Strategy Against Medvedev's Deep Returning Position

[InvisibleSoul]

I'm sitting here wondering whether it's possible to counter Medvedev's deep return position. Using normal serving positioning, it seems like it doesn't matter whether you serve out wide or down the middle... he's able to get to almost every ball and return them deep and with interest.

What if the server goes unorthodox to counter this? What if the server changes his positioning to just serve extreme cross court? Like basically serve from near the doubles alley and just go as cross court as possible? Even if Medvedev returns the ball, it has to be coming back in your direction, and of course your next shot would go to the opposite side of the court. He would have to run way further to get back into rally position.

Is this just silly or could it actually have some potential to work?

 

[bobleenov1963]

I'm sitting here wondering whether it's possible to counter Medvedev's deep return position. Using normal serving positioning, it seems like it doesn't matter whether you serve out wide or down the middle... he's able to get to almost every ball and return them deep and with interest.

What if the server goes unorthodox to counter this? What if the server changes his positioning to just serve extreme cross court? Like basically serve from near the doubles alley and just go as cross court as possible? Even if Medvedev returns the ball, it has to be coming back in your direction, and of course your next shot would go to the opposite side of the court. He would have to run way further to get back into rally position.

Is this just silly or could it actually have some potential to work?

Yes, it is possible to counter this. It is called Novak Djokovic. Med has never beaten Novak in any Bo5 events. There is your answer

 

[Chanwan]

Was thinking the same

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Install a camera back there. Only way to stop him.

 

[_GOATbis]

underarm serve

 

[dropshotlikeitshot]

Underarm serve

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Coming at the net seems to be the first thing that comes to mind, but his ability to hit lasers shots, great passing shots even from this position makes it difficult too, you have to be a really really good volleyer, and coming at the net only after a great serve

 

[Yugram]

Delete

 

[Milanez82]

Maybe take off some pace so the serve dips forcing him to move in
Then vary it with high kickers, falt down the middle, mix in some volley

In any case FAA was quite poor today overall

 

[rografnovand]

Fully Expect Novak to have a game plan

 

[RaulRamirez]

Med is quite tough with that big wingspan, a reliable backhand, etc. I think that in serving, you have to give him variety - of speed, placements and spins. Get him off his rhythm. I'd say serve-and-volley, but very few do it well, or often.

 

[Acegame]

To me it seemed that Van de Zandschulp figured it out during the 3rd and 4th set. He started reeling in his service games with ease. Because Medvedev was standing so far back Botic had a lot of time to set up his serve +1 shot and dominate the point. Serve direction didn't even matter that much. It was all about the next shot.

 

[DjokoLand]

Djokovic will start with his normal game plan and see how it goes if it doesn’t work he will throw in drop shots all over the place.
Even if he misses or Med gets too them and wins the point it will still force Med further forward

 

[metsman]

Be a fundamentally good tennis player.

Wonder why players never tried standing in the first row against Sampras, guess those wool pants losers just didn't have Medvedev's amazing natural feel for the game to figure it out for themselves.

 

[accidental]

The best servers in the past used to get much better angles on their serves. Medvedev wouldn’t have found it so easy returning against Sampras or Roddick

 

[BeatlesFan]

I'm sitting here wondering whether it's possible to counter Medvedev's deep return position.

Obviously yes. Pete Sampras would eviscerate his ROS stance. Serve him wide 70% of the time, come in and put away the easy volley off a weak return. The other 25% of the time bomb the serve down the T.

 

[Checkmate]

Obviously yes. Pete Sampras would eviscerate his ROS stance. Serve him wide 70% of the time, come in and put away the easy volley off a weak return. The other 25% of the time bomb the serve down the T.

Kyrigos would underarm him to grave.

 

[Shaj]

Novak did that so good.
In AtP cup 2020..Killed him with variety..

 

[Terenigma]

Underarm serve.
Dropshot.
Underarm serve.
Being a generally superior player.
Dropshot.
Underarm serve.

 

[Raul_SJ]

Kyrigos would underarm him to grave.

Why doesn't Djoker do this? Have not seen an underarm serve once.
Have seen a lot of stupid low percentage failed drop shots.

 

[TennisLurker]

the best returner of the Sampras serve was Wayne Ferreira (not at all Agassi)
He used to be quite behind the baseline for returns during the ball toss of the rival, but he would move forward towards the baseline to make contact with the ball

you can see many examples here, I put the timestamp at a return