Patology # 77
“In my opinion, 80% of first serves should be hit away from the court because this way the server can control the point more easily and make his or her opponent run.”
William Pato Alvarez
Note from Chris:
Many coaches from clay court regions value the spin serve wide to open up the geometry of the court. Sometimes Spanish players have neglected their power serves because they emphasized the spin serves wide so much. In the modern era, all pro players are developing both their power serves and spin serves wide. This advice from Pato is particularly well suited for the the clay court game, but perhaps the tactic and percentage would be adjusted for fast courts.
Pato Alvarez teaches at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona.