For a deeper analysis of the massive impact the length of the rally has on winning a match, I highly recommend THE FIRST 4 SHOTS.
The First 4 Shots Video
Roger Federer walks the walk.
We just saw the most serve & volley points won by a Wimbledon men’s champion in 13 years. And to put a cherry on top, Roger did it in six matches, as he benefited from a first-round retirement against Alexandr Dolgopolov where he didn’t serve & volley once.
Roger won 68 points serving & volleying in 6 matches at SW19 this year. That’s the most by a Wimbledon champion since he did it 75 times in 2004.
The Monday after Wimbledon, Roger said in his press conference that “it was frightening to see at this level” – referring to the lack of serve and volley at Wimbledon this year. He certainly knows what an outstanding return on investment serve and volley yields.
Serve & volley was first recorded at Wimbledon in 1997. We now have 21 years of data to look back on and understand just how serve and volley is part of the overall mix of points won by the singles champion.
1997-2017 Men’s Champion: Tournament Total – Points Won
| Year | Winner | Baseline Pts Won | Net Pts Won | S&V Ptr Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | P. Sampras | 230/526 = 44% | 418/573 = 73% | 389/516 = 75% |
| 1998 | P. Sampras | 204/572 = 36% | 430/576 = 75% | 412/538 = 77% |
| 1999 | P. Sampras | 184/314 = 59% | 166/297 = 56% | 148/259 = 57% |
| 2000 | P. Sampras | 246/454 = 54% | 199/358 = 56% | 191/334 = 57% |
| 2001 | G. Ivanisevic | 177/414 = 43% | 201/351 = 57% | 422/583 = 72% |
| 2002 | L. Hewitt | 393/745 = 53% | 92/133 = 69% | 0/1 = 0% |
| 2003 | R. Federer | 275/530 = 52% | 176/272 = 63% | 213/313 = 68% |
| 2004 | R. Federer | 320/621 = 52% | 154/218 = 71% | 75/116 = 64% |
| 2005 | R. Federer | 343/648 = 53% | 137/209 = 66% | 65/87 = 75% |
| 2006 | R. Federer | 329/591 = 56% | 110/155 = 71% | 23/30 = 77% |
| 2007 | R. Federer | 311/637 = 49% | 112/171 = 65% | 33/47 = 70% |
| 2008 | R. Nadal | 491/867 = 57% | 103/134 = 77% | 12/13 = 92% |
| 2009 | R. Federer | 347/677 = 51% | 162/225 = 72% | 32/45 = 71% |
| 2010 | R. Nadal | 410/759 = 54% | 121/160 = 76% | 3/3 = 100% |
| 2011 | N. Djokovic | 397/712 = 56% | 114/170 = 67% | 8/8 = 100% |
| 2012 | R. Federer | 354/687 = 52% | 192/262 = 73% | 45/62 = 73% |
| 2013 | A. Murray | 388/791 = 49% | 157/220 = 71% | 14/15 = 93% |
| 2014 | N. Djokovic | 427/877 = 49% | 158/221 = 71% | 24/30 = 80% |
| 2015 | N. Djokovic | 408/760 = 54% | 136/200 = 68% | 8/12 = 67% |
| 2016 | A. Murray | 394/764 = 52% | 134/180 = 74% | 1/2 = 50% |
| 2017 | R. Federer | 302/540 = 56% | 111/150 = 74% | 68/82 = 83% |
| - | AVERAGES | 6930/13186 = 52.5% | 3583/5235 = 68.4% | 2186/3096 = 70.6% |
1997-2017: Percentage Points Won By Men’s Champion
- 70.6% Serve & Volley
- 68.4% Net Points Won
- 52.5% Baseline Points Won
Serve & volley absolutely, positively delivers on the biggest stage in the world.
This data set = seven matches won each year x 21 years = 147 matches won. Zero lost.
What is amazing is just how narrow the baseline win percentage is. With no matches lost, the best of the best can only win 2.5 more points above a 50-50 contest, resulting in a 52.5 v 47.5 advantage. How did serve & volley do? It absolutely crushed. 💥
Roger Federer Exposes The Biggest Lie In Tennis
Part 1 HERE
Part 2 HERE
Part 3 HERE
Part 4 HERE
Question for you… if the best players in the world, going UNDEFEATED, can only find an extra 2.5 points out of every hundred, how many do you think you can find? Is the baseline really where your advantage is?
