I've been trying to change my timing in the past 6 months and know how hard it is and how much work it takes. I can only imagine how much effort it is for professional athletes with thousands and thousands of hours on court. Sinner switched from platform to pinpoint stance (before doing the reverse switch earlier in his career) and now tgis change from Zverev. Monumental efforts and reminds everyone that you should not be too set in your ways and be open to change.
Happy that Zverev takes the work ethics to the next level, his grunting his Paris has changed as well and sounded less of a stressed voice. It seems to me that he has on the side a mental coach
I was lucky enough to watch Zverev vs Alcaraz at Rod Laver Arena earlier this year, and that was the most incredible serving performance I've ever seen in person. He was getting 80% of first serves in which was a ridiculous stat. This is the same player I saw back in around 2018 or around that time, also at the Australian Open, where he lost the last set 6-0 and also struggled at times in his service game
This is exactly what Federer used to do which everyone misunderstood as elbowing the enemy or though as a shoulder shrug. But he was so smooth , no one really understood or understands till date 😅
Hmm, I'm not sure. You're right that the whole motion is completely fluid, with no pause in the trophy position, but he begins unloading with the racquet vertical, unlike Zverev.
@JLongTom yeah. What I meant to say is Fed's hitting arm keeps moving irrespective of the legs. And because he has a longish trajectory where he "elbows the enemy" the racquet tip velocity is pretty high even if the racquet points stgt up (at the moment of his leg drive)... Giving him huge elastic acceleration from the pectorals and deltoids
And here I am trying to eliminate my racquet lag. Now I learn that it’s essential to the more explosive early unload. Back to the backyard swings for me!
Good video as always. One thing that oddly helped me when I was tweaking my service motion was watching guys in the NBA shoot jump shots. Everybody shoots it differently, but some guys (Klay Thompson in particular) have extremely clean mechanics from bottom to top.
Zverev could very well be the first guy other than Djokovic to accomplish the Golden Masters achievement especially if he continues serving like this while also coming in to attack when needed.
Good points. For me, A lower toss is better when hitting a flat serve as it produces more speed and a flatter trajectory. Better able to hit the back of the ball more precisely. It also struck me how relative everything is amongst players as Zverev is very tall and can hit down on the ball even if his toss is lower.
If your wingspan and height allows it, sure, then wait longer to unload, but if you are shorter than 6ft, I doubt you can achieve this technique consistently. This is a taller man's move in my opinion.
1st serve quality is mostly in the placement and readability of the serve (plus the % in of course), not as much in sheer avg speed. furthermore, %1st serve points won is a stat that covers a complete play after the 1st serve, not just the serve. in honesty we would need stats like %unreturned 1st serve and %winners and %returner's forced error after the 3rd ball attack to tell us directly about the quality of the first serve. we see Humbert has a high % of points won after the first serve but his avg speed is not impressive, meaning much comes both from the serve placement and his point play after the 1st serve
Off topic Nik, but could you do a video on Karen Khachanov’s backhand? I have been replicating the technique and I am interested in knowing your thoughts on it.
I think it basically fits into the category of next gen backhand, which Nick has compared to the modern backhand in a video. Khachanov has an interesting take back though, similar to Kokkinakis, where the the racquet stays parallel to the net while being taken back.
@ agreed. It is also interesting to me how he chokes up on the racket. Reminds me of the way David Ferrer held his backhand but of course Karen keeps his hands together.
@@Goedgoed25 Indeed! Probably a mix of big hands, a racquet with a short handle (the H22 has a long throat) and the trigger finger on the right hand that pushes the left hand up. I have the same predicament, and partly holding the frame rather than just handle is a bit odd, but one forgets while playing, and I do think it helps with control.
@@JLongTom I agree it helps with control. I had this issue when switching to a 2H backhand from 1H where my spacing was way too close to the ball. Choking up slightly helped me accommodate myself being closer to the ball and also have better control of the racket.
It is good to see, that Zverev is not learnig-resistent, what I thought for a longtime. Especially his progress in 2nd serve and forhand-cross is seeable easily. But his first serve is speed-reduced. In the first years, he often served with more that 235km/h in a match, at this time he also produced more aces/free points. No, he added more slice to his serve and often it is not that flat anymore. But the result is better, especially when he is able to get a 2nd serve above 168km/h /105mph, because then, he is less attackable. The only thing, what is still a catastrophe is his overhead/smash, what is really unnatural for this kind of tall player...If he starts more to play the backhand-longline-ball, he will succeed much more in 2025, but guess, it is a question of self-confidence to produce this ball more often.
i wonder if having an early/ perfect/ late unload makes any difference on the serve or if its more of a stylistic difference. Its not something which is talked about alot as people just say u need to be in the trophy position
I think of it as being analogous to the racquet back (F. Gonzalez), racquet up (Federer), racquet forward (Alcaraz, Sinner) on the forehand. There are players with (all-time) great forehands with each of these styles, but there's no doubt that racquet forward gets greater spin and whip that the others, and likewise for racquet up versus racquet back. On the other hand it's more demanding on your timing. I think the same trade-off exists for the early vs late unload on the serve.
