Mirra Andreeva Service Video

[jimlosaltos]

Let's try this. I'd love to hear your opinions on the service motion of 18 yo Mirra Andreeva in this 50 second video.
Please temper your expectations for the video. I couldn't bring a camera into the stadium, so I shot this on my cell phone.
There are two videos, the first at regular speed, the second at slow motion.
Given the poor light, distance the second in particular is quite pixelated. BUT you can see her motion.
A couple of things of note: Mirra was 17 at the time, this March, and won her second, consecutive WTA 1000 title in Indian Wells.
I believe she is the only active player to have won consecutive WTA 1000s (or WTA Premieres, the old designation).

She hit her fastest serve ever in the final at 126 MPH, and at Wimbledon hit up to 121 MPH, which is 6th fastest.
Her go to service is a short, wide slice to the deuce court.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Pr2Z7rxK4jY

[jimlosaltos]

Here are two images that show the degree of ISR Mirra has.
Goes from impact with the ball to her racket fact toward the side with the racket traveling less than 2 feet, and continues until the racket faces perhaps 30 degrees backwards.

1 of 2 A still image on a cell phone.

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2 of 2. This is a composite of frames taken from cell phone video.

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[jeffreycounts]

Tremendous external rotation of the shoulder which gives her a deep racket drop. The left hip juts out like Pat Dougherty talks about. Perfect contact point. Only thing unusual in your stills is the racket pointing toward the right net post in the follow throw, but maybe that's from spin? Overall you can see how she can hit a 126 mph screamer.

[jimlosaltos]

Tremendous external rotation of the shoulder which gives her a deep racket drop. The left hip juts out like Pat Dougherty talks about. Perfect contact point. Only thing unusual in your stills is the racket pointing toward the right net post in the follow throw, but maybe that's from spin? Overall you can see how she can hit a 126 mph screamer.

Thanks! To my amateur eye, Mirra's serve seems smooth and repeatable. No hitches or gyrations.
She doesn't "explode" into impact the way some of the heaviest servers do.
But if she can get 120s now, before she's put on more muscle, she doesn't need more velocity.

Tangentially, interesting borderline quirky game. I can't recall anyone that hits as many slice forehands. Five her a running forehand, the type ATP players go gonzo on and she slices it firm and deep, and resets.

[stotty]

I am not fan of abbreviated motions but hers is a good one. Yes, a deep racket drop and good internal rotation. Her racket reaches full internal rotation very early. Nice high scorpion kick back.

Iga served great today with her abbreviated motion in the Wimbledon final . Anisimova didn't seem to read her serve the entire match.

[jimlosaltos]

I am not fan of abbreviated motions but hers is a good one. Yes, a deep racket drop and good internal rotation. Her racket reaches full internal rotation very early. Nice high scorpion kick back.

Iga served great today with her abbreviated motion in the Wimbledon final . Anisimova didn't seem to read her serve the entire match.

Return of serve is the strongest part of Anisimova's game. She dismantled Sabalenka starting with great returns, many deep, or with the backhand to the corner.

She was simply frozen by nerves today.

Cycle of life. Sabalenka bagled Iga in Paris, got trounced by Amanda, then Iga gave Amanda a "bicyclette", as I believe the French call a double bagel.