"It was like putting on a blindfold, knowing there’s a piñata somewhere in a field, and trying to hit it" - 'Best serve' goes to Isner as Roddick and Eubanks debate 'best server'

Over the years, serving has always been a crucial part of tennis. Whatever form or style played in, whether it was serve and volley or straight power, many talented tennis players have risen up the rankings thanks to their service qualities. Andy Roddick and Christopher Eubanks analysed this on Served to pinpoint who is the best server.

It was not as simple as picking the person who hit it the fastest. There is a lot of technical bits and bobs in a serve which players study and implement into their game to give them the extra edge on court. The pair of former professional tennis players delved deep into this topic as they listed off a range of world class tennis talents who possessed a wicked serve while reminiscing on stories when they faced these in the flesh.

Roddick began by discussing what makes a great serve. "Now we get into the height Olympics. Two best serves I’ve ever seen — not best servers — the best serves. Pete [Sampras] was a great server, but he was six-foot-one. We covered that. I mean the best serves where you could put that serve on any human and it would still be better."

He gave a special mention to John Isner and Ivo Karlovic who fit in this bracket, citing their height. "Karlovic couldn’t even really hit a slice serve, and he would still beat you by six feet because he could just snap it off. You can’t teach seven feet. Height helps."

Eubanks joined the discussion as he highly praised the Isner serve. Not just the power, but how technically good it was. "John’s motion, technically — talk about a deep knee bend. He’s a big guy with a deep knee bend. At six-foot-eleven, that’s the best serve of all time," he stated.

"Now, fair point — if you take John’s serve and put it on someone who’s six-three, from a technical standpoint it’s still one of the most sound motions. We talked about Pete having the platform motion, not moving his foot up. But John’s service motion — whether he’s 6'11", seven feet, or 6'1" — it’s still going to be incredible."

Eubanks described how he dialled it back in practice. "In practice, you’d break him. He’d serve 122 and dial it back because he wanted to play from the ground." Roddick added more on this. But in matches, he was an adrenaline server. When the chips were down, especially on the second serve, he’d go after it."

Through this time, Roddick had been speaking highly fo Pete Sampras' serve, despite maybe not being as powerful as the likes of Isner. "Pete’s second serve tumbled at you. It wasn’t a big kick that lands and spikes sideways. It was like a tumble. You had to cover 115 mph down the ad-side T, and he could also go 112 mph kick wide. It was a fast second serve. He beat you with pace on the second serve, and you couldn’t completely sell out to one side."

However, it did not compare to Isner as Roddick tried to escribe what it was like to be up against it. "Isner’s kick serve, though? He’d hit it and you’d just start laughing. It made you look stupid. It was like putting on a blindfold, knowing there’s a piñata somewhere in a field, and trying to hit it."

Once more, Roddick referenced the American's incredible height that he utilised with great affect. "Pete’s serve — you’re striking it around your normal contact point, maybe just below the shoulder. A kick might get above that. Isner’s was a foot higher. You’re swatting backhands above your head. How do you knock down something that’s over your head? That’s the job of being 6'11"."

"That’s the debate. Is the best serve Isner or Karlovic? Probably," Roddick admitted. He would go deeper into the debate. "But the best server — like pitching a ballgame when the chips are down — that’s different."

His colleague pipped in with a couple of names. "It’s like Randy Johnson versus Greg Maddux," Roddick was quick to agree. "Maddux didn’t have the best “stuff” ever, but he might be the best pitcher of all time. There’s a difference."

He continued to read down his list, naming some of the best players to grace a tennis court. "Roger Federer is on the list, of course. And Andre Agassi — I challenged you to name a great server under six feet," he stated. "Richard Krajicek needs to be in the conversation. Talk about smooth. His serve was a repeater. My serve looked like work; his looked effortless.

The former US Open champion then switched it up away from prior opponents to give a special mention to 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. "We can’t have this discussion without mentioning Serena Williams. I know it doesn’t fit exactly what we’re talking about, but her name has to be mentioned for credibility."

Former Aussie tennis player Wayne Arthurs completely skipped Roddick's mind, but fortunately Eubanks was there to discuss him. "The legend lives on. Lefty. Supposedly serving 140 in the ’90s," he uttered.

This was proven right by Roddick. "Not supposedly. I played him three times. It was that big — 135, 140 mph. The movement matters, though. He was a lefty who threw the toss out left like he was going to hit a cut serve, but he could hit a flat one off that toss," he said to the amazement of Eubanks. "Then he’d hit this little 92 mph bunny kick to your forehand — awkward as anything. He 100% belongs in the list."

Roddick noted that he could not really do anything else on a tennis court at a high level but his serve got him to where he ended up at. He followed this up by reminiscing on a basketball story which showcased what Roddick described as his 'wingspan.'

"Delray Beach. Players’ lounge had a basketball hoop. I asked him if he was good at other sports. We’re sitting down. A basketball rolls to him. He picks it up, sitting in a chair, well behind the three-point line — probably 36 feet. One hand. Drains it. Nothing but net. It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen. And he was so chill about it. Classic laid-back Aussie. He was probably 6'3", but his arms were like 6'7". That wingspan matters."

After leaving Eubanks bemused and amazed by that story, he racked off some names on his list, starting off with a former Wimbledon finalist. "Milos [Raonic] — long arms, deep knee bend, tall. That combination equals elite server."

He then stated three players that he asked for advise from Roddick to rank - Tim Henman, Mark Philippoussis, and Patrick Rafter. "Henman could do anything," he answered. "Plus-three golfer, unbelievable hands, one of the best chip returns ever — driving through it. Philippoussis — when he first came out, it felt like watching Becker again. He didn’t “pure” the ball like Pete; it was blunt force trauma. Rafter had a massive kick. It would almost stop and then take off, even on faster courts. And he was one of the most athletic guys — an absolute unit. Not a ballerina like Edberg — more like Rafa in terms of physical presence."

Roddick concluded this discussion without a conclusive answer. "If we’re talking pure serve? Isner and Karlovic are hard to beat. If we’re talking best server — the full package, clutch moments, variety, placement — that’s where the debate really starts. They’re different conversations."