Is There A Serve Doctor In The House?

[Cindysphinx]

Dinara Safina had fifteen double-faults in three sets? *Fifteen?* And hardly any aces, so you know she's not breaking the sound barrier with the serves that do go in.

OK, seriously. What is going on with Safina's serve? Other pros must get nervous, but they don't serve three double-faults in a row like she did today. I saw her lose to Azarenka at Indian Wells, and it was the same exact thing: Multiple double-faults at crucial times in the match.

I think the culprit is her high toss. She kind of camps out and waits for that toss to come down. Maria Sharapova does the same thing, and she has turned into a double-fault machine also.

If you were coaching Safina on her serve, what would you have her do differently?

 

[sureshs]

There have been instances of 3 dubs in a row before this

 

[TonyB]

I can't tell Safina what to do on her serve, but it's good to see that there are pros out there that have trouble with their serve just like the rest of us.

Some days I can pound down the aces left and right, but other days I can't get my first serve % above 30.

Wierd how it works. Her serve will be back for the next match.

 

[Cindysphinx]

There have been instances of 3 dubs in a row before this

I know, but 15 doublefaults is abysmal, don't you think?

Surely you're not saying Safina's serve consistency is perfectly fine and what you would expect for the No. 1 player in the world?

 

[akv89]

A serve doctor? I recommend Dr. Ivo.

 

[stoble]

I know, but 15 doublefaults is abysmal, don't you think?

Surely you're not saying Safina's serve consistency is perfectly fine and what you would expect for the No. 1 player in the world?

I agree, it's not okay, but I've seen it before. Did you see the Olympic final? She had a whopping 17 of them in that match and honestly it seemed more like 25. She was handing them out left and right.

 

[calvinchang]

I agree on the high toss... also, she's using more strength than mechanics to get her serve in and that takes a lot out of you.

 

[tennismsands]

Dinara Safina had fifteen double-faults in three sets? *Fifteen?* And hardly any aces, so you know she's not breaking the sound barrier with the serves that do go in.

Actually she had none, very poor serving day from safina. i think her serve motion rely's on timing since she has to bring her feet together and time the toss just right. Then she gets frustrated after missiging a few and her serve falls apart after that.

 

[Nellie]

Safina has never been mentally strong. She gets away with a toss over her head and drops her head at times when she gets nervous. I think the high toss takes away from the aces/timing but helps her to stay calm and to not rush shots.

 

[Cindysphinx]

It's definitely a chronic problem for her. I wonder if she will consider re-tooling her serve? Probably not, because she is oh so close to winning a major with her current game that she probably would be too nervous to mess with it.

 

[Joseph L. Barrow]

Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that she didn't hit even one ace and had 15 double faults in three sets, yet her opponent still only broke her twice...

 

[delphi17]

i think its her belly that is throwing her off balance~~
the belly is getting too big for a pro athelete~~

 

[Tchocky]

It's all mental. She's so fragile that she could have a breakdown at any time. She needs to see a sports psycologist.

 

[adams_1]

The height of her ball toss and the way that she doesn't drop the left arm before tossing (commentators mentioned this vs Lisicki) make it very difficult for her to have a consistent second serve.

Surely she would have to consider changing something after 15 double faults... right?

 

[Cindysphinx]

During an injury time-out, she was actually practicing her serve. I have never seen that before.

 

[Topaz]

The height of her ball toss and the way that she doesn't drop the left arm before tossing (commentators mentioned this vs Lisicki) make it very difficult for her to have a consistent second serve.

Surely she would have to consider changing something after 15 double faults... right?

I agree...the high ball toss is a problem.

However...how do you 'drop the left arm before tossing'??? Assuming, of course, that you are tossing with your left arm?

I think confidence is the biggest problem with Safina's serve. It can be a weapon, but her mental state is so shaky. First place that shows up for her is her serve. Second place is her forehand.

 

[scotus]

i think its her belly that is throwing her off balance~~
the belly is getting too big for a pro athelete~~

Her belly has been getting smaller and smaller in the last few years.

 

[Tempest344]

I agree...the high ball toss is a problem.

However...how do you 'drop the left arm before tossing'??? Assuming, of course, that you are tossing with your left arm?

you usually drop your arm just a fraction before you bring it upwards in the toss
just try tossing a ball up without doing this...it feels weird

 

[sh@de]

There is in fact a true serve doctor: May I present you... Dr. Ivo!!!

 

[pound cat]

During an injury time-out, she was actually practicing her serve. I have never seen that before.

And at the end of this practice she walked ro her chair shaking here help. So oractice didn't make perfect.

I find her left leg extended waay out as she's preparing to serve very awkward in getting her ready to hit the ball. Maybe that's because she's so tall it that sort of extension is needed. She didn;t use to so this, but she has grown a couple of inches.

Her serve didn't use ot be this bad... lots of aces, not so many df's.


She adores her coach, but I say it's time for a change, I don't think he's very qualified.

 

[Sentinel]

I haven't looked carefully, but last year she was mostly serving flat serves.

DF's mean she doesn't have a (reliable) kick serve yet. I think its more the nervousness thing with her. It happens at critical moments.

Dr Ivo (by his grip) - you can make out that there's a lot of topspin going into the serve. Its east of continental.