Analysing Hawk-Eye ball-tracking data to explore successful serving and returning strategies at Wimbledon

Important Performance Characteristics at Wimbledon: Implications for Coaches

“…Serves and returns landing close to the lateral edges of the court were more successful than those landing in central zones (Fitzpatrick et al, 2023). The importance of short points, the importance of serving and returning strategies, and the success of serving and returning to lateral zones (compared to central zones) collectively indicate that success is typically attained at Wimbledon by executing attacking strategies that put the opponent under pressure early in the point.…”

“…Tactical analysis of Hawk-Eye ball-tracking data provided insight into the most common and most effective serving and returning strategies for men and women at Wimbledon (Fitzpatrick et al, 2023). Perhaps unsurprisingly, serves and returns that landed in more lateral areas of the court (i.e., closer to the sidelines) were more successful than those that landed more centrally, and winning players executed both serves and returns more accurately to lateral areas than losing players.…”