Why not take a peek at the greatest win percentage of all – 70.6% serving and volleying. You may want to think long and hard about sprinkling some 70.6% into your game to give that struggling 52.5% a helping hand.
Roger Federer = 11 Wimbledon Singles Finals
Here’s a breakdown of all the metrics for the years Roger reached the Wimbledon singles final.
Roger Federer: Years He Reached The Wimbledon Final
| Year | Won/Lost | Baseline Pts Won | Net Pts Won | S&V Ptr Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | WON | 275/530 = 52% | 176/272 = 63% | 213/313 = 68% |
| 2004 | WON | 320/621 = 52% | 154/218 = 71% | 75/116 = 64% |
| 2005 | WON | 343/648 = 53% | 137/209 = 66% | 65/87 = 75% |
| 2006 | WON | 329/591 = 56% | 110/155 = 71% | 23/30 = 77% |
| 2007 | WON | 311/637 = 49% | 112/171 = 65% | 33/47 = 70% |
| 2008 | LOST | 360/717 = 50% | 121/188 = 64% | 24/37 = 65% |
| 2009 | WON | 347/677 = 51% | 162/225 = 72% | 32/45 = 71% |
| 2012 | WON | 354/687 = 52% | 192/262 = 73% | 45/62 = 73% |
| 2014 | LOST | 289/611 = 47% | 181/259 = 70% | 112/144 = 78% |
| 2015 | LOST | 268/542 = 49% | 187/257 = 73% | 76/100 = 76% |
| 2017 | WON | 302/540 = 56% | 111/150 = 74% | 68/82 = 83% |
| - | AVERAGES | 3498/6801 = 51.4% | 1643/2366 = 69.4% | 766/1063 = 72.1% |
1997-2017: Roger Federer Percentage Points Won Reaching 11 Finals
- 72.1% Serve & Volley
- 69.4% Net Points Won
- 51.4% Baseline Points Won
Imagine winning eight Wimbledon finals, going 74-3 overall, and only creating a 51.4 v 48.6 advantage from the baseline. Not a great return on investment… But how about that 72.1% serving and volleying. That kinda stands out!!!
Pete Sampras: Wimbledon Legend
Pete went 63-7 at Wimbledon, winning seven titles – second only to Roger.
He won titles in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. Since Wimbledon only started recording serve & volley data in 1997, we at least have metrics from four of his title years. Here’s Pete’s serve and volley numbers from 1997, to the last year he played in 2002.
Pete Sampras: Wimbledon 1997-2002
| Year | Won/Lost | Total S&V Points | S&V Points Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | WON | 81.1% | 75.4% |
| 1998 | WON | 82.1% | 76.6% |
| 1999 | WON | 50.0% | 57.1% |
| 2000 | WON | 48.3% | 57.2% |
| 2001 | Rd16 | 80.3% | 64.8% |
| 2002 | Rd64 | 80.0% | 64.8% |
| - | AVERAGE | 69.1% | 69.4% |
SUMMARY
Serve and volley works. These metrics unequivocally show we have had it wrong for way too long.
YES… you need to practice it from a young age JUST.LIKE.EVERYTHING.ELSE.
Also, it does not mean you have to become Pat Rafter this afternoon… but a few of them running around would be great for our sport!
It also does not mean that you forget about the baseline either. You are still going to play a bucket load of points from back there.
Serve and volley is an absolutely fantastic strategy that consistently provides players at all ages and all levels with healthy win percentages. Yes, you will still lose some points doing it, and yes, you will question yourself when you do lose those points because they seem to sting more than losing a point at the baseline.
But do it 100 times and see how you go. Commit to it for a year. Use it as a surprise tactic. Use it to freak your opponents out. Use it to take the net away from your opponent. Use it up 40-0 or down 40-0. Use it when your opponent is slicing returns. Use it to cover a weakness from the back of the court. Use it to shorten the time of points. Use it to drive your opponent bat -#$%^ crazy!
Thank you, Roger Federer. Thank you for speaking up at Wimbledon and calling a spade a spade. The metrics support you 100%.
Hey Coach! Instead of feeding another basket of mindless forehands, how about you mix it up for once with some serve and volley practice. When your player asks why tell them Roger told you so… 🙂
Thanks so much for coming along for the ride this week. It was a ton of fun.
Cheers,
Craig
P.S. If you want more strategy information about serve & volley, consider THE 25 GOLDEN RULES OF SINGLES STRATEGY. There is a whole section in there about it.