How to Improve Your Return of Serve Like Novak Djokovic
A great return of serve comes down to three things: a ready split step timed to the server's contact, a short and compact swing, and quick hands that redirect the ball instead of swinging big at it. Novak Djokovic is the best returner the game has ever seen because he reads the serve early, stays balanced, and blocks or drives the ball back deep with almost no backswing. The good news is that the return is more reaction and technique than raw power, which means it is highly trainable. Here is how to turn your return into a weapon, with drills included.
What actually makes a great return of serve?
The return is a reaction shot, so everything starts with timing. The best returners split step just as the server strikes the ball, landing light and balanced so they can push off in any direction. Miss that timing and you are flat-footed before the ball even arrives. Once you move, the swing has to be short. On a big serve there is no time for a full backswing, so you take the racquet back only a little, meet the ball out in front, and use the server's own pace to send it back deep.
The second piece is the read. Great returners watch the toss and the server's motion for clues about where the ball is going, so they are moving the right way a fraction earlier than everyone else. That early read is why Djokovic always looks like he has time. The third piece is quiet, strong hands. When a serve jumps at you, a firm grip and quick wrists let you redirect the ball cleanly instead of having the racquet knocked around in your hand.
Put those together and the goal becomes simple: get the return deep and in play, take time away from the server, and turn the point into a rally where your groundstrokes can win it.
How does Novak Djokovic return so well?
Djokovic turns defense into offense on the return by standing in a smart position, reading the serve early, and taking the ball early with a compact, balanced swing. He rarely gets aced because he is always on time, and he rarely gives a cheap point because his return lands deep. Use the table below to break the return into its parts, then drill each one rather than just hoping to guess right.
| Part of the return | What wins | Key cue |
|---|---|---|
| Ready position | Being balanced and loaded as the serve is struck | Split step on the server's contact, stay light |
| The read | Starting to move a fraction early | Watch the toss and shoulders, not just the ball |
| The swing | Short backswing, contact out in front | Block the big serve, drive the second serve |
| Depth | Pushing the server back off the return | Aim deep and through the middle when in doubt |
Notice that none of this is about swinging harder. A compact, well-timed return beats a big, late one every time, which is exactly why the return rewards fast hands over brute strength.
Can weighted gloves improve your return?
Yes, when you use them to build hand speed and grip strength, not to swing harder. A firmer grip and quicker wrists are exactly what a return needs, because they let you hold the racquet steady against a heavy serve and redirect the ball with a short, fast move. Training your strokes and footwork with a little added hand weight overloads the forearms and wrists, so when you take the weight off, the racquet feels light and your hands feel quicker through contact.
The S.W.A.G. Adjustable Weighted Gloves let you add finger and hand weight during shadow swings, footwork, and ball-machine work, so you build grip strength and racquet-head speed at the same time. They adjust as you get stronger and work across more than one sport, which makes them a smart buy for an athlete who plays tennis in one season and something else in the next.
S.W.A.G. Adjustable Weighted Gloves
Add finger and hand weight to your swing and footwork work to build the grip strength and fast hands a sharp return depends on.
What drills sharpen your return?
You do not need a serving partner for most of this. A wall, a ball machine, or a basket of balls and 20 focused minutes will move the needle fast. Start slow enough to stay balanced, then add pace only when your timing holds.
Return of serve questions players and coaches ask
Where should I stand to return serve?
Start around the baseline and adjust to the server. Move back against a big first serve for more time, and step in on a weaker second serve to take time away.
How do I stop getting aced?
Fix your split-step timing and read the toss earlier. Most aces beat a returner who was late or flat-footed, not one who guessed wrong, so being on time matters most.
Should I take a full swing on the return?
No. Use a short backswing and meet the ball out in front, especially on a fast serve. A compact swing is easier to time and still sends the ball back deep.
Do weighted gloves really help my hands?
Yes, for grip strength and hand speed. Stronger, quicker hands let you hold the racquet firm against a heavy serve and redirect the ball cleanly with a short move.
How long until my return improves?
With 20 focused minutes a few times a week, most players feel better timing and depth in two to three weeks. Return skill rewards steady, repeatable reps.
Turn your return into a weapon
Build the fast hands and grip strength behind a return that takes time away from every server.
Tags: tennis, return of serve, Novak Djokovic, racquet speed, footwork, weighted gloves
