The Serve: More Than Just Power

While many of her peers relied on thunderous first serves to dominate, Chris Evert approached the serve as a strategic weapon rather than a blunt instrument. Her philosophy was rooted in the belief that consistency and placement trump raw power in the long run. This approach not only reduced unforced errors but also allowed her to construct points from the very first shot, a hallmark of her tactical genius.

Mechanics of a Reliable Weapon

Evert's serve mechanics were a study in efficiency. She employed a compact motion that minimized wasted energy, allowing her to maintain high accuracy even under pressure. Her ball toss was remarkably consistent, typically placed slightly to her right (for her right-handed serve), which enabled her to impart heavy slice on the ball. This slice serve was particularly effective on the ad side, pulling right-handed returners wide off the court and opening up the entire court for her next shot.

Beyond the slice, Evert occasionally used a kick serve to push the ball high and deep into the opponent's backhand, especially on clay courts where the high bounce made it difficult to attack. Her reliance on spin over speed meant her serve often landed in the service box with a predictable but difficult-to-read trajectory. This consistency—evidenced by her career first-serve percentage often exceeding 70%—put constant pressure on returners to generate their own pace.

The Strategic Importance of the First Serve

Evert understood that winning the first-serve point was paramount. She often directed her first serve to the opponent's weaker wing, forcing them to hit a defensive shot. For example, against Martina Navratilova's powerful serve-and-volley game, Evert would often serve wide to the ad side to open up the court or jam Navratilova's body to limit her ability to volley aggressively. This strategic placement forced her rivals to hit shots they were uncomfortable with, often leading to short balls that Evert could attack with her signature two-handed backhand.

Even when her first serve missed, Evert's second serve was rarely a liability. Unlike many players who decelerate or push the ball in, she maintained her full fluid motion on the second serve, using generous topspin to ensure safety while still placing the ball with intent. This mental fortitude—the ability to treat a second serve with the same confidence as a first—was a key factor in her domination of baseline rallies.

The Underrated Volley Serve Setup

Though primarily a baseliner, Evert occasionally used her serve as a setup to approach the net. She would serve wide on the deuce side and follow it into the court, catching opponents off guard. While she was not a natural volleyer, her footwork and positioning allowed her to cover the net effectively. This tactical variation kept opponents guessing and prevented them from settling into a rhythm on return games. The combination of a consistent first serve, an authoritative second serve, and occasional serve-and-volley made her serve one of the most strategic in women's tennis.

The Return: The Heart of Her Champion's Mentality

If the serve was the foundation, the return of serve was the signature of Chris Evert's game. Her ability to neutralize even the biggest serves—from Navratilova's lefty slice to Martina Hingis's precision—was legendary. She approached the return not as a defensive necessity but as an offensive opportunity, often turning defense into attack within two or three strokes.

Reading the Server's Intent

Evert's success on return started with her preparation. She studied opponents' serving patterns obsessively, noting tendencies such as preferred directions on specific points or body-language cues. She maintained a split-step that was perfectly timed to the server's ball toss, allowing her to explode sideways or forward with exceptional speed. Her ability to read the ball off the racket—often committing to a direction before the ball crossed the net—gave her a split-second advantage that separated her from other top players.

Her footwork on the return was equally critical. She constantly adjusted her position based on the opponent's stance and toss, sometimes moving closer to the baseline to take the ball early, other times stepping back to give herself more time against a heavy serve. On clay, she would often retreat a few feet behind the baseline to handle high-bouncing kick serves, then use her weight transfer to redirect the ball with heavy topspin. This adaptability made her nearly impossible to ace on slow surfaces.

The Two-Handed Backhand Return: A Tactical Weapon

Evert's two-handed backhand return was arguably the most effective return shot in women's tennis history. The two hands provided stability and control, allowing her to handle high-speed serves with a short, compact swing. She used the return to neutralize opponents by hitting deep cross-court shots that forced them to play from behind the baseline. Against serve-and-volley players, she would aim low at the feet of the net-rusher, forcing them to volley up and giving her time to pass them on the next shot.

On the forehand side, she was equally adept, using a compact takeback that minimized errors. She often targeted the server's backhand corner, especially on the ad side, to open up the court. This deep, angled return pushed opponents into defensive positions, allowing Evert to dictate the baseline rally from the first ball. Her return placement was so precise that she often forced errors from opponents who felt pressured to hit winners from difficult positions.

Psychological Pressure on Opponents

The psychological impact of Evert's return game cannot be overstated. Opponents knew that they had to earn every point on their serve. They could not rely on easy aces or service winners to get free points. This constant pressure led to frustration and mental lapses, especially in tight matches. Evert's ability to break serve at crucial moments—often by hitting a spectacular return winner or forcing a volley error—was a hallmark of her clutch performance. Her return was not just a shot; it was a statement: "I will not let you dominate on your serve."

In high-stakes matches, such as her Wimbledon finals against Navratilova, Evert's return consistency was often the deciding factor. She would neutralize Navratilova's powerful lefty serve by getting enough balls back into play, then rely on her groundstroke prowess to win points. Over time, this relentless returning wore down opponents' confidence and gave Evert the mental edge she needed to close out sets.

