Novak’s underrated serve, peers say, highlighted by Eubanks on Roddick podcast
Christopher Eubanks told Andy Roddick's podcast Served that many current ATP players believe novak's serve is underrated, a point he raised while discussing the Serbian's game and career numbers.
In that appearance on Andy Roddick's podcast Served, retired tennis player Christopher Eubanks said many players on tour feel Novak Djokovic's serve does not get as much applause as it should; Eubanks also noted he never had the chance to face Djokovic in his career. Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam winner, and Eubanks framed the serve comment against that career stature.
Beyond the praise, Eubanks and the context he cited included specific serve metrics: Djokovic has landed 65% of his first serves and won 74% of those points, while his points won coming off his second serve fall to 55%. Those figures were laid out in the same discussion that raised the serve's standing among peers.
Eubanks juxtaposed Djokovic's numbers with two of his greatest rivals: Roger Federer landed 62% of his first serves and won 77% of those first-serve points, while Rafael Nadal landed 68% of first serves but had a lower first-serve points-won rate at 72%. Those three players' career figures were used to show differences in first-serve landing and point-winning rates.
Novak's serve: peers call it underrated
On Served, Eubanks said many current players on tour believe novak's serve doesn't get applauded as much as it should, an observation tied directly to Djokovic's standing as a 24-time Grand Slam winner and his career serve numbers of 65% first serves landed and 74% first-serve points won.
Numbers behind the claim
The statistics cited in the conversation put Djokovic at 65% first serves landed and 74% first-serve points won, with second-serve points won dropping to 55%. For comparison, those same metrics for Roger Federer were 62% first serves landed and 77% of first-serve points won, and for Rafael Nadal they were 68% first serves landed and 72% first-serve points won.
Eubanks on Served and his perspective
Christopher Eubanks, described in the discussion as a retired tennis player, made the point while appearing on Andy Roddick's podcast Served and explicitly mentioned he never had a chance to face Djokovic; his remarks centered on peer recognition of the serve rather than on head-to-head experience.
Flaws and toughness alongside the serve
The same context noted that if Djokovic has a flaw it can be a tendency to lose focus or composure in tight matches, which leads to a significant number of errors, even as he is also considered one of the most mentally tough players in tennis. That contrast—momentary lapses in tight matches versus broad mental toughness—was presented alongside the serve discussion.
Next on the calendar in the context provided is unclear in the provided context, but the remarks on Andy Roddick's podcast Served make clear that peers and commentators continue to reassess specific elements of Djokovic's game, including his serve and how it stacks up against Federer and Nadal.
