Return of serve stance and start. I get this a lot. A wide stance keeps you low on the ball on return of serve. Yes, if the ball is within your reach or stride. If not, you will be in no position to return a serve offensively.
So to me the wide stance thing is misunderstood by many well-meaning athletes and players. Since you have to move to return serve, rather than start with a wide stance, start with a comfortable stance, “split step” to a wider stance and get moving!
What is wrong with a defensive return of serve? Well, in almost all levels of play it is effective. As you march toward the top of our game, you must decide whether to be a puncher or counter-puncher. If you hit ceiling balls and your opponent hits ceiling balls one of you has to shoot sooner or later. The shooter is the puncher. The one waiting for a mistake is the counter-puncher. Both styles can win, but my experience is given equal skill level, and at the top pro levels, punchers take out counter-punchers!
A counter-puncher has to have a mistake to feast on. That puts them in a position to win vs the puncher but as the offensive minded player evolves, they dictate the game! I see this theory proven time and again. Giving the offensive opportunities to someone else in a close match at the pro level often leads to defeat.
Back to the wide stance. I am watching a video yesterday one of my athletes sent me. His opponent, would get real low and spread his legs out wide in center court. As soon as my athlete made a shot this opponent had to move his legs in and raise up to go more than one step to the next shot. Instead of being a middle linebacker, this guy should become a cat. Get relaxed and then drop and go is my advice. Pounce on that serve like a cat on a mouse instead of lumbering toward it in the wide stance.