Dominating Tennis

How to return a fast serve in tennis

Block the first. Swing at the second.

Traced from real footage

See it, eight instants at a time.

Every frame is traced from real match footage, so you see the shape of the stroke, not a drawing of an idea.

Djokovic's return, instant 6 of 8
FIG. 30 · DJOKOVIC'S RETURN
Contact
Djokovic's return: eight instants traced from the footage, frame for frame. Hover or tap to flip; the dot marks contact.

Key facts

  1. 1

    A 200 km/h serve reaches the returner in about 333 milliseconds.

    Farrow, The Conversation

  2. 2

    Novak Djokovic wins about 55 % of second-serve return points and converts about 44 % of break points.

    ATP Beyond the Numbers, Jan 2026

  3. 3

    Djokovic is the highest-rated career returner in the ATP's four-stat return composite.

    ATP Beyond the Numbers, Jan 2026

  4. 4

    Andre Agassi's return used a compact backswing, a long forward swing and contact on the rise, described as virtually the same motion as a rally shot.

    TennisOne, Agassi's return

Why it works

A fast first serve doesn't leave time for a full backswing. So you don't take one. A short, firm backswing with a stable face redirects the ball's own energy back, the same principle as a volley. The pace is borrowed, not made.

Against a second serve there is time. Step in and swing, and the swing adds your own pace and shape. Block and full swing aren't two different ideas. They're one continuum, and the clock decides where you sit on it.

The chip is the third answer. It's an open-faced, continental underspin block that absorbs pace, stays low after the bounce and lets you come forward.

The line to say on court

“Short and firm on the first. Let it go on the second.”

Drill: Block only, then swing

12 min · with a partner
  1. Take ten first serves from your partner. Use zero backswing and punch each return deep through the middle. Count the returns that land past the service line.
  2. Take ten second serves. Step in and take a full swing to a cone in a deep corner.
  3. Have your partner mix first and second serves at random. Call out block or swing before contact.
Number to beat8 of 10 blocked returns landing past the service line

More drills like this: return

Faults and fixes

Taking a big backswing against pace
It's your rally habit.
FixShow the strings to the server. Repeat step 1 of the drill until the short backswing feels normal.
Poking at the second serve
The block habit carries over.
FixStep in and let it go. The second serve gives you time to swing.
Making contact late and behind you
The face wasn't set early.
FixHold the racquet out front at the ready position. The block starts from there.
No split step before the block
The block has no base without one.
FixSplit before every return, then read and commit. The block starts from that base.

Questions players ask

Should I block or swing on the return of serve?

Block a fast first serve and swing at a second serve. Decide which before the ball is served.

Is a block return passive?

No. It's the most efficient way to send a 200 km/h serve back deep. You borrow the server's pace instead of making your own.

What is a chip return?

An open-faced, continental underspin block. It absorbs pace, stays low after the bounce and lets you come forward, which suits a fast court or a plan to attack the net.

Where should I aim a blocked return?

Deep down the middle. That starts the point even.

What this doesn't cover

The idea that the block borrows the ball's energy is a principle, not a measurement. There's no return-speed data or restitution figure for a blocked return behind it. The timing numbers are for a 200 km/h serve, and your own cut-off between block and swing depends on your reactions.

Sources

  • ATP Beyond the Numbers (Jan 2026): return leaderboard and four-stat composite
  • Farrow, The Conversation: reaction time on the return of serve
  • TennisOne: Andre Agassi's return
  • Tennis Instruction: return technique

Read next

Serve and returnWhere to stand to return serve in tennisStand back to return a big first serve and step in on a weak second. There's no neutral spot. Every metre back buys flight time but gives the server more angle, and every metre in takes time from the server but demands cleaner timing. Choose the trade before the toss, and change it the moment the first serve misses.Serve and returnHow to return a fast serve: split, read, commitTo return a fast serve, read the toss and racquet before the ball is struck, start your split as the server hits and land it just after. A 200 km/h serve gives you about 333 ms and simple reaction takes about 200 ms, so you can't just react. On court, experts land about 133 ms after contact and move about 177 ms after it.StrikeHow to hit a volley in tennis: punch, don't swingTo hit a volley, catch the ball on the strings in front of you with a continental grip, keep the racquet ahead of your front shoulder, and step across into the ball. Don't swing. Depth at the net comes from your body moving forward plus the pace the other player gave you, not from your arm. A slightly open face adds a little steadying backspin.Serve and returnHow to hit a reliable second serve under pressureHit your second serve with the same swing as your first, more brush and one proven target. Slowing the arm to be safe removes the spin that gives you net clearance, so you get a slower ball with less clearance and a returner stepping in. Top-50 men win about 57.5 % of second-serve points, against 73.6 % behind a first.