Comparative Analysis: Evert vs. Her Rivals

Understanding Evert's serve and return requires looking at how they held up against the best players of her era. Her game was built around precision and consistency, while rivals like Navratilova and Steffi Graf relied on power and aggression. The contrast reveals why Evert's skills were so effective across multiple surfaces and decades.

Against Martina Navratilova

Navratilova's serve-and-volley game was the ultimate test for Evert's return. Navratilova had a powerful lefty serve that moved wide on the ad side and a devastating kick serve that bounced high into Evert's backhand. Evert countered by standing closer to the baseline on first serves to take time away from Navratilova's approach, then using her backhand return to hit sharp cross-court angles that forced weak volleys. She also used lob returns to make Navratilova retreat, disrupting her rhythm. While Navratilova held a winning record overall, Evert's tactical returning made their matches some of the most compelling in tennis history. The key was Evert's ability to break serve consistently, which she did by targeting the shoelaces of the onrushing Navratilova.

Against Steffi Graf

When Graf emerged, she brought a level of power that challenged Evert's defensive style. Graf's serve was faster than Evert's, and her forehand was devastating. Evert's return strategy against Graf focused on deep cross-court returns to Graf's forehand side, forcing her to generate her own pace from a defensive position. Evert also used her serve to open up the court, often serving wide to Graf's backhand to set up a forehand approach. While Graf's athleticism eventually overwhelmed Evert in their later matches, the early contests were closely fought, demonstrating that Evert's placement-based serve and tactical returning could still trouble the most powerful players. In their 1988 US Open quarterfinal, Evert's return kept her in the match, forcing Graf to play three sets before ultimately prevailing.

Against Martina Hingis

In the late 1990s, a young Martina Hingis presented a new challenge with her variety and court intelligence. Hingis's serve was not overpowering, but her placement was excellent. Evert (in her commentary role) often noted how Hingis's return game mirrored her own: both players used angles and depth rather than power. In their matches, the battle was often about who could dictate the baseline rally first. Evert's experience and tactical nous allowed her to break Hingis's serve by hitting deep returns to the corners, then using her two-handed backhand to control the point. This matchup highlighted how Evert's fundamental serve and return skills remained relevant even as the game evolved toward more athleticism and power.

Training and Preparation for the Serve and Return

Evert's legendary consistency on serve and return was not accidental. She dedicated enormous effort to training these specific elements of her game, often isolating them from match play to build muscle memory and confidence.

Practice Routines

Evert's practice sessions were methodical and data-driven. She would spend hours hitting serves to specific targets—lines, corners, and body locations—using cones to mark her targets. She practiced second serves under pressure, simulating break points by hitting a series of second serves that had to land within a specific area. For returns, she would have a practice partner serve from different positions, forcing her to adjust her positioning and timing. She often practiced returns on clay courts, where the ball bounces higher and slower, to perfect her technique before moving to faster surfaces.

Physical Conditioning

Physical preparation was equally important. Evert worked on her leg strength and lateral movement to ensure she could explode toward the ball on returns. She performed footwork drills that focused on split-step timing and directional changes, often with a coach shouting out serve directions to simulate match conditions. Core stability was crucial for her serve, as it allowed her to transfer power from her legs through her torso and into her arm. Her conditioning was designed to maintain high repeatability—the ability to hit effective serves and returns deep into three-set matches without fatigue degrading her technique.

Mental Rehearsal

Perhaps most importantly, Evert used visualization and mental rehearsal to sharpen her serve and return. She would mentally rehearse serving to specific locations based on the opponent's weaknesses, and she would imagine herself reading the serve and hitting the perfect return. This mental practice helped her react intuitively in matches, reducing decision-making time and allowing her to execute under pressure. Her ability to stay calm during break points and trust her serve and return technique was a direct result of this preparation.

Legacy and Lessons for Today's Players

Chris Evert's serve and return techniques remain highly relevant for modern tennis. While the game has become faster and more powerful, the principles she embodied—accuracy, consistency, anticipation, and tactical intelligence—are timeless. Young players today can learn from her approach to:

  • Prioritize placement over power: A well-placed serve at medium pace is more effective than a powerful but inconsistent one.
  • Develop a reliable second serve: A strong second serve is a weapon, not a weakness, and can win matches.
  • Read opponents' patterns: Studying serve tendencies gives a split-second advantage on return.
  • Use return depth to control rallies: Deep returns force opponents to play from defensive positions.
  • Practice mental toughness: Trusting your serve and return under pressure is a skill that can be developed.

For more on modern serve techniques, check out the latest analysis on Tennis.com. To dive deeper into return of serve strategy, explore resources at Tennis Mind Game. Historical match statistics and player profiles are available at the WTA official site.

Conclusion: The Enduring Model of Tactical Excellence

Chris Evert's serve and return were not merely shots in her arsenal; they were the bedrock of her tactical identity. Her serve was a study in efficiency and reliability, while her return was a masterpiece of anticipation, footwork, and placement. Together, they formed a system that neutralized opponents' strengths and allowed her to dictate play from the baseline. Her record 18 Grand Slam singles titles, her 56-match winning streak on clay, and her 64 consecutive weeks as world No. 1 are testaments to the effectiveness of this approach. For players at any level, the lessons from Evert's serve and return are clear: consistency, intelligence, and mental toughness will always have a place in the game. Her legacy is not just in the trophies she won but in the blueprint she left for how to play the game tactically, from the first serve to the last return.