Molik: Ostapenko must commit to improving serve

Jelena Ostapenko headed an unfortunate statistical category in 2017 – double faults.

The young Latvian completed the season with an unsightly 380 across 63 matches – compared with just 174 aces – at an average of six double faults per match.

Her double-fault count hit 13 in her round-robin match against Venus Williams at the WTA Finals, where the chatter surrounding her service woes increased.

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Clearly knows it, too. Every practice I watched in Toronto she spent a good chunk of time just hitting 2nd serves over and over.

— Thierry Côté (@tcote) October 24, 2017

Alicia Molik was in Singapore commentating on the WTA Finals, and observed Ostapenko’s serve with interest.

“I think she’s got a bit of work to do on her ball toss, so it’s more consistent, just getting the ball in position,” Molik noted.

“And personally I feel like she’s very upright, very vertical with her serve… I think I actually mentioned in my commentary there weren’t many first serves where she landed (on her feet) inside the baseline. I think that’s causing the double faults, as well.

“To have a consistent serve, you have to keep your racquet-head speed (up) and she’s got to find a way for a bit of security. She hits the second serve way too flat – she’s got to apply some sort of spin, whether it’s topspin for a kick serve or a slice serve. She’s got to find a way to put some sort of spin on the ball to bring it down.”

Molik, one of the game’s premier servers in her heyday, discussed with Tennismash in a feature how she developed her delivery and where other women were potentially missing opportunities to benefit from a good serve.

She said Ostapenko – who came to prominence earlier this year with her stunning victory at Roland Garros – had to prioritise improving her serve for her long-term success.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of trying – I think she’s got to be committed to it and actually doing it. It’s being committed to making a change,” Molik said.

“(These serving troubles) probably just highlight her other strengths. But it’s getting found out at the moment and I think it’s going to be critical for her to absolutely commit (to fixing her serve). It doesn’t need a complete overhaul but I think she does need to make some significant changes.

“And she’s young enough to do that.”