Table 2.

Nine higher order themes and the corresponding lower order themes resulting from return of serve anticipation interviews.

Higher order theme	Lower order themes
Consciousness	Anticipation: See the ball early off the racquet Look for signs/information sources about the type of serve Pattern recognition: 3 service games/halfway through first set to recognize patterns Watching pre-match, warm-up and during match opponent’s strengths/weaknesses, figure out information sources and update information Some “gut” returning in matches (early) Interaction of conscious and non-conscious returning Awareness of contextual and kinematic information sources Limitations of server: Handedness Weaknesses
Tactical awareness	Awareness of contextual and kinematic information sources Calculation about what serve is coming Playing the percentages Constantly updating probabilities Handedness: E.g., Left-handed servers preference sliders on Ad court
Contextual information sources	Server preferences: On score lines (e.g., break point, 30–30) Court side Weather: Wind conditions across/down court Surfaces: Grass Indoor Clay Left v right handed servers Situational information Court slope Play percentages but must be aware of the situation in the moment
Kinematic information sources	Server position on baseline Ball toss Server’s grip Torso rotation Server action: Shoulder over shoulder Corkscrew Body position when driving up – serve-volley
Mentality/confidence	Making returns early in the match Clarity of returning: Confidence in execution of returns Critical in being good returner “The bluff” Switched on/focused
Returner technique/strategy	Return to large targets/locations on court Adapted swings: Compact swing Grip changes Double handed backhand better than single handed backhand for returning Protect returner’s weakness Confidence in returning ability (backs self) Ball tracking/recognition Hits return across body
Build pressure on server	Making a lot of returns to force server to over-serve Feel presence of returner “The bluff”: Returner moves laterally/forward/back before serve to get inside server’s head Shows the server that as a returner, you know where the serve is going
Returning characteristics	Aggressive returners: Stands up in court Returns well on big points Tees off Neutral returners: Returns serve-by-serve Just aims to get ball back into court Counter-puncher returners: Makes high percentage of returns to increase pressure on server Not aced a lot Consistency Fast feet Picks up information sources/signs/ball earlier Quick hands to recognize the serve and adjust grip/racquet position to hit quality return Agility: Explosive Quick feet Take ball early Forward momentum Set-up: Adjust returner’s court position relative to server’s
Practice	Not practiced enough Not specific enough Best practice via exposure to different servers, serves, handedness, ball tosses Doubles useful for gaining tactical experience