The Sure Way Dimitrov Used To Climb The ATP Rankings
The Sure Way Dimitrov Used To Climb The ATP Rankings
You can draw a straight line between rising up the ATP rankings and improving your second-serve return.
The first serve is always an asset for players because of the raw power, but win percentages surrounding second serves can easily flip into the liability column, especially against a good returner.
An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of the best returners from the 2017 season shows that the second-serve return can evolve into a bigger weapon than the second serve itself.
For example, Grigor Dimitrov won 48.2 per cent (1033/2142) of his second-serve return points in 2016 from 65 matches. Everything under 50 per cent sits in the liability column, and this was not an obvious strength of the Bulgarian’s game two seasons ago, when he finished No. 17 in the 2016 year-end ATP Rankings.
But fast forward to 2017 and Dimitrov surged all the way up to No. 3, winning 52 per cent (1092/2101) of second-serve return points from 68 matches. He was 34th best on tour in 2016 in this specific category, and he moved up to ninth best last season.
2017 Season: Top 10 Second-Serve Return Points Won
|
Ranking |
Player |
Second-Serve Return Win Percentage |
Points Won |
Total Points |
|
1 |
Diego Schwartzman |
56.13% |
1213 |
2161 |
|
2 |
Rafael Nadal |
55.63% |
1289 |
2317 |
|
3 |
Roberto Bautista Agut |
54.13% |
1187 |
2193 |
|
4 |
Richard Gasquet |
54.08% |
776 |
1435 |
|
5 |
David Goffin |
53.91% |
1343 |
2491 |
|
6 |
Hyeon Chung |
53.37% |
697 |
1306 |
|
7 |
Pablo Carreno Busta |
53.01% |
994 |
1875 |
|
8 |
Fernando Verdasco |
52.49% |
897 |
1709 |
|
9 |
Grigor Dimitrov |
51.98% |
1092 |
2101 |
|
10 |
Lucas Pouille |
51.56% |
924 |
1792 |
Diego Schwartzman, the 25-year-old Argentine, finished first on tour in 2017 with second-serve points won, at just over 56 per cent. The only other player to be above 55 per cent was World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who won 55.6 per cent of his second-serve return points.
Roberto Bautista Agut and Richard Gasquet were both above 54 per cent, while David Goffin, Hyeon Chung and Pablo Carreno Busta were all north of 53 per cent.
Rounding out the Top 10 in this category were Fernando Verdasco, Dimitrov and Lucas Pouille. Overall, there were 24 players on tour that were able to generate a winning percentage returning second serves.
The ideal target with this specific shot is right down the middle of the court at the server. Big shots go to big targets, and aggression with second-serve returns is more about power, spin and depth, than direction hitting away from the server.
It’s a pretty clear lesson. Improve your second-serve return, and see your ranking improve.