Korda's serve motion can improve

[bjsnider]

I've noticed Korda freezes his racket arm in the trophy position, leading to a loss of momentum. Overall it's a good motion compared to Zverev, but he's leaving some MPH on the table, especially for a guy with so much height, and therefore a more forgiving angle over the net. For reference, here's slow-mo serving from 2017 (things don't seem to have changed since then):

And here, you can see Sampras gets to the trophy position without stopping there. It's all one fluid motion:

Korda also might consider stepping into the serve, or at least leaning back and then forward rather than using a static platform stance.

 

[guga_fan]

Sampras motion is just magnificent and so fun to watch. His follow-through on the right arm is also great.

 

[Nostradamus]

I've noticed Korda freezes his racket arm in the trophy position, leading to a loss of momentum. Overall it's a good motion compared to Zverev, but he's leaving some MPH on the table, especially for a guy with so much height, and therefore a more forgiving angle over the net. For reference, here's slow-mo serving from 2017 (things don't seem to have changed since then):

And here, you can see Sampras gets to the trophy position without stopping there. It's all one fluid motion:

Korda also might consider stepping into the serve, or at least leaning back and then forward rather than using a static platform stance.

Well, his daddy peter had pretty decent motion. very economical. i think his dad is involved heavily on mechanics of his son. so why don't you Email him

 

[Jonesy]

Will Korda save american tennis?

 

[80s New Wave]

I think Petr actually had a much more noticeable pause in the trophy position, he had a really high ball toss if I recall correctly.

 

[rabidranger]

Will Korda save american tennis?

Not unless he develops a killer instinct. He's almost too smooth.

 

[Aabye5]

Not unless he develops a killer instinct. He's almost too smooth.

No such thing. The killer instinct is in the head not the stroke

 

[Wurm]

There's a similar pause at the top of many pro serves - Federer's got a bit of a pause, Berdych and del Potro's serves have a pause in them too. Roddick's did too, despite how energetic it all was, and you're not telling me Roddick left some mph on the table?

What makes Korda's serve look a bit off is how little shoulder turn there is, possibly because of how he sets his feet up.

 

[bjsnider]

There's a similar pause at the top of many pro serves - Federer's got a bit of a pause, Berdych and del Potro's serves have a pause in them too. Roddick's did too, despite how energetic it all was, and you're not telling me Roddick left some mph on the table?

What makes Korda's serve look a bit off is how little shoulder turn there is, possibly because of how he sets his feet up.

No, Federer doesn't pause or stop:

Roddick stopped, but he was taking the racket back low and creating an exaggerated swing from there, which is not at all what Korda does.

 

[BeatlesFan]

It’s a bit unfair to compare Sebi’s serve to the greatest server ever (Pete). Fed’s serve is lousy compared to Sampras and his career wasn’t shabby.

 

[bjsnider]

It’s a bit unfair to compare Sebi’s serve to the greatest server ever (Pete). Fed’s serve is lousy compared to Sampras and his career wasn’t shabby.

I was not suggesting that Korda can make his serve as good as Sampras. I said, in the title "... can improve". Obviously if it was as easy as copying Sampras' exact serve motion, and the ball would then come off the racket just like it did for Sampras, every player would do so.

 

[DRII]

There's a similar pause at the top of many pro serves - Federer's got a bit of a pause, Berdych and del Potro's serves have a pause in them too. Roddick's did too, despite how energetic it all was, and you're not telling me Roddick left some mph on the table?

What makes Korda's serve look a bit off is how little shoulder turn there is, possibly because of how he sets his feet up.

Yep I agree.

I think Korda is a baby Delpo, both in form and function. His peak is theoretically higher only because he moves better at his height than Delpo did. He still has a very slender body, if he develops his legs and back some more he could be a powerhouse!

It took Delpo one summer to learn how to fall into his serve just that 5% to 10% more which allowed him to sneak a USOpen in 2009.