In the last 52 week Sinner has won both the highest percentage of serve and return points on tour. First time ever?

[Rovesciarete]

Thanks for the data to Tennis Abstract. Alcaraz has broke a lot more often, despite Jannik winning a slightly higher percentage of points. In the serve department Fritz is quite close, in the return Alcaraz even more so.

Rk	Player	SPW​
1	Jannik Sinner [ITA]	70.5%​
5	Taylor Fritz [USA]	70.3%​
35	Matteo Berrettini [ITA]	70.0%​

Rk	Player	RPW​
1	Jannik Sinner [ITA]	42.1%​
2	Carlos Alcaraz [ESP]	42.0%​
9	Daniil Medvedev [RUS]	40.5%​

Rk	Player	DR​	TPW%​
1	Jannik Sinner [ITA]	1.43​	55.7%​
6	Novak Djokovic [SRB]	1.32​	54.5%​
2	Carlos Alcaraz [ESP]	1.31​	54.3%​

It is of course highly unlikely that he will finish first in both categories, nobody has done that before in the last three decades...

P.S: Serve and return POINTS, could a mod step in? Should check not just the tables, but also the title...

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Incredible stat. Do we have similar stats from Federer 2006 or Djokovic 2011?

 

[ghostofMecir]

He could threaten 1.5 dominance ratio for the season, something body has ever done except most likely McEnroe in 1984.

 

[xFedal]

Thanks for the date to Tennis Abstract. Alcaraz has broke a lot more often, despite Jannik winning a slightly higher percentage of points. In the serve department Fritz is quite close, in the return Alcaraz even more so.

Rk	Player	SPW​
1	Jannik Sinner [ITA]	70.5%​
5	Taylor Fritz [USA]	70.3%​
35	Matteo Berrettini [ITA]	70.0%​

Rk	Player	RPW​
1	Jannik Sinner [ITA]	42.1%​
2	Carlos Alcaraz [ESP]	42.0%​
9	Daniil Medvedev [RUS]	40.5%​

Rk	Player	DR​	TPW%​
1	Jannik Sinner [ITA]	1.43​	55.7%​
6	Novak Djokovic [SRB]	1.32​	54.5%​
2	Carlos Alcaraz [ESP]	1.31​	54.3%​

It is of course highly unlikely that he will finish first in both categories, nobody has done that before in the last three decades...

P.S: Serve and return POINTS, could a mod step in? Should check not just the tables, but also the title...

Amazing, Sinner is a monster, but what is grandaddy doing there at 54.5% total points won?

 

[xFedal]

He could threaten 1.5 dominance ratio for the season, something body has ever done except most likely McEnroe in 1984.

Sinner is all time great peaking monster right now, he could have won the french in straights, he could have won this match in straights too.

 

[tudwell]

Ridiculous. He owns tennis.

 

[Cabeza del Demonio]

Incredible stat. Do we have similar stats from Federer 2006 or Djokovic 2011?

No shot Djokovic even comes close on serve. He and Nadal used to exchange breaks like STDs at a frat party

 

[xFedal]

No shot Djokovic even comes close on serve. He and Nadal used to exchange breaks like STDs at a frat party

Sinner is like a younger Djokovic but with a better serve, and verse return though.

 

[Cabeza del Demonio]

Sinner is like a younger Djokovic but with a better serve, and verse return though.

Vastly better serve. This might be the best serve-return combo we've ever seen from a top player.

 

[Lozo1016]

2013 Djokovic was #1 in return points, but #4 in serve points (behind Karlovic, Isner and Raonic). 2023 Djokovic was #3 in serve points (behind Isner, Raonic) and #2 in return points (behind Alcaraz).

UTS has some data if anyone wants to play around with it.
https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/statsLeaders
It hasn't been updated since the end of 2024 so it doesn't reflect 2025 data.

 

[dking68]

Ridiculous. He owns tennis.

I think his ceiling is higher than Carlos. Still believe he could’ve served better today. If he had, he could’ve won in 3 sets scarily.

 

[tudwell]

I think his ceiling is higher than Carlos. Still believe he could’ve served better today. If he had, he could’ve won in 3 sets scarily.

Ceiling I’m not sure, because Alcaraz in free flow is incredible. But he certainly has the higher sustainable base level. By a lot.

 

[GRASScaraz]

I think his ceiling is higher than Carlos. Still believe he could’ve served better today. If he had, he could’ve won in 3 sets scarily.