It seems like they're taking turns to have spurts of improvement. Alcaraz had his two or three years ago when he changed his serve and bulked up, then Sinner had his last year, with the same changes, now Zverev, also with the same changes. Alcaraz's turn again!
@@JLongTomif you can't see the improvements of Alcaraz this year on the backhand (harder, flatter, more winners/a weapon) and his serve you haven't been paying attention. Also: this guy won 2 slams in the Summer, won 4 tournaments in total, beat Sinner 3-0 on the Atp tour and had to overcome a forearm injury. Also: he is a full two years younger than Sinner is. Alcaraz was already 'in turn', is the point.
@@fwvw7056 His backhand is a joy to watch these days, agreed. I still think the serve has some inefficiencies that could be improved upon. And this despite the achievements and setbacks you mention. A higher ceiling is a _good_ thing!
Zverev evidently intakes some drugs - he is called half-diabetes. THINK ABOUT IT: Steroids can increase blood sugar levels in people with or without diabetes. This is called steroid-induced hyperglycaemia. While you are taking steroids, it might be more difficult to manage your blood sugar levels. This will depend on the type of diabetes you have and how you normally manage your diabetes. It also depends on the following:
I saw Zverev gain huge bulk and increase his strength and stamina massively at the same time Jannik Sinner did. This was apparent at Indian Wells last year. Sinner got caught, Zverev didn't.
Can see very little or none gains for Zverev with doping. He focuses 100% on his diabetes 1 and how to master it. Using doping would just make it way more difficult to treat the autoimmune disease. For an italian athlete to get caught with doping is no surprise but can't even remember the last bigger doping case in Germany.
Humbert Serve Analysis
👉 th-cam.com/video/o5Y--sAOwVM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=EzKL37w3QMKIOVwq
I've been trying to change my timing in the past 6 months and know how hard it is and how much work it takes. I can only imagine how much effort it is for professional athletes with thousands and thousands of hours on court. Sinner switched from platform to pinpoint stance (before doing the reverse switch earlier in his career) and now tgis change from Zverev. Monumental efforts and reminds everyone that you should not be too set in your ways and be open to change.
Happy that Zverev takes the work ethics to the next level, his grunting his Paris has changed as well and sounded less of a stressed voice. It seems to me that he has on the side a mental coach
I remember thinking in the Rome final he had an insane serve, definitely a hard working athlete
Excellent analysis and explanation of Zverev’s serve 👍🎾🙏
Appreciate it! 🎾
I see a Nick video I click
😂
I was lucky enough to watch Zverev vs Alcaraz at Rod Laver Arena earlier this year, and that was the most incredible serving performance I've ever seen in person. He was getting 80% of first serves in which was a ridiculous stat. This is the same player I saw back in around 2018 or around that time, also at the Australian Open, where he lost the last set 6-0 and also struggled at times in his service game
Thanks Nick
🙏
This is exactly what Federer used to do which everyone misunderstood as elbowing the enemy or though as a shoulder shrug. But he was so smooth , no one really understood or understands till date 😅
Hmm, I'm not sure. You're right that the whole motion is completely fluid, with no pause in the trophy position, but he begins unloading with the racquet vertical, unlike Zverev.
@JLongTom yeah. What I meant to say is Fed's hitting arm keeps moving irrespective of the legs. And because he has a longish trajectory where he "elbows the enemy" the racquet tip velocity is pretty high even if the racquet points stgt up (at the moment of his leg drive)... Giving him huge elastic acceleration from the pectorals and deltoids
Great analysis.
Excellent observation at the end of the vid.
Thank you
great analysis!
🙏
And here I am trying to eliminate my racquet lag. Now I learn that it’s essential to the more explosive early unload. Back to the backyard swings for me!
71.1% consistency on his flat serve. The dream!
Great analysis video Nik, thanks.
🙏
first of all, ... he improved his mentality. going to Paris to practise serve was a big deal on the way to a GS
Good video as always. One thing that oddly helped me when I was tweaking my service motion was watching guys in the NBA shoot jump shots. Everybody shoots it differently, but some guys (Klay Thompson in particular) have extremely clean mechanics from bottom to top.
Hilariously, there is also a tennis player named Clay Thompson who has a huge serve
Nick try Head Gravity for test !!
You should check out James trotter if you haven't already he just won Charlottesville challenger and his last 3 matches he averaged 16 aces
Zverev could very well be the first guy other than Djokovic to accomplish the Golden Masters achievement especially if he continues serving like this while also coming in to attack when needed.
Good points. For me, A lower toss is better when hitting a flat serve as it produces more speed and a flatter trajectory. Better able to hit the back of the ball more precisely. It also struck me how relative everything is amongst players as Zverev is very tall and can hit down on the ball even if his toss is lower.
If your wingspan and height allows it, sure, then wait longer to unload, but if you are shorter than 6ft, I doubt you can achieve this technique consistently. This is a taller man's move in my opinion.
