serveandvolley

Serve and volley is a tennis tactic in which a player serves and then rushes to the net to hit a volley, immediately after the serve. The aim is to finish the point quickly, apply pressure, and reduce the opponent’s ability to construct a counterattack with a strong return. The strategy works best on fast surfaces such as grass or indoor carpet, where the ball tends to skid and bounce low, making passing shots more difficult to execute.

The technique was popularised in the 1960s and 1970s by players like Rod Laver, John Newcombe, and especially the Woodies, Pat and Mike, who dominated doubles. In singles, greats such as Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, and Novak Djokovic used serve‑and‑volley at crucial moments to great effect. The early 1980s saw the rise of a generation of baseliners who deliberately avoided the tactic, turning the game more into a rally-oriented sport. In recent years, technology improvements in rackets and string technology have shifted the balance toward powerful groundstrokes, reducing the prevalence of serve‑and‑volley at the highest level.

Modern coaches teach serve‑and‑volley as a complementary skill rather than a core strategy, emphasising footwork, timing, and the importance of a strong serve. It remains a valuable asset for players on faster courts or those seeking to diversify their attacking options. The approach is also frequently employed in coaching camps and clinics to improve net play, reflexes, and overall court awareness.