Top 5 servers and returners: Zverev, a double problem for his rivals | ATP Tour

Insights

In the Top 5 servers and returners: Zverev, a double problem for his rivals

This analysis also shows the great improvement of the German on his right.

September 11, 2024

Alexander Zverev has made a career of holding serve with ease, sweeping through his service games thanks in large part to his powerful first serve. But the German has been equally effective on the return in 2024, creating a problematic combination for his opponents.

His serve and return performances have helped him rack up a season-high 56 match wins and secure qualification for the Nitto ATP Finals for the seventh time.

The 27-year-old is notably in the top 5 for both serve (8.8) and return quality (7.49), according to Tennis Data Innovations, in partnership with TennisViz. Shot quality is calculated in real time by analysing the speed, spin, depth, amplitude and impact of each shot on the opponent. Zverev makes an impact by combining power with strong spin.

A significant improvement in forehand quality has provided a boost for Zverev on both serve and return points. In 2023, Zverev was ranked 13th in the Forehand Quality Index; this year he has moved up to fifth. (He is fourth in the Backhand Rankings, the same position he occupied in 2023.)

“Sascha likes to serve hard and return hard, but he is also intelligent on the court, he can read the game very, very well,” said Mischa Zverev, a former No. 25 in the PIF ATP Rankings and an established member of his brother’s team.

Qualified for Turin 👏🎾@AlexZverev becomes the 2nd player to secure his spot at the @atptour Finals!🔥

Check out his standout #Insights numbers for the 2024 season so far to see how he earned his place👇#TennisInsights | @atptour pic.twitter.com/GA8ILVPjEL

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) September 10, 2024

This season, Zverev is hitting his first serve at an average speed of 129 mph, compared to the tour average of 116 mph. He’s not easy returning his second serve, either. The 22-time tour champion hits his second serve on average at 105 mph, 11 mph faster than average.

Zverev’s serve in 2024:
First serve speed = 129 mph (Tour average = 116 mph)
First serve accuracy = 59cm from the sideline (Tour average = 58cm)
First serve effectiveness* = 67.1% (Tour average = 60.9%)
Second serve speed = 105 mph (Tour average = 94 mph)
Second serve effectiveness* = 26.2% (Tour average = 23.4%)
*Effectiveness is the percentage of serves that are a combination of aces, unreturned and number of times the server is in an attack phase on serve+1

Zverev has also made impressive strides in other key Insights areas. He has moved up to 13th (from 61st) in the Steal category, winning points 37.2 percent of the time from a defensive position. He has moved up from 95th to 44th in conversion, winning 68.1 percent of points when on offense.

And he’s playing more aggressive tennis, moving from 39th to 22nd in the In Attack rankings, which reflect which players spend more time in attacking positions.

When tennis balls are sent to the opponent’s end of the court, there isn’t much room for maneuver for whoever is facing Zverev.

This year’s Roland Garros finalist is taking an aggressive approach on the return, especially if he has the opportunity to hit a second serve. According to TDI Insights, Zverev is hitting more returns than the tour average, all while hitting the ball with more speed and spin. His return speed is eight miles per hour faster than the average speed.

Unsurprisingly, Zverev returned to a career-high No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday, where he last stood in August 2022. He was then sidelined for the entire season with a serious ankle injury.

Zverev return in 2024:
First serves put into play = 66% (Tour average = 62%)
Speed ​​on first serve returns = 67 mph (Tour average = 59 mph)
Topspin on first serve returns = 1735 rpm (Tour average = 1677 rpm)
Seconds serves put into play = 85% (Tour average = 82%)
Speed ​​on second serve returns = 77 mph (Tour average = 69 mph)
Topspin on second serve leftovers = 2078 rpm (Tour average = 1778 rpm)