Effective serving strategies in men’s doubles Davis cup matches: an analysis using tracking technology

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite the importance of the serve in doubles tennis, there is very little information on the tactical characteristics of this game situation. The aim of this study was to analyse the differences in the spatial-temporal characteristics and the effectiveness of the serves depending on their direction in professional doubles tennis. Using the Hawk-Eye system, 20,419 serves from 96 Davis Cup doubles matches played between 2010 and 2019 were analysed. First serves to the Wide and T zones showed the highest effectiveness. The fastest serves were those played to the T, while the slowest were those played to the Wide zone, except for the second serves on the Deuce side, where the opposite occurred. The serves played to the T were hit from positions closer to the centre of the court, and the time from serve contact to ball bounce was shorter than in the rest of the serves played to other directions. Generally, compared to singles tennis, players served from positions further away from the centre of the court. The data provided in this study have clear practical implications, both for the design of specific training sessions and for the tactical preparation of matches.