The Fastest Recorded Tennis Serve
Tennis is a beautiful sport. The elegance of the players, the athleticism, and the fair-play attitude towards the opponents make tennis one of the highest-ranking sports worldwide. Tennis matches are exciting and thrilling. They set an example of what peak athletic achievements look like.
Playing professionally means years of training and focusing on multiple aspects of the game. Although some tennis players are better in one segment and others in another, to be professional and achieve top-tier competition victories, one must excel in almost everything.
One of the crucial parts of the game is the serve – this is when the player introduces the tennis ball to the opponent by launching it to the other half of the court with its racket. The better the serve – the higher the chances for the player to score a point.
Tennis players learn the art of serving throughout their careers. The spin of the ball, the accuracy of the placement, or the speed of the hit are all things to consider when trying to deliver the perfect shot. It’s almost impossible to meet all criteria and serve perfectly, but with thousands of tries, players gradually work on their game.
How Important Speed is When Serving?
There are a few essential things to mind when serving in tennis, but two of them are on top of the list. The most important thing when serving is the placement of the ball. To achieve this, the player must have flawless technique, which they must repeat the same at each serve. This is almost impossible to do in the long run.
The second most important thing is the speed of the ball. If the placement is 100% perfect, the opponent might struggle to return the ball but will have plenty of time if the speed is low. On the other hand – a perfect placement and a fast serve means an ace.
Since players have two chances to serve, everyone aims to deliver a fast and accurate one first. If they miss, they get the chance for a second serve, which is almost always focused on precision and deliverability rather than speed.
When the game is being decided, and the game is at deuce, players play with extra caution. Speed, in these cases, does not play a significant role, but precision and patience. A fast serve is more valuable at the beginning of the game. To learn more about the point after deuce in tennis and why it is so valuable, check the highlighted text.
Still, the fastest tennis serve will leave the opponent defenceless. When the serve is so fast, and the opponent gets no chance to even touch the ball, far aside from making a return, it is called an ace. This is possible only if the player delivers an accurate and fast serve. The faster it is, the higher the chances to win an ace.
World’s Fastest Serves Ever Recorded
Tennis players train to achieve perfection when serving and speed only comes with great technique. It does require muscle power, but most of it is perfect balance and concentration. The average speed of the serve of male tennis players is between 115-125 mph. The fastest ones? Well, that is a different story. Here’s a list of players who hold the top spots, and see who has the fastest serve in tennis.
5. Andy Roddick – 155 mph (249 km/h)
Event: 2004 Davis Cup
Country: USA
4. Ivo Karlović – 156 mph (251 km/h)
Event: 2005 Davis Cup
Country: Croatia
3. John Isner – 157 mph (253 km/h)
Event: 2010 fastest Davis Cup serve
Country: USA
2. Goran Ivanišević – 157.9 mph (254 km/h)
Event: 2004 fastest Wimbledon serve
Country: Croatia
1. Sam Groth – 163.7 mph (263.4 km/h)
Event: 2012 Busan Open Challenger
Country: Australia
What is the fastest-measured tennis serve?
Although the official fastest serve is Sam Groth’s stunner at Busan, China, there are many others who managed to deliver fast serves but didn’t qualify because the ball ended in the net or was out of bounds. These serves, although measured at higher speeds, do not qualify as official.
However, the ladies also have some stunners when it comes to serving. They are far from male power shots, but even they deliver some fast serves. For example, Georgina Garcia Perez served a ball with 136.7 mph in 2018. Aryna Sabalenka is at 133mph, Sabine Lisicki is at 131 mph, and then come four Americans – Venus Williams, Alycia Parks, Serena Williams, and Coco Gauf all between 128 and 129 mph.
The next time you watch tennis on the TV or live, check out the radar in the back of the court showing how fast the last serve was. You might be witnessing the next record in this segment. You never know who comes on top and when.