1st serve quality is mostly in the placement and readability of the serve (plus the % in of course), not as much in sheer avg speed. furthermore, %1st serve points won is a stat that covers a complete play after the 1st serve, not just the serve. in honesty we would need stats like %unreturned 1st serve and %winners and %returner's forced error after the 3rd ball attack to tell us directly about the quality of the first serve. we see Humbert has a high % of points won after the first serve but his avg speed is not impressive, meaning much comes both from the serve placement and his point play after the 1st serve
Awesome instruction. i live in west palm how can I sign up for a lesson??
Off topic Nik, but could you do a video on Karen Khachanov’s backhand? I have been replicating the technique and I am interested in knowing your thoughts on it.
I think it basically fits into the category of next gen backhand, which Nick has compared to the modern backhand in a video. Khachanov has an interesting take back though, similar to Kokkinakis, where the the racquet stays parallel to the net while being taken back.
@ agreed. It is also interesting to me how he chokes up on the racket. Reminds me of the way David Ferrer held his backhand but of course Karen keeps his hands together.
@@Goedgoed25 Indeed! Probably a mix of big hands, a racquet with a short handle (the H22 has a long throat) and the trigger finger on the right hand that pushes the left hand up. I have the same predicament, and partly holding the frame rather than just handle is a bit odd, but one forgets while playing, and I do think it helps with control.
@@JLongTom I agree it helps with control. I had this issue when switching to a 2H backhand from 1H where my spacing was way too close to the ball. Choking up slightly helped me accommodate myself being closer to the ball and also have better control of the racket.
It is good to see, that Zverev is not learnig-resistent, what I thought for a longtime. Especially his progress in 2nd serve and forhand-cross is seeable easily. But his first serve is speed-reduced. In the first years, he often served with more that 235km/h in a match, at this time he also produced more aces/free points. No, he added more slice to his serve and often it is not that flat anymore. But the result is better, especially when he is able to get a 2nd serve above 168km/h /105mph, because then, he is less attackable. The only thing, what is still a catastrophe is his overhead/smash, what is really unnatural for this kind of tall player...If he starts more to play the backhand-longline-ball, he will succeed much more in 2025, but guess, it is a question of self-confidence to produce this ball more often.
i wonder if having an early/ perfect/ late unload makes any difference on the serve or if its more of a stylistic difference. Its not something which is talked about alot as people just say u need to be in the trophy position
I think of it as being analogous to the racquet back (F. Gonzalez), racquet up (Federer), racquet forward (Alcaraz, Sinner) on the forehand. There are players with (all-time) great forehands with each of these styles, but there's no doubt that racquet forward gets greater spin and whip that the others, and likewise for racquet up versus racquet back. On the other hand it's more demanding on your timing. I think the same trade-off exists for the early vs late unload on the serve.
Think about what the new technique eventually did for Sinner. Zverev has begun to reap some benefits.
What’s with the watch / string / overgrip matchy matchy
Coincidence
I actually realized I have a late unload, the legs start to unload after the racquet starts to drop. Now I have to figure out how to fix it.
th-cam.com/video/2EUZpFbAuRU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=E7XuvFwrpvve42Wm
@@IntuitiveTennis It's interesting bc I serve with a lag, I don't pause at trophy position. But I might still have leak right?
Sinner’s getting better, but sadly I wouldn’t say the same for Alcaraz right now.
It seems like they're taking turns to have spurts of improvement. Alcaraz had his two or three years ago when he changed his serve and bulked up, then Sinner had his last year, with the same changes, now Zverev, also with the same changes. Alcaraz's turn again!
@@JLongTomif you can't see the improvements of Alcaraz this year on the backhand (harder, flatter, more winners/a weapon) and his serve you haven't been paying attention. Also: this guy won 2 slams in the Summer, won 4 tournaments in total, beat Sinner 3-0 on the Atp tour and had to overcome a forearm injury. Also: he is a full two years younger than Sinner is. Alcaraz was already 'in turn', is the point.
@@fwvw7056 His backhand is a joy to watch these days, agreed. I still think the serve has some inefficiencies that could be improved upon. And this despite the achievements and setbacks you mention. A higher ceiling is a _good_ thing!
Bio-mechanics plays a greater part in sport
Where the rant at with Humbert?
Zverev evidently intakes some drugs - he is called half-diabetes. THINK ABOUT IT:
Steroids can increase blood sugar levels in people with or without diabetes. This is called steroid-induced hyperglycaemia.
While you are taking steroids, it might be more difficult to manage your blood sugar levels. This will depend on the type of diabetes you have and how you normally manage your diabetes. It also depends on the following:
Guess they studied Kyrgios…
Awesome, now maybe he can change his personality!
basically almost like a ben sheldon serve. video done.
I saw Zverev gain huge bulk and increase his strength and stamina massively at the same time Jannik Sinner did. This was apparent at Indian Wells last year. Sinner got caught, Zverev didn't.
doping?
Can see very little or none gains for Zverev with doping. He focuses 100% on his diabetes 1 and how to master it. Using doping would just make it way more difficult to treat the autoimmune disease. For an italian athlete to get caught with doping is no surprise but can't even remember the last bigger doping case in Germany.