[Start da Game]

Originally Posted by barmaid

How many 'sneaky' dropshots has Martina Hingis executed? Priceless to see the expression on an opponents face..gotta rate hers as the "best" ever!

Barmaid

this is what happened when she hit a couple of drop shot serves against steffi......

[Salve]

Venus' backhand

[bandabou]

Originally Posted by Dominic

I agree with this post entirely, in fact, all the other players in this list also had a great game to go with that weapon, as opposed to Serena.

You just can't help yourself, huh?!

[djiwebster]

Serena's serve hands down. There really is no competition and nothing else needs to be said. Close thread please mods. Lol

[Raiden]

Originally Posted by The Dawntreader

I personally found Henin's driven BH absolutely fug, and it's not like Graf's stroke production on the FH was seamless and aesthetically pleasing. She hit it late with a fugly follow-through. The beauty of Graf's shot was the athleticism and elevation she used to get off that shot, not the shot in its fundamental state.

I'm surprised Davenport's Backhand wasn't included. One of the most gorgeous, fluent shots in tennis.

I'm not surprised. When it comes to esthetics 1HBH wipes the floor with 2HBH.

And the proof of the pudding is in the eating: crowds express amazement to one-handers by gasping and holding their breath and erupting in "ooh"s and "aah"s even before knowing for sure whether the ball has landed in or out.

On the other hand crowds only go as far as applauding and cheering a 100% successful score when it comes to complimenting a 2HBH - which is logical: one can't really be too impressed by a lipstick on a pig (2HBH is arguably the ugliest groundstroke in tennis - the ugliness is at an inherent and fundamental level: two hands are short-swinging around from one end of a human neck to the other end - where is the esthetics in that? Not for nothing that it was frowned upon for over 100 years when tennis was dominated by aristocrats).

[cogent53]

My 2 favourite players are in this poll - Steffi's awesome forehand and Justine's majestic backhand, but despite that, Serena's serve is the best shot in women's tennis IMO - indeed, possibly in all tennis. This summer, she was just unplayable on grass. Such variety and consistency. Yes,ok, the current crop,of top'players aren't the best returners (notable that Aga gave her her toughest grass court victory) but as a weapon, it beats out the groundstrokes of the others in this poll as it is entirely in her control and she makes amazing use of it. Yes, it can have bad days, but working well I don't think there is a better single stoke in the game. Of course, Serena combines it with an astute tennis brain and incredibly intimidating court presence and focus.

[traralgon]

Originally Posted by Passierschlag

Anke Huber's backhand crosscourt
there are several examples in this match
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHrzTI4bs98

I would nominate Laura's backhand crosscourt

[Start da Game]

Originally Posted by cogent53

My 2 favourite players are in this poll - Steffi's awesome forehand and Justine's majestic backhand, but despite that, Serena's serve is the best shot in women's tennis IMO - indeed, possibly in all tennis. This summer, she was just unplayable on grass. Such variety and consistency. Yes,ok, the current crop,of top'players aren't the best returners (notable that Aga gave her her toughest grass court victory) but as a weapon, it beats out the groundstrokes of the others in this poll as it is entirely in her control and she makes amazing use of it. Yes, it can have bad days, but working well I don't think there is a better single stoke in the game. Of course, Serena combines it with an astute tennis brain and incredibly intimidating court presence and focus.

i think serena's serve is slightly overrated......how she served under pressure over the years against great returners is also something that needs to be studied......starting in the mid-late 90s, gaining experience of serving with older rackets and now having access to modern strings these days also does not do her much favour in this argument......

[ZeroSumGame]

Originally Posted by Start da Game

i think serena's serve is slightly overrated......how she served under pressure over the years against great returners is also something that needs to be studied......starting in the mid-late 90s, gaining experience of serving with older rackets and now having access to modern strings these days also does not do her much favour in this argument......

Legends of the game, pundits a like have stated the obvious, that it's the greatest serve in the history of the game - simplicity of technique, placement, different spins & speeds. Only Sampras on the men's side fits into this conversation. ...You may need to take your case to court to win this argument, GL

[Start da Game]

how good is her second serve? sampras cannot be touched by anybody as far as serve is concerned.....serena is half the server that female version of sampras would be......

[Sir Stefwhit]

Originally Posted by ZeroSumGame

Legends of the game, pundits a like have stated the obvious, that it's the greatest serve in the history of the game - simplicity of technique, placement, different spins & speeds. Only Sampras on the men's side fits into this conversation. ...You may need to take your case to court to win this argument, GL

[.Ivan.]

Originally Posted by Start da Game

how good is her second serve? sampras cannot be touched by anybody as far as serve is concerned.....serena is half the server that female version of sampras would be......

WTA Tour MATCHFACTS Date : 2/25/2013

Pos Player % Match
SECOND SERVE POINTS WON
1 ZHOU , YI-MIAO 59.3 3
2 CEPELOVA , JANA 55.1 3
3 WILLIAMS , SERENA 52.4 14
4 RADWANSKA , AGNIESZKA 51.7 20
5 FLIPKENS , KIRSTEN 51.4 14
6 JOVANOVSKI , BOJANA 51.3 9
7 ORMAECHEA , PAULA 51.0 9
8 ARVIDSSON , SOFIA 50.7 6
9 CHAN , YUNG-JAN 50.6 3
10 RODIONOVA , ANASTASIA 50.5 4

[Start da Game]

Originally Posted by I_Will2

WTA Tour MATCHFACTS Date : 2/25/2013

Pos Player % Match
SECOND SERVE POINTS WON
1 ZHOU , YI-MIAO 59.3 3
2 CEPELOVA , JANA 55.1 3
3 WILLIAMS , SERENA 52.4 14
4 RADWANSKA , AGNIESZKA 51.7 20
5 FLIPKENS , KIRSTEN 51.4 14
6 JOVANOVSKI , BOJANA 51.3 9
7 ORMAECHEA , PAULA 51.0 9
8 ARVIDSSON , SOFIA 50.7 6
9 CHAN , YUNG-JAN 50.6 3
10 RODIONOVA , ANASTASIA 50.5 4

winning points on second serve and serving unreturnable second serves can be two different things......any stats on her unreturned second serves?

[Serenita]

For me Serena Serve. Serena's Serve is just perfect.

[Serenita]

Originally Posted by Salve

Venus' backhand

yes yes, but Serena's serve can hold up under pressure.