This study examines the relationship between service patterns and game advantage within the 2010 US Open. The objective of the study is to identify differences in serve placement and accuracy. This will be compared between winners and losers and men and women.

1. REFERENCES
(1) Cruz, S. http://ezinearticles.com/?Tennis---The-
Serve-How-Important-is-It?
(2) Loffing, F, Hagemann, N, Strauss, B. The Serve in
Professional Men’s Tennis. Int Jnl of Performance
Analysis 9:255‐274, 2009
(3) Unierzyski, P and Wieczorek, A. Comparison of
tactical solutions and game patterns in
Grand Slam tennis. In Science and Rcket Sprts
III Oxon: Routledge, 2004. pp. 169-174
CONCLUSION
Performance analysis is the US Open displayed mixed
results on service patterns. First serves land more often in
the internal, external and deep zones, whereas second
serves are placed in the centre. This supports previous
findings that second serve accuracy becomes priority to
avoid a double fault(3). The more difficult serve
placement of first serves leads to aces or serve winners
30% of the time. In contrast, 35% of second serves were
lost by the server.
Despite first serve accuracy being paramount for
consistent performance, winners and losers had the same
first serve percentage of 67%. There was also no
difference in winners and losers and their serve
placement patterns. Regardless of this, winners were still
more likely to win their service points which suggests
that other factors such as shot selection, speed and rally
performance contribute to success.
The findings support the contention that successful first
serves lead to a greater serve advantage. The advantage
also exists more so for men than women.
RESULTSINTRODUCTION
The serve is one of the most important shots in tennis,
constituting 60-65% of match play along with the return
of serve(1). It gives the serving player an advantage by
being in an attacking position from the beginning of the
rally(2). A study on ball distribution of serves in Grand
Slam singles finals found a variance in service patterns
depending on the player, gender and court surface(3).
This forms the basis of the present study.
This study examines the relationship between service
patterns and game advantage within the 2010 US Open,
like that of previous research. The objective of the study
is to identify differences in serve placement and
accuracy. This will be compared between winners and
losers and men and women.
METHODS
Male (N= 7) and female (N=4) players were analysed on
serve (N=1005) during 6 matches from round 1 to the
semi-finals of the 2010 US Open singles tennis. Coding
of match footage was undertaken by a single analyst
using a lapsed-time method from DVD recording. For
each serve performed the following variables were
recorded:
• Position of the serve (Figure 1)
• Serve outcome (first serve, second serve or double
fault)
• Point outcome (ace/serve winner- forced error on
return of serve, win or loss)
Jasmine BOURCHIER
THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE PATTERNS
IN GRAND SLAM SINGLES TENNIS
Chi-square analysis showed a relationship
between service placement and serve
outcome (x2 (6) =1003, p<.001)(Figure 2).
First serves were more likely to land deep
(SR= 3.6) and in the internal (SR= 2.5) or
external zones (SR: 2.7). In contrast second
serves were more likely to land in the centre
(SR= 4.7) .
Point outcome was associated with serve
outcome (x2(6) = 85, p<.001). 30% of first
serves resulted in an ace or serve winner
(SR= 2.8). A trend was also identified
between second serves and losing the point
(SR= 1.7) as this occurred 35% of the time.
Results gave no suggestion that winners had
a better first serve accuracy (x2 (2) =.068,
p=.966). Both winners and losers served
around 67% first serves, 30% second serves
and 3.4% double faults.
Surprisingly, analysis displayed no
association between winners serving in more
challenging placements, such as deep and in
internal or external zones (x2(6) = .708,
p=.400).
email: U3024765@uni.canberra.edu.au
Figure 2: Width and depth placement of first and second serves
It was shown that 68% of service points were
won by the winning player (SR= 1.9) as
opposed to 52% of service points won by the
losing player (SR:-1.7).
Results showed no difference between genders
and first or second serve accuracy (x2 (2)
=4.04, p=1.33).There was however a trend
towards men serving in the internal (SR= 1.6)
and external zones (SR= 1.5). Women were
also more likely to serve in the centre zone
(SR= 3.1).
Figure 3. Point outcome of men’s and women’s
serves
Overall men have less
chance of losing service
points (SR=-2) as
opposed to women (SR=
3.2)(Figure 3). The
ability of men to serve
fast first serves in
difficult placement zones
aids them with a greater
competitive advantage.
Figure 1. Service box placement
zones on the advantage side.
E= External C= Centre
I= Internal D= Deep
E
Coaches should employ a
significant amount of time in
developing an effective serve in
terms of first serve accuracy and
serve placement. The serve
advantage increases their chance
of winning serve and in turn the
game.
A series of chi-square
tests in SPSS were
conducted based on all
categorical data. Trends
or relationships
between the above
variables were analysed
(alpha level of
significance p<0.05).