Best third shot in tennis?

[Ombelibable]

A third shot is the one you hit to return a return of serve.

Who has the best third shot among active players and of all time? Discuss.

 

[J011yroger]

It's called a +1.

J

 

[ibbi]

Davenport had a pretty badass one that comes immediately to mind.

 

[King No1e]

Fedr.
No really, he is rock solid with his serve fh combo

 

[daggerman]

Federer comes to mind first among active players.

When the serve +1 is clicking for Djokovic, it's usually a sign that he's in God mode for that match

 

[Shaolin]

It's commonly known as Serve + 1.

Fed has the best or at least used to.

 

[Ombelibable]

Dinara Safina used to have a pretty solid one.

 

[Rosstour]

The answer is always Rafa.

 

[Deleted member 733170]

Berretini GOAT and Novak BOAT!

 

[Hawaiian grip]

Nadal is higher on this list than many would think. Especially that wide serve on the advantage side followed by a deep, heavy forehand is gold.

 

[Ombelibable]

Nadal is higher on this list than many would think. Especially that wide serve on the advantage side followed by a deep, heavy forehand is gold.

2013 US open final was a stellar example of this

 

[guitarra]

All big servers have good 2nd shots after serve but that’s because they often get short replies off their huge serves, if any.

 

[r2473]

It's called a +1.

J

That’s what my wife calls me

 

[Deleted member 763691]

Rafa by a country mile, its the centerpiece of his whole game, wide serve, soft reply, big Rafa forehand
Its what hurt Federer the most in this match-up.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

A third shot is the one you hit to return a return of serve.

That's a second shot for you, since it's a second shot you hit.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Fedal tie

 

[Fugazi]

Fedr.
No really, he is rock solid with his serve fh combo

Not on the two match points he had against Djokovic in the 2019 Wimbledon final...

 

[Bender]

IIRC, Djokovic himself said Rafa had the best second shot in the game.

 

[Purplemonster]

Fedr.
No really, he is rock solid with his serve fh combo

That does depend on whether it is a match point though.

 

[flanker2000fr]

Lendl.

 

[Shaolin]

That does depend on whether it is a match point though.

So winning 20 slams with it isn't enough?

 

[Shaolin]

Lendl.

He's definitely the first to really play that style or at least master it.

 

[ForumMember]

Nadal relies more on +1 shot than Federer. Being a better server federer doesn't need it as much.

 

[flanker2000fr]

He's definitely the first to really play that style or at least master it.

Quite. I am a bit surprised to see the deference players of his generation have to Lendl, much more so that I would have thought. It's quite apparent if you watch him chat with Wilander / Becker / McEnroe during the last US Open.

 

[zep]

Nadal. Federer gets a lot of easy balls due to his serve. Nadal does it without a dominant serve. Whenever Nadal gets to hit a FH after his serve which is often the case, he almost always wins the point.

 

[Third Serve]

Fed used to have the best, but now it's Rafa.