The Zverev vs the Tsitsipas serve

Better serve - Tsitsipas vs Zverev


  • Total voters
    52
  • Poll closed .

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
From a career-perspective, who has the better serve? Alexander Zverev led the serving stats in 2024, and averaged almost ten aces per match. On the other hand, Stefanons Tsitsipas has shown more consistenty overall, and has the better second serve.

The mechanics of Zverev's serve also seem more likely to break down. His infamous year of the yips doesn't help this impression. That said, is the power differential significant enough to give Zverev the edge? Zverev averages roughly 204 kmh (126 mph) compared to Tsitsipas' average of 197 kmh (122 mph) on the first serve.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
I mean anyone saying Tsitsipas cant really have ever played tennis. Zverev's serve is 4 leagues higher.

And yet in the career stats, Tsitsipas stands at 20 and Zverev at 35. It's an imperfect metric, but it is also telling.

Most people get caught up in how hard a player hits and don't take into account placement and variety. I think the Tsitsipas' serve up the T is more accurate, and overall he has more variety than Zverev.
 

The Blond Blur

G.O.A.T.
Pas has the edge when you take their entire careers into consideration:

Tsitsipas Career Service Stats:​

  • Aces 3564
  • Double Faults 1151
  • 1st Serve 62%
  • 1st Serve Points Won 76%
  • 2nd Serve Points Won 55%
  • Break Points Faced 2493
  • Break Points Saved 65%
  • Service Games Played 6409
  • Service Games Won 87%
  • Total Service Points Won 68%
Vs

Zvere Career Service Stats:​

  • Aces 5423
  • Double Faults 2394
  • 1st Serve 67%
  • 1st Serve Points Won 75%
  • 2nd Serve Points Won 50
  • Break Points Faced 3506
  • Break Points Saved 62%
  • Service Games Played 8199
  • Service Games Won 84%
  • Total Service Points Won 67%
However, the tennis landscape changes very quickly, here’s their stats for last season:

Tsitsipas 2024 Service Stats:​

  • Aces 421
  • Double Faults 186
  • 1st Serve 61%
  • 1st Serve Points Won 75%
  • 2nd Serve Points Won 54%
  • Break Points Faced 332
  • Break Points Saved 68%
  • Service Games Played 767
  • Service Games Won 86%
  • Total Service Points Won 67%
Vs

Zverev 2024 Service Stats:​

  • Aces 797
  • Double Faults 183
  • 1st Serve 71%
  • 1st Serve Points Won 77%
  • 2nd Serve Points Won 55%
  • Break Points Faced 370
  • Break Points Saved 70%
  • Service Games Played 1141
  • Service Games Won 90%
  • Total Service Points Won 70%
Zverev took a big leap last year, whereas Pas’ has stagnated/regressed.
 
And yet in the career stats, Tsitsipas stands at 20 and Zverev at 35. It's an imperfect metric, but it is also telling.

Most people get caught up in how hard a player hits and don't take into account placement and variety. I think the Tsitsipas' serve up the T is more accurate, and overall he has more variety than Zverev.
No he doesnt!! Zverev hits all 4 corners far better than Tsitspias
 

Rovesciarete

Hall of Fame
Overall Zverev's hold percentage gets dragged down a fair bit by his forehand and volleys, while for Tsitispas it is the other way around. As an isolated shot the serve of Sascha is clearly better.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
Overall Zverev's hold percentage gets dragged down a fair bit by his forehand and volleys, while for Tsitispas it is the other way around. As an isolated shot the serve of Sascha is clearly better.

Over the course of his career? I'm not sure you can say that.
 

Fabresque

Legend
Zed by far. His serve has improved over the years and his 1st serve is one of the biggest weapons on tour currently.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
No he doesnt!! Zverev hits all 4 corners far better than Tsitspias

Accuracy:

52-week-average-first-serve-speed-and-accuracy-graph-by-v0-dnrx914nphlc1.jpeg
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
When was this taken from? Last time Norrie was Top 20 was Jan. 2024, full year ago.

End of 2023, I think?

We are looking at their entire careers. We can both probably agree that Zverev accuracy has improved, but Tsitsipas has been more accurate overall.
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
I don’t get the “career perspective”. Am I supposed to average across their full career? Why should I do that?

Zverev is clearly hitting his form peak now IMO and his serve is better than Stef’s.
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
I don’t get the “career perspective”. Am I supposed to average across their full career? Why should I do that?

Zverev is clearly hitting his form peak now IMO and his serve is better than Stef’s.
Exactly. Zverev average is low due to his bad years in 2019-2021 or so. He was playing very bad those days. Losing to nobodies.

Why anyone should average at all.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
I don’t get the “career perspective”. Am I supposed to average across their full career? Why should I do that?

Zverev is clearly hitting his form peak now IMO and his serve is better than Stef’s.

Yes, because if you have great serving numbers for one season that doesn't make you Pete Sampras.
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
Yes, because if you have great serving numbers for one season that doesn't make you Pete Sampras.
Who is this “you”? The hypothetical average you across the career? It’s not a real thing.

Zverev’s serve technique in particular
has changed massively over his career. Novak is a very good server now, I wouldn’t dock him in any way just cause he started his career with a much worse serve. It’s kinda dumb to frame the question “who is a better server” in this way.

The players being compared are both in their primes right now. It’s ridiculous to knock Zverev for having a weaker serve when he started, especially when it is the obvious technical adjustments he’s made in the meantime that make his serve so dominant now. Why would I factor in serve stats based on a technique he replaced when answering the question “who has a better serve” today?.

What you’re trying to answer is more like “whose serve was more effective throughout their career?”. This is more of a end-of-career, how are your numbers cumulatively kind of view on things. Not without value but not how I’d reasonably phrase the question in the title.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
Who is this “you”? The hypothetical average you across the career? It’s not a real thing.

Zverev’s serve technique in particular
has changed massively over his career. Novak is a very good server now, I wouldn’t dock him in any way just cause he started his career with a much worse serve. It’s kinda dumb to frame the question “who is a better server” in this way.

The players being compared are both in their primes right now. It’s ridiculous to knock Zverev for having a weaker serve when he started, especially when it is the obvious technical adjustments he’s made in the meantime that make his serve so dominant now. Why would I factor in serve stats based on a technique he replaced when answering the question “who has a better serve” today?.

What you’re trying to answer is more like “whose serve was more effective throughout their career?”. This is more of a end-of-career, how are your numbers cumulatively kind of view on things. Not without value but not how I’d reasonably phrase the question in the title.

Why shouldn't it matter how a player has evolved?

Djokovic might have a better serve than Federer today (but probably not), but no one would say he's a better server throughout his career.
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
Why shouldn't it matter how a player has evolved?

Djokovic might have a better serve than Federer today (but probably not), but no one would say he's a better server throughout his career.
It doesn’t matter because you’re asking the question about two active players in their physical primes.
 
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