Do you think he sweeps the NA swing and wins the Summer Slam? (Canada+ Cincinnati+USO)

 

[dking68]

Ceiling I’m not sure, because Alcaraz in free flow is incredible. But he certainly has the higher sustainable base level. By a lot.

Ceiling is higher for Sinner. You do remember than Sinner had 3 match points 1 month ago and only got 53% serves in. If he continues to improve more on serve, no matter what Carlos does he won't match Sinner.

 

[dking68]

Do you think he sweeps the NA swing and wins the Summer Slam? (Canada+ Cincinnati+USO)

I dont want him to overplay. Just want to see him defend his USO

 

[xFedal]

No shot Djokovic even comes close on serve. He and Nadal used to exchange breaks like STDs at a frat party

Vastly better serve. This might be the best serve-return combo we've ever seen from a top player.

Ur wrong Djokovic came close on serve by the way in 2013 Djokovic won 69.71% service points and 43.07% return points, Djokovic in 2015 got 69.66% service points won and 43% return points won. Djokovic won 69.59% service points won in 2019 and 41.94% return points won, Djokovic won 70.07% service points in 2022 and 41%+ return points age 35, Djokovic won 69.91% service points in 2023 age 36 3rd in the world and 41.05% return points 2nd in the world.

 

[Cabeza del Demonio]

Ur wrong Djokovic came close on serve by the way in 2013 Djokovic won 69.71% service points and 43.07% return points, Djokovic in 2015 got 69.66% service points won and 43% return points won. Djokovic won 69.59% service points won in 2019 and 41.94% return points won, Djokovic won 70.07% service points in 2022 and 41%+ return points age 35, Djokovic won 69.91% service points in 2023 age 36 3rd in the world and 41.05% return points 2nd in the world.

He improved in his later years for sure (shoutout Becker and Ivanišević) but 2011 Novak didn't win with his serve. He won with massive shotmaking power and precision from the baseline, and the best return game of all time. He got broken quite often even during that run.

 

[helterskelter]

I dont want him to overplay. Just want to see him defend his USO

He’s 23/24. In 2035, overplaying will be a worry. Only playing one event between now and the US Open would be underplaying. Fair enough if he wins Canada to play Cincy in third gear but he should still play it semi-seriously.

 

[ghostofMecir]

Last 52 weeks:

1st in Serve points won slightly ahead of Fritz
1st in hold %
1st in return points won ahead of alcaraz
1st in break % slightly ahead of Alcaraz

lol it’s wild

He’s also now for 2025 at 1.48 DR and 56.1% of total points won. 1.45 DR has never been done from 1991–present and 56%+ of total points won I believe has been done 2 or 3 times.

 

[Rovesciarete]

Last 52 weeks:

1st in Serve points won slightly ahead of Fritz
1st in hold %
1st in return points won ahead of alcaraz
1st in break % slightly ahead of Alcaraz

lol it’s wild

He’s also now for 2025 at 1.48 DR and 56.1% of total points won. 1.45 DR has never been done from 1991–present and 56%+ of total points won I believe has been done 2 or 3 times.

Yes, I know - was going to post them later. I think very few people fully comprehend the extent of the underlying strength of this latest run. I checked the Big 3 numbers and Djokovic was able to win 56.0% in 2011, Nadal got 56.0% in 2019 and 56.1% in 2012. Federer was never able to go over 55.6%.

You need to be exceptional in all the important areas of the game. It is unlikely that he will be able to finish the calendar year with such numbers but he has surprised me often in recent years. His improvement curve is exceptional for a 23-24 year old, no signs of slowing down.

 

[JMR]

Yes, I know - was going to post them later. I think very few people fully comprehend the extent of the underlying strength of this latest run. I checked the Big 3 numbers and Djokovic was able to win 56.0% in 2011, Nadal got 56.0% in 2019 and 56.1% in 2012. Federer was never able to go over 55.6%.

1HB return penalty.

 

[Vincent-C]

I dont want him to overplay. Just want to see him defend his USO

This.

 

[Rovesciarete]

1HB return penalty.

Maybe, we certainly have a return delta. Possibly the faith in his serve excellence resulted in a slightly reduced return effort in some games...

