for me. So fun to see someone not just trying to neutralise.

 

[Spin Diesel]

Struff's returning yesterday made the match for me. So fun to see someone not just trying to neutralise.

Yeah, it was rather spectacular. And even when Alcaraz led 4-1 in the third, it wasn't like "ok, now it's definitely over"

 

[junior74]

Yeah, it was rather spectacular. And even when Alcaraz led 4-1 in the third, it wasn't like "ok, now it's definitely over"

I've always liked him, but this was great. And his speech was so gentle and humble - the total opposite of his spirit on court.

Hoping for a great end to his career with a few top years. That would be good for tennis after so many years of rallying.

 

[Spin Diesel]

I've always liked him, but this was great. And his speech was so gentle and humble - the total opposite of his spirit on court.

Hoping for a great end to his career with a few top years. That would be good for tennis after so many years of rallying.

I agree on everything there!

 

[Benf15harp3000]

Struff's returning yesterday made the match for me. So fun to see someone not just trying to neutralise.

There’s a reason da best playas Don’t return that aggressively

 

[junior74]

There’s a reason da best playas Don’t return that aggressively

Yes, you're absolutely right - but it's possible to play tennis in many different ways. Using very aggressive returning strategy is unexpected - and unexpected is always good in tennis. Too many players have done well in recent years just by being consistent. If they are threatened more on their serve, their game plan is disrupted and their games sometimes fall apart. Not that long ago, chip n charge was widely used.

Federer returned very aggressively in 2017, for instance. And got results.

 

[PDJ]

Anyone else sharing the satisfaction of seeing great returns? I actually don‘t even have a problem with all the people returning from far behind the baseline. If you don‘t have that rare talent of making your best returns while staying close, sure it makes sense.
But I really do enjoy when someone has it! Maybe that‘s the reason, why I enjoy Sinner so much. And Karatsev. And today Struff was returning like crazy as well. So I just wanted to see if anybody shares the same fetish

Definitely prefer watching great returns rather than great serves.

 

[Spin Diesel]

There’s a reason da best playas Don’t return that aggressively

Sinner is returning rather aggressively overall and his return-points-won stat is quite similar to Alcaraz, Djokovic and Nadal:
Alcaraz 41.77 %
Djokovic 41.40 %
Sinner 41.10 %
Nadal 41.09 %

 

[tex123]

Anyone else sharing the satisfaction of seeing great returns? I actually don‘t even have a problem with all the people returning from far behind the baseline. If you don‘t have that rare talent of making your best returns while staying close, sure it makes sense.
But I really do enjoy when someone has it! Maybe that‘s the reason, why I enjoy Sinner so much. And Karatsev. And today Struff was returning like crazy as well. So I just wanted to see if anybody shares the same fetish

Struff was returning so well because he's tall and Alcaraz's serve was at a perfect height for him. He was also following it up by attacking the net.

So, Carlito started mixing it up with heavily spun slower kIck serves out wide. It was intelligent play against a stubborn opponent.

 

[PURETENNISsense]

I‘m only watching pro tennis for about 10-12 years and follow it really passionately for about, I don‘t know, 5 years. So I‘m the wrong one to answer that!
When watching old highlights, Agassi seemed to stand out. But it‘s not really possible to judge only by highlights and if I don‘t really know the opponents so well.
There‘s obviously Djokovic who returns really well but I think not as often in the most aggressive way but rather to give him a neutral rally starting point, which is probably the best strategy for him.
I think Sinner is my personal favourite returner, even though he doesn‘t find his very best returning in every match. But I think this will improve over time. And when he‘s on his returns are rather scary.

I'm a bit of the opposite. I watched a good bit of tennis in the 2004-2015 times. Work and family life has changed priorities the last 8 years

Haven't seen much of the newer guys but I know Sinner hits a big ball so that makes sense to me. I'll have to check out some of his matches for sure. From what I can remember, Federer did take returns quite early as well.

I'm 5'9 and need to definitely take kick serves early when I know they are coming (depending on the playing style of the opponent of course). However, I wonder about the players my height and shorter about their returns. Will need to check on it, Swartzman, Nishioka, etc.

Good post btw, brings up some interesting thoughts about "aggressive" returning.

 

[aldeayeah]

Anyone else sharing the satisfaction of seeing great returns? I actually don‘t even have a problem with all the people returning from far behind the baseline. If you don‘t have that rare talent of making your best returns while staying close, sure it makes sense.
But I really do enjoy when someone has it! Maybe that‘s the reason, why I enjoy Sinner so much. And Karatsev. And today Struff was returning like crazy as well. So I just wanted to see if anybody shares the same fetish

Against mediocre servers, Alcaraz absolutely murders the return too.

In some matches this year, he was hitting second serve returns well inside the baseline.

And he has recently developed a quite nasty DTL backhand return from the deuce side as well.

 

[Chanwan]

Struff's returning yesterday made the match for me. So fun to see someone not just trying to neutralise.

Hear, hear - for me as well. In general I am fan of players who 'make things happen'. Be that via a great return, rushing the net, a great serve plus one etc

 

[Chanwan]

Against mediocre servers, Alcaraz absolutely murders the return too. In some matches this year, he was hitting all second serve returns several steps inside the baseline.

Yeah, Rune has some of these runs as well (though not as often)

 

[Spin Diesel]

Against mediocre servers, Alcaraz absolutely murders the return too. In some matches this year, he was hitting all second serve returns several steps inside the baseline. And he has recently developed a quite nasty DTL backhand return from the deuce court as well.

Yeah, for sure! Alcaraz is probably one of the guys, who adjusts his return the best to different opponents and he's really succesful with that. However he is not the kind of natural returner as some of the others. In my opinion it's a rare talent only a handful of people have, to be able to return even the biggest serves well, right from the baseline.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I never was a Djokovic fan but his return is something extraordinary. He and Agassi are the greatest returners I've ever seen and by a wide margin.