The Art of the Serve. Some say it’s the most beautiful motion in tennis. And looking at the elegance of Pancho Gonzales or the smooth swing of Rod Laver, it’s hard to disagree.
Until 1961, servers had to keep at least one foot on the ground. That rule makes the fluid, explosive service motions of the early legends even more impressive.
From the 1950s to today, here’s our shortlist of players with arguably the most iconic service motions:
1. Pancho Gonzales (1950s)
2. Rod Laver (1960s)
3. John McEnroe (1970s–1980s)
4. Boris Becker (1980s–1990s)
5. Pete Sampras (1990s)
6. Roger Federer (2000s–2010s)
7. Ben Shelton (2020s)
We’ve made our selection. Who are we missing? Let us know your thoughts below.