 

[ghostofMecir]

Maybe, we certainly have a return delta. Possibly the faith in his serve excellence resulted in a slightly reduced return effort in some games...

it's 100% also a function of the one headed back hand. I've written about how poorly players with the one headed back hand have done returning serve in the power baseline era, which is the last 25 years and Federer as far and the way, the best one-handed backhand return player of this era. Relative to this handicap, 55.6% might as well be 56.5%.

Hardcourt return dominance

Return points won all time seasons

When looking at the statistics, i.e., domiance ratio, break%+hold%, % of games won, etc., it’s a complete outlier what Federer did with an outdated stroke AND outdated technology AGAINST the greatest players ever; it’s testament to his once in a lifetime talent that he was able to do so. It would be akin to winning NBA titles without shooting many threes and playing a post up offense.

2000 to present: Games won% in a season with a one-handed BH—career highest number for each player except Federer

Federer, 61.8%, 2004
Federer, 61.7%, 2006
Federer, 60.9%, 2005
Federer, 60.0%, 2015
Federer, 59.6%, 2007
Federer, 59.3%, 2011
Federer, 59.2%, 2017
Federer, 59.2%, 2003
Federer, 58.8%, 2010
Federer, 58.8%, 2014
Federer, 58.8%, 2019
Federer, 58.6%, 2012
Federer, 58.6%, 2008
Federer, 58.3%, 2009
Federer, 57.7%, 2018
Henman, 57.3%, 2001
Tsitsipas, 56.9%, 2021
Federer, 56.6%, 2013
Guga, 56.4%, 2001
Haas, 56.2%, 2001
Dimitrov, 55.7%, 2017
Gasquet, 55.7% 2005
Gasquet, 55.7% 2012
Ljubicic, 55.6%, 2006
Stan, 55.2%, 2016
Thiem, 55.1%, 2018
Gaudio, 55.1%, 2005
Youznhy, 55.1%, 2007
Gonzo, 54.6%, 2009
Blake, 54.5%, 2007
Philipoussis, 53.9%, 2001
Shapovalov, 52.8%, 2021
Mussetti, 52.1%, 2023

1991 to present: Games won% with a one-handed BH—career highest number for each player except Federer and Sampras

Federer, 61.8%, 2004
Federer, 61.7%, 2006
Federer, 60.9%, 2005
Federer, 60.0%, 2015
Sampras, 59.7%, 1997
Federer, 59.6%, 2007
Federer, 59.3%, 2011
Sampras, 59.3%, 1994
Federer, 59.2%, 2017
Federer, 59.2%, 2003
Edberg, 59.2%, 1991
Federer, 58.8%, 2010
Federer, 58.8%, 2014
Federer, 58.8%, 2019
Sampras, 58.8%, 1993
Federer, 58.6%, 2012
Federer, 58.6%, 2008
Federer, 58.3%, 2009
Muster, 58.0%, 1995
Federer, 57.7%, 2018
Sampras, 57.7%, 1995
Henman, 57.3%, 2001
Sampras, 57.0%, 1998
Tsitsipas, 56.9%, 2021
Federer, 56.6%, 2013
Sampras, 56.6%, 1996
Sampras, 56.5%, 1991
Sampras, 56.5%, 1992
Guga, 56.4%, 2001 and Corretja, 1994
Rafter, 56.3%, 1998
Haas, 56.2%, 2001
Becker, 56.0%, 1996
Krajicek, 55.8% 1996
Dimitrov, 55.7%, 2017, Gasquet, 2005 and 2012, and Stich, 1991
Ljubicic, 55.6%, 2006
Stan, 55.2%, 2016
Pioline, 55.1%, 1996, and Thiem, 2018 and Gaudio, 2005
Albert Costa, 54.9%, 1997, and Youznhy, 2007
Korda, 54.8%, 1993
Gonzo, 54.6%, 2009
Blake, 54.5%, 2007
Philipoussis, 53.9%, 2001
Shapovalov, 52.8%, 2021
Mussetti, 52.1%, 2023

@JMR 1HB return penalty is absolutely correct.

 

[D.Nalby12]

DR of 1.40 indicates ATG at his peak. Alcaraz has very low DR though. Shows his level is lower.

 

[Gazelle]

Ceiling is higher for Sinner. You do remember than Sinner had 3 match points 1 month ago and only got 53% serves in. If he continues to improve more on serve, no matter what Carlos does he won't match Sinner.

If Sinner hires Ivanisevic to improve his serve, the tour is Finnish.