Christopher Eubanks: Novak’s serve is an underrated weapon peers often overlook
novak Djokovic’s serve is one of the parts of his game that many players on tour feel is undervalued, retired player Christopher Eubanks said on Andy Roddick’s podcast, Served. The comment landed against the backdrop of Djokovic’s reputation as a 24-time Grand Slam winner and one of the sport’s most complete competitors.
Novak's serve: peers call it underrated
Eubanks, who never had a chance to face Djokovic in his tennis career, said many current ATP Tour players believe Djokovic’s serve doesn’t get as much applause as it should. The point was framed on the Served podcast, hosted by Andy Roddick, where Eubanks made clear the serve is widely seen among peers as an underrated weapon.
Eubanks on Andy Roddick’s Served podcast
On the Served episode, Eubanks described the view he hears around the tour: players admire Djokovic’s serve but don’t always single it out publicly. Eubanks’s own perspective carries weight because he is a retired player, and he made the observation while appearing on Roddick’s show.
How Djokovic’s serve stacks up with Federer and Nadal
The conversation on serve quality included career numbers: Djokovic has landed 65% of his first serves and won 74% of those points, while points won coming off his second serve sit at 55%. For comparison, Roger Federer landed 62% of his first serves and won 77% of those points, and Rafael Nadal landed 68% of his first serves but won 72% of first-service points. For all three, their numbers fall into the unclear in the provided context.
Focus and composure: a rare flaw
Eubanks also put Djokovic’s serve in the frame of the champion’s wider game. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, is widely considered one of the most complete players in tennis history, yet the context notes a recurring vulnerability: an occasional loss of focus or composure in tight matches that produces a significant number of errors. At the same time, Djokovic is described as among the sport’s most mentally tough players, summed up by the line: "You don't win that many Grand Slams without being mentally tough. "
What comes next
The remarks from Eubanks add to the ongoing conversation among players about specific strengths in Djokovic’s game, particularly his serve. Next confirmed event: unclear in the provided context.
