Question: What's the best way to return low, slice serves?
Answer: Heavily sliced serves can stay low enough to make hitting a topspin return difficult, and many players hit into the net trying to hit more topspin than they should. These serves also curve sharply and, if hit wide, can pull the receiver well off the court.
The best tactic for the receiver is to move forward to cut off the angle and take the ball as high as possible. At its highest point, the ball will often be high enough to be hit with moderate topspin, and if placed wide, the serve can be returned at a sharp crosscourt angle. If the ball isn't high enough to hit with topspin, and it goes to your forehand, try angling a backspin slice return sharply crosscourt, or a right-to-left (for a righty) sidespin slice approach shot down the line.
If the slice curves into your body, try using a one-handed backhand to hit a left-to-right sidespin slice reply toward your opponent's deuce side.
