Would Edberg remain competitive for longer if he was able to change his serve after 1991

[Thomas195]

In late 1991-1992, Edberg suffered a back injury which permanently weakened his kick serves, which began to look like ordinary topspin serves. This led to the fact that he began to lose more since 1992, and by 1993 he even lost to Courier in Wimbledon, his favourite tournement. After AO 1994, he never got past 4R in Slams.

But what if Edberg was more successful in moving to a bigger serve (his 1st kick serves were normally around 100s-110s mph, so I guess if he actually hit flat or flat-slice serves, he could have realistically reached 120s) and adjust his net game? Would he remain a Slam factor?

One thing I am sure is that Edberg with a 120+ mph serve would have tossed Courier aside in their 1993 Wimbledon SF meeting (although I believe Pete would have won anyway).

 

[Rattler]

I remember that Wimbledon semifinal. It was on Court 1 and Courier was crushing his returns. Incredible tennis to watch in person.

 

[IowaGuy]

What is Edberg's fastest recorded serve?

 

[Rattler]

What is Edberg's fastest recorded serve?

I don’t know, but I do recall Krajiek (sp) was regarded as a big server then, and he was in the mid 120’s

 

[Rattler]

Googled it and this article came up

From 1991

http://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/16/sports/tennis-speed-kills-as-lendl-and-edberg-are-upset.html

 

[Thomas195]

I don’t know, but I do recall Krajiek (sp) was regarded as a big server then, and he was in the mid 120’s

Well, when I mention Edberg's 120+ mph, I mean 120+ mph in 21st century standard. During the early 1990s, it could be 115-120.

 

[flanker2000fr]

I am not sure that adapting his serve to serve it faster flat / sliced would have helped his game, as he would have hit his first volley farther from the net that he was accustomed to. That is a big change for someone relying so heavily on his volley.

 

[Thomas195]

I am not sure that adapting his serve to serve it faster flat / sliced would have helped his game, as he would have hit his first volley farther from the net that he was accustomed to. That is a big change for someone relying so heavily on his volley.

This would have helped him adjust to the new era of big hitters, when players began to step in and crush his slow kick serves.

But if he could, then he would have tossed Courier aside in the 1993 match. Courier was simply not good at returning fast serves on fast courts (Pete wrote that serving towards his forehand was the key but Edberg's serves were simply not big enough. In a fast-serving Edberg scenario, he would not hit winners after winners off Edberg's serves like he did in real life.

 

[IowaGuy]

Googled it and this article came up

From 1991

http://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/16/sports/tennis-speed-kills-as-lendl-and-edberg-are-upset.html

"Men's tennis seems to be headed in a direction appropriately summarized by Krajicek, who said his strategy tonight was to "get a good toss and hit the heck out of it.""

And that was 1991, before the likes of servebots Kyrgios, Karlovic, Isner etc.!!!

 

[tennistiger]

Edbergs serve was better in his later career! The problem was that his whole 80s playing style (forehand!!!) was overtaken by the developing game. He was not able to adept it like Becker did for example.

 

[big ted]

ill go out on a limb and say he would be more competitive if he had a better serve

 

[bigbadboaz]

Edberg was always capable of hitting a big flat serve - there are plenty of examples in the footage available and we've touched on this before - but he favored the kick as a way to close the net better.

I have to imagine that the back injury would still have been a factor in trying to hit that type of serve, but even so I'm not sure he would have seen that as an improved strategic choice given the way he'd built his game.

 

[Olli Jokinen]

Edbergs serve was better in his later career! The problem was that his whole 80s playing style (forehand!!!) was overtaken by the developing game. He was not able to adept it like Becker did for example.

No, it wasn't. His forehand got better, though. But overall his injuies made him lose a step, and with a now less effective serve, he just didn't get to the net a fast as before.