Switchin Serves
It is amazing in a way how many top players have significantly changed their service motions in the past couple years, let alone while they are competing at the very top of the pro game. In addition, there seems to be a growing trend towards shortening the service motion and bringing both hands straight up ala Andy Roddick rather the more traditional, long, flowing motion of someone such as Pete Sampras. In the past couple
years, Justine Henin and Amelie Mauresmo have both abbreviated their service swings in this manner. Earlier this year at the 2007 Australian Open, Rafael Nadal also started to experiment with a smaller swing. Now Maria Sharapova, who has been hampered by shoulder pain for several months, as well as struggling with her service rhythm, seems to have joined the smaller serve swing club. At the recent Acura Classic in San Diego, Sharapova continued to experience periodic problems with her service rhythm and threw in a few doubles faults despite unveiling a new, abbreviated motion. It is impressive that these top players are continually trying to improve their games while they are in the midst of the competitive season because that is not easy to do. Confidence is so critical to the success of all players and it’s very difficult to instantly feel comfortable and confident with a new stroke, especially a new service motion. There may be different reasons why all of these players have changed their service swings, but I applaud their willingness to try to continually improve their strokes while dealing with the pressures of being at the top of professional tennis.
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