Imagine a tennis ace like Jannik Sinner, dominating the courts and climbing to the pinnacle of the sport, only to have his serve called out as not quite cutting it against a rival. That's the dramatic core of our story today—one that might leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about tennis greatness. Stick around, because we're diving into Sinner's bold picks for the ultimate player, and trust me, his choice for the best serve ever is bound to spark some heated debates!
Jannik Sinner, the rising Italian star, has battled against some of the most formidable servers on the ATP Tour as he's soared to become one of the top two players globally. This young phenom has already secured four Grand Slam titles—a feat that puts him in elite company with only a handful of pairings in history achieving more consecutive wins—and racked up a total of 21 ATP titles in his burgeoning career. But here's where it gets controversial: Just recently, in the US Open final, Sinner faced a tough defeat at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz, with critics pointing out that his serve simply wasn't up to the task in that high-stakes showdown. It's a point that could ignite arguments—after all, is serve really the make-or-break element in modern tennis, or do other skills like return and footwork carry more weight?
Fast-forward about a month, and Sinner, now in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the prestigious Six Kings Slam exhibition event, is reflecting on that loss while chasing another triumph. He won the title last year, and after edging out Alcaraz in the final, he pocketed an astonishing $6 million—the largest prize money payout in tennis history. As he defends his crown, Sinner kicked things off with a strong performance, easily defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in just 76 minutes. Beyond the matches, he's been chatting with media, including Wivo Productions, where he was asked to construct his ideal tennis player by cherry-picking the best attributes from legends and contemporaries.
And this is the part most people miss: Sinner didn't hold back, naming heavyweights from the Big Three—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—in various categories, along with his rival Alcaraz for his forehand and strategic tennis IQ. But there was one standout pick that broke from the usual suspects: John Isner, the towering American known for his devastating serve. Sinner selected Isner's serve as the one he'd give to his perfect player, and even chose it again as the shot he'd want for himself. For beginners wondering what makes a serve so crucial, think of it as the opening move in a chess game—getting an ace (that's when the server wins the point without the returner touching the ball) can set the tone, putting pressure on your opponent from the start.
Isner, standing an impressive 6'10" (or 2.08 meters) tall, reached a career-high ranking of world number eight and smashed a record 14,470 aces before retiring in 2023. His serve wasn't just powerful; it was a weapon that redefined how players approach fast surfaces. Sinner has experienced its potency firsthand, not just from watching on TV but by facing Isner three times. All those matches were on quicker courts where serves dominate, yet Sinner came out victorious in two of them. Take their Davis Cup Finals clash in 2021 on indoor hard courts—Sinner won over half the points on Isner's serve and broke his opponent's serve five times, showcasing how a strong return can counter even the mightiest delivery.
Here's a breakdown of their head-to-head encounters for clarity:
- Cincinnati Open 2021 (Outdoor Hard): Isner prevailed with a 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-4 score. Sinner won 31% of return points, while Isner fired 12 aces.
- Davis Cup Finals 2021 (Indoor Hard): Sinner dominated 6-2, 6-0, capturing 57% of return points and allowing only 7 aces.
- Wimbledon 2022 (Grass): Sinner won 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-3, with 35% return points won and Isner hitting 24 aces.
These stats highlight a key tennis insight: Even against a serve legend like Isner, adaptability and superior returning can turn the tide, which might make you ponder— is the 'best' serve subjective, or does it depend on the surface and the returner's skill?
After his win over Tsitsipas at the Six Kings Slam, Sinner gears up for another matchup against someone from his dream team list: the 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. This will be their first clash since Wimbledon, where Sinner convincingly defeated Djokovic on the way to claiming the title—a result that sent shockwaves through the tennis world.
Now, here's a thought-provoking question to chew on: Do you agree with Sinner that John Isner's serve is the greatest of all time, or do you think modern giants like Ivo Karlovic or Nick Kyrgios with their booming deliveries deserve the crown? And what about the idea that serve might not be everything—could mental toughness or shot selection trump it? Drop your opinions in the comments below; let's debate this tennis hot topic and see where the consensus lands!
