The return of serve is one of the most crucial shots in tennis. Along with the serve, it’s the foundation of every point!

As you compete against stronger opponents, breaking serve becomes increasingly difficult, which can add pressure to your own service games.

Do you ever feel that pressure?

You can reduce it by improving your return! 💪

If you turn your return into a weapon, your entire game will reach a new level. Let’s break it down into four simple steps.

1️⃣ Define your intention

Before hitting the ball, you must know what you want to do.

🔍 Study your opponent’s serve early in the match:

  • Does he hit it flat and powerful?

  • Does he use a lot of slice?

  • Does he prefer a kick serve?

  • On crucial points, does he serve more often down the T or out wide?

👉 Once you understand their patterns, you can better plan your return strategy.

📌 Basic guidelines:

Against a first serve: Play deep down the middle 🎯

  • This reduces the angles your opponent can use and keeps you safe in the rally.

Against a second serve: Apply pressure! 🔥

  • You have more time, so step in and take the ball early to add speed and aggression to your return.

2️⃣ Step forward

Positioning yourself slightly behind the baseline can be helpful, but the key is to move forward as you hit the return.

🎾 How to do it:

  • As your opponent tosses the ball, take a small step forward.

  • Then, time your split step to coincide with their contact point.

📌 Benefits:
✅ Helps you cover more court.
✅ Transfers more weight into the ball.
✅ Allows you to generate power and depth with a compact motion.

3️⃣ Shorten your swing

If you watch the best returners in the world, they all have compact backswings.

👉 Why is this important?

  • Saves time on preparation.

  • Creates a more stable and solid contact in front of the body.

  • Gives better control and precision on the return.

📌 Practical tip:
If you’re facing a big server, shorten your take-back and focus on blocking the ball solidly rather than trying to take a full swing.

4️⃣ Recover immediately

Don’t just stand still after returning! Once you’ve hit the ball and landed your feet, push back into position for the next shot.

💡 Always think one step ahead:

  • If your return is short, get ready to defend.

  • If you’ve put your opponent in trouble, be ready to attack.

CONCLUSION 🎾

Improving your return will allow you to:
✅ Get more balls in play.
✅ Reduce pressure on your own serve.
✅ Make your game more complete and effective.

🔥 Now it’s your turn—next time you step on the court, try these four steps and see the difference!

by Federico Coppini
https://www.coppinifedericoacademy.com/