Second Serve Returns: How to Turn the Shortest Ball in the Rally Into a Weapon

The second serve return is one of the most underworked and misunderstood shots in tennis — yet it’s often the shortest ball you’ll get in a rally and one of the best opportunities to take immediate control of the point.

How you play the second serve return depends on:

• whether you’re playing men’s or women’s tennis

• how good your opponent’s second serve is

• how well they move

• and what your strengths are

Done properly, the second serve return isn’t just about getting the ball back in play. It’s about setting up the point in your favour from the very first shot.

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Why the Second Serve Return Matters So Much

At higher levels, points are often decided by:

• who gets the first strike

• who controls court position early

• who forces the opponent to defend first

On a second serve, the returner already has an advantage. The key is knowing how to apply pressure without rushing.

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Second Serve Returns in Women’s Tennis: First Strike Is Everything

In women’s tennis, the second serve is generally more attackable than in the men’s game — although this is changing.

Traditionally, many women:

• hit the ball flatter

• don’t generate extreme topspin on the second serve

• don’t move as explosively as men

Because of this, the first player to apply pressure often controls the point.

Step In and Take It Early

Against most second serves in the women’s game, the highest-percentage play is to:

• step inside the baseline

• take the ball early

• and look to get the first strike

You don’t want to let the ball rise too high. Smother it before it gets up and take time away. A common and effective option is to hit the return down the line, forcing your opponent to move immediately and preventing them from settling into the rally.

Women’s tennis is still largely about first-strike patterns. Once your opponent is on the run, it can be very difficult for them to regain control of the point.

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Kick Serves in the Women’s Game: Important Exceptions

While most women don’t hit a truly heavy kick second serve, there are important exceptions.

Players like Ash Barty and Maria Sakkari were among the best exponents of the kick second serve on the women’s tour. Their second serves jumped higher, carried more spin, and pushed returners further back than what’s typical.

Against this type of serve, simply stepping in and attacking isn’t always the best option. The higher bounce forces the returner to make a decision:

• take the ball very early before it climbs

• use a slice to neutralise the height

• or move back slightly and return with more margin and spin

Even though kick second serves are improving on the women’s tour, they’re still the exception — which is why, against most opponents, the second serve remains a prime opportunity to step in and take control.

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Second Serve Returns in Men’s Tennis: Variety and Positioning

Men’s second serves generally:

• have more spin

• kick higher

• and give the returner less time

Because men also move better, simply hitting down the line on every second serve return isn’t always the best option.

Option 1: Step In and Take It Early

If you have:

• a two-handed backhand

• good strength and balance

• confidence taking the ball on the rise

You can step in and be aggressive on the second serve return.

For one-handed backhand players, this is more difficult against a heavy kicker. Many will:

• use a slice return

• block the ball deep

• or run around to hit a forehand

Again, it depends on your strengths.

Option 2: Move Back and Rip It Heavy

This is where men’s tennis differs most.

Because men generate more spin on the second serve, it can be effective to:

• move back slightly

• let the ball drop

• and rip the return high, heavy, and deep

The goal here isn’t a winner — it’s positioning.

By hitting a heavy return into your opponent’s backhand:

• you push them behind the baseline

• you give yourself time to recover

• and you can position yourself to dictate with your forehand on the next shot

If your forehand is your biggest weapon, this can be a very effective pattern.

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Deuce Side vs Ad Side: Small Details That Matter

Ad Side (Right-Handers)

If you run around a kicker to hit a forehand:

• you open up the entire court

• recovery becomes much harder

In this situation, a high, heavy forehand into the backhand is often smarter than trying to flatten the ball out.

Deuce Side

Kick serves tend to come more through the middle:

• you have more margin

• and more time to recover

This is where stepping in and flattening out a forehand return can be a strong play.

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Using the Net: Pressure and Surprise

Second serve returns are also a great opportunity to:

• chip and charge

• step in, take the ball early, and come forward

Roger Federer used this brilliantly, including his SABR tactic, and even had success using it against Novak Djokovic (Check out Djokovic’s junior coach on Coachlife) by rushing him and taking time away.

On the women’s side, Caroline Garcia used this tactic extremely well. It’s especially effective on big points when it comes as a surprise.

The key is not to overuse it. Surprise is what makes it powerful.

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Using Movement to Create Doubts and Double Faults

One underrated tactic on second serve returns is using movement before the server strikes the ball.

If you:

• step out early as they toss

• show that you’re running around to hit a forehand

You can force hesitation, rushed decisions, and even double faults. You can also fake the move and recover late to keep them guessing.

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Technique Matters: Flat vs Spin Returns

This is where your individual technique matters.

When Michael Joyce (Check out Michael Joyce on Coachlife) worked with Jessica Pegula, one key point was that Pegula’s backhand was relatively flat. Because of this:

• she needed to take the ball earlier

• she couldn’t afford to let the ball rise too much

If you plan to move back and let the ball drop, you need:

• more spin

• more margin

• and better net clearance

Flat strokes generally work best when taken earlier.

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How to Practice Second Serve Returns (Most Players Don’t)

Second serve returns need specific practice, not just match play.

Good drills include:

• server hitting only second serves

• returner committing to one pattern

• playing out points starting with a second serve

This allows:

• one player to work on their second serve

• the other to work on their second serve return

It’s efficient, competitive, and massively underused.

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The Bigger Picture

Second serve returns are about:

• variety

• disguise

• understanding your strengths

• and understanding your opponent

In women’s tennis, getting the first strike is often decisive. In men’s tennis, it’s often about setting up control, not forcing it too early.

Either way, if you’re not actively working on your second serve return, you’re leaving free points on the table.

Learn how to master the second serve return on Coachlife:

Second Serve Return Taught to Iga Swiatek - Michal Kaznowski, junior coach to Iga Swiatek

Second Serve Slice Return - Patrick Tauma, junior coach to Naomi Osaka

Second Serve Return - Gary Stickler, junior coach to Pat Rafter

2nd Serve and Return Drill: Build Confidence Against Pace - Dejan Petrovic, junior coach to Novak Djokovic

Peter Clarke
CoachLife Founder and Former Professional Player
Head Coach at the CoachLife Academy