Past The Numbers
This is why Alcaraz & Sinner are second-serve standouts
Younger rivals take completely different method, discover related success
August 07, 2024
Sinner and Alcaraz stand out from the sector by way of second serve effectiveness
By Craig O’Shannessy
Second serves are barely an asset.
The ATP Tour common is 51 per cent factors gained behind second serves. It’s solely while you attain the rarified air on the high of the PIF ATP Rankings that you just see the needle transfer on this all-important match metric.
An Infosys ATP Past The Numbers evaluation of World No. 1, Jannik Sinner, and World No. 3, Carlos Alcaraz, identifies how they can create sufficient separation from their opponents to make an actual distinction behind their second serves. The information set is comprised of a minimal of 80 matches for every participant over the previous three seasons.
Second Serve Factors Gained
• Sinner = 54%
• Alcaraz = 55%
Sinner and Alcaraz solely transfer three and 4 proportion factors north of the tour common of 51%, however it’s sufficient to make a considerable distinction to their careers. What’s fascinating is that Sinner and Alcaraz go about enhancing their common second-serve factors gained in numerous methods.
Deuce Courtroom Second Serve Route
Sinner
• Huge = 19%
• Physique = 44%
• T = 37%
Sinner’s main goal is the physique location, at 44 per cent. Nearly all of these serves go to the body-backhand slot, however a large whole additionally check the returner’s body-forehand jam location as effectively.
Alcaraz
• Huge = 14%
• Physique = 27%
• T = 59%
Alcaraz employs a vastly completely different technique by taking virtually six out of each 10 second serves proper down the T to the right-hander’s backhand return, making them transfer sideways to the ball. Then again, Sinner’s second serve on the physique is making an attempt to make the returner transfer away from the incoming serve straight at their physique.
Advert Courtroom Second Serve Route
Sinner
• Huge = 19%
• Physique = 63%
• T = 18%
Identical to the Deuce court docket, Sinner prefers to go proper on the physique, with virtually two out of three (63%) struck there. The massive benefit of this location is that Sinner doesn’t have to fret concerning the singles line or centre line on the perimeters of the service field.
Alcaraz
• Huge = 49%
• Physique = 38%
• T = 13%
Alcaraz hits greater than double (49% to 19%) the quantity of second serves out broad within the Advert court docket in comparison with Sinner. The Spaniard prefers to hit a heavy kick that pulls his opponent exterior the singles court docket. Alcaraz’s key areas within the Deuce and Advert court docket are all about getting the ball up excessive to the backhand return, whereas Sinner needs to right away jam up his opponent and extract a weak return.
Unreturned Second Serves
Within the Deuce court docket, each gamers have essentially the most unreturned serves from their shock second serves out broad to the right-hander’s forehand return. Alcaraz has 26 per cent unreturned from this particular spot, whereas Sinner was at 24 per cent.
That dynamic additionally performed out within the Advert court docket, with each gamers forcing extra return errors with the secondary serve down the T to the forehand. Alcaraz had a really wholesome 29 per cent unreturned from the T within the Advert court docket, whereas Sinner was at 21 per cent.
Second Serve Win Percentages
Alcaraz gained a head-turning 66 per cent second serves out broad within the Deuce court docket to steer all areas, whereas Sinner topped out at 62 per cent together with his broad serve within the Advert court docket. In any respect six areas throughout the Deuce and Advert court docket service containers, Sinner and Alcaraz had been above the 50 per cent factors gained threshold.
Sinner and Alcaraz excel behind their second serves. It’s compelling to see the completely different serve areas they’ve mastered of their ascent to the top of our sport.