The case for serve and volley in modern tennis
There is a quiet revolution happening in tennis. It started with the drop shot.
Carlos Alcaraz did not invent it. Federer turned it into art. But Alcaraz weaponized it. He broke the unspoken rules about when to use it. From behind the baseline. In the middle of heavy rallies. At moments when traditional wisdom said, “Don’t bail out.”
He didn’t bail out. He shortened points on purpose.
Now the entire tour is working on the drop shot. What used to be a niche play is now a staple.
But if we are willing to rethink old rules, there is another forgotten weapon that deserves revival.
Let’s talk tennis.
Serve and volley once defined the sport. McEnroe. Navratilova. Sampras. Points started and ended on the server’s terms. First serves meant forward movement. Often second serves too. It was decisive, aggressive, and brutally effective.
So why did it disappear? And more importantly, why should it come back?
Why modern tennis is begging for it
1. Player positioning is screaming for it
Watch today’s returners. Many stand far behind the baseline, especially against big servers. That positioning is a gift.
A wide serve into the doubles alley followed by a direct charge to net is still nearly indefensible. The returner must hit an extraordinary passing shot from deep court position, often on the run. That’s a low percentage play under pressure.
The geometry hasn’t changed. Only the habits have.
2. First serve returns are mostly blocked
Despite the power of today’s rackets, most first serve returns are blocked back. They are reactive, not aggressive. Those returns are tailor-made for a first volley put-away.
Spend 20 minutes watching high-level first serve returns. Ask yourself how many of those balls a competent volleyer could handle from the service line. The answer will surprise you.
The opportunity is there. The players just are not exploiting it.
3. Surprise is only the beginning
Serve and volley is often dismissed as a “change-up.” Something to sprinkle in.
But the real value is structural. When a returner must account for the server coming forward, their mindset shifts. They cannot simply block and reset the rally. They must hit lower, sharper, more precise returns.
That pressure creates errors.
Even if you serve and volley only part of the time, you change the returner’s mental landscape. That’s leverage.
4. Energy management favors short points
Five-hour baseline marathons in brutal heat are now common. Serve and volley replaces sustained grind with controlled bursts.
Yes, net rushing requires athleticism. But it also reduces total rally load. You decide when points end. You shorten the match on your terms.
That matters over a two-week major.
5. It makes tennis better
Variety elevates the sport. Different surfaces promote different tactics. Different styles create tension and intrigue.
A pure baseliner against a relentless net rusher is compelling. The contrast sharpens both players’ strengths. We lost something when net play became an afterthought.
The arguments against it and why they fall short
The most common objection is heavy topspin returns dipping at the volleyer’s feet. That argument has merit in traditional approach play, but less so on first serve exchanges. It is extremely difficult to generate heavy whip topspin off a 125 mph serve. Most returns are pushed, not ripped.
Another claim is that pace is too high to close effectively. That is a skill issue, not a physics issue. The first volley does not need to be perfect. It needs to set up the second volley. Redirect, angle, or drop it short. If the returner is ten feet behind the baseline, even a neutral volley gives the advantage to the net player.
History supports this. Serve and volley thrived when equipment became more powerful. Big serves forced returners into defensive reactions. The server arrived at net ahead of the play.
Even in recent years, selective net rushing has proven decisive in major finals. The tactic works when executed with commitment.
So why isn’t it used more?
Because it is not practiced.
Go to a junior clinic. You will see a thousand forehands. A thousand backhands. Endless baseline repetition. Volleys get five minutes. Serve and volley combinations almost never.
Players do not design their serves to support forward movement. A heavy spin serve out wide that lands shorter in the box gives the server time to close. That pattern should be foundational.
Instead, we teach baseline durability and hope net instincts appear later.
First Ball Forehand Match Point
The drop shot came back because someone had the courage to break convention. Serve and volley is next. The game is ready for it. The only question is who will be bold enough to lead.
Source: Publicly available ATP/WTA reporting and season coverage.
