Laver - deuce court serve out wide

avmoghe

Semi-Pro
I'm more than aware of how youtube highlights can skew perception, but I'll post this anyways.

Was Laver unwilling/unable to hit serves out wide when serving into the deuce court? Was this some tactic?

Have a look at 3 videos - they show fifty or more serves from Laver against Newcombe and Ashe - I can count only about 3-5 serves that actually stretch the opponent out wide on deuce court serves. (2 were aces against Newcombe I think)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpdPX9avs1M&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q13_STOUBc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePo6KcGQd4M&feature=related

Hell - Look at where Newcombe is standing at 2:50 in the second video (second link above) to return Laver's serve - Its pretty obvious where the serve was going. And inspite of this standing position, Laver's serve wasn't really too far away (would've been a body serve if Newcombe stood in the usual place).

So, any thoughts? Was this a serve that Laver had trouble hitting correctly? I'm geniunely curious since I only started watching tennis in the early 90's.
 
Last edited:
I'm more than aware of how youtube highlights can skew perception, but I'll post this anyways.

Was Laver unwilling/unable to hit serves out wide when serving into the deuce court? Was this some tactic?

Have a look at 3 videos - they show fifty or more serves from Laver against Newcombe and Ashe - I can count only about 3-5 serves that actually stretch the opponent out wide on deuce court serves. (2 were aces against Newcombe I think)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpdPX9avs1M&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q13_STOUBc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePo6KcGQd4M&feature=related

Hell - Look at where Newcombe is standing at 2:50 in the second video (second link above) to return Laver's serve - Its pretty obvious where the serve was going. And inspite of this standing position, Laver's serve wasn't really too far away (would've been a body serve if Newcombe stood in the usual place).

So, any thoughts? Was this a serve that Laver had trouble hitting correctly? I'm geniunely curious since I only started watching tennis in the early 90's.

If 2 of 3-5 serves he did, were aces, I think you have your answer!

Anyways, I haven't watched the clips yet, but don't remember this being an issue. Bear in mind that as a leftie, he can't use a slice out wide, so the percentages are a bit lower for him trying to go out way wide with a flat serve.

And in the case of Newcombe, I'd suspect that it was part of his strategy, Newcombe, was infamous for favoring his forehand return!
 

avmoghe

Semi-Pro
maybe he preferred a backhand return?

Against Ashe? - who from what I read was known more for his backhand than his forehand? (please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here)

If I had seen it only against Newcombe, I wouldn't be that surprised.
 
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