London: Nick Kyrgios blasted a 143mph (230kph) second serve-ace during the first set of his Wimbledon clash with Rafa Nadal on Thursday - the fastest serve of any sort during the tournament so far and the second-fastest second serve in ATP history. Roddick was a gifted server who consistently landed missiles over 130 mph. Nadal has broken it down to a science. Rafael Nadal. That made the Croat the first player to officially break the 250 km/h barrier. The way that he hits using his forehand creates power in his hits. Andy Roddick was the mainstay of American men's tennis after the end of the Sampras-Agassi era. The fastest tennis serve ever recorded was hit by Australian player Sam Groth in Busan, South Korea in 2012, clocking in at a whopping 263.4 km/h or 163.7 mph. It makes sense then that Schwartzman would want to own a serve like Roger Federer's. The fastest serve ever recorded, however, belongs to a currently active player - John Isner. A good server can dictate play and turn any situation to his advantage by delivering aces on command - either out wide or down the "T". While a 217 kilometer an hour serve is nothing to balk at, there have been some serves that were a lot faster. On average, he will usually be in the 140 to 150 mph range with his first serve, depending on playing conditions and overall level of fitness at a time. © 2020 Black Sands Media - All Rights Reserved. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/612431-pete-sampras-and-the-top-25- This serve was recorded in 2012 at the Busan Open and it had almost 50 kilometers an hour on Nadal’s serve. Interestingly, some criticize the way he performs his forehand hits as poor technique. Djokovic: "I could have … Facing Ryan Harrison in the semi-finals, Raonic came up with a monstrous 249.4 km/h (159 mph) serve, matching the highest speed notched up by Andy Roddick. Rafael Nadal’s fastest serve ever was 135 mph or 217 kph. There is one specific technique he uses that many experts agree has led to his massive success as a tennis player. Fastest serve speed. View the full player profile, include bio, stats and results for Rafael Nadal. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Daniil Medvedev and Roberto Bautista Agut owned the five slowest averages of the Top 10 ranked players in 2019. At the 2016 Davis Cup, the American player John Isner recorded a serve that went 253 kilometers an hour or 157.2 miles per hour. Rating Player Average 2nd Serve Win % 1 Rafael Nadal 59.64% John Isner holds the record for the fastest serve in the history of men's tennis. Roddick won the 2003 US Open and rose to the top of the ATP rankings a few months later - the last American male to scale the summit of the rankings. The thing that makes these three players the best the world has seen is not their ability to hit a fastball but their well-rounded playing styles. Rafael Nadal Fastest Serves - 135 mph/217 kph. The following table re-orders the Top 10 with percentage of points won from second serves in 2019. 23/37 (62%) ... AVERAGE 2ND … Serve speed numbers are encouraging and lopsided wins are great for the body, but our focus should always be on points, and how many of them he’s winning. Top 10 Fastest Serves of All-Time. During a practice with the retired Argentine, Nadal launched serves up to 220 kilometers per hour (136.7 mph) — an unprecedented speed for the Spaniard until that point. In six matches, Nadal has won 80.9% of his first-serve points. 125 MPH. That is one reason why many of the fastest servers in history are from the last three decades. 5’10” (178 cm) Highest rank. No. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Daniil Medvedev and Roberto Bautista Agut owned the five slowest averages of the Top 10 ranked players in 2019. The slowest serve ever: Novak Djokovic. On that day, Isner created a record which will likely stand the test of time as he delivered a jaw-dropping figure of 113 aces in a single match. FASTEST SERVE. Nevertheless, the serve speed of 263 km/h (163.4 mph) recorded by Australian Sam Groth at … It was one of the most popular videos in 2017. The fastest recorded serve in the world of tennis was made by Australian tennis player, Sam Groth. Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest players that tennis has seen. Having a good and powerful serve in your repertoire is an added advantage for any professional tennis player. 'Bachelor' hopeful suffers horrifying skydiving accident. During the 2nd set of the semi final against Nadal at the Beijing Olympic, Novak Djokovic’s first serve was recorded to be 250 kmph (155.34 mph), breaking Andy Roddick’s fastest serve of all time, 249.4 kmph … The fastest official serve is 157 MPH, but could it be even faster? If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. (Fellow finalist Novak Djokovic … 12. Much like Ivo karlovic, American John Isner has one of the most lethal serves that tennis has ever seen. 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic is the only Canadian to ever be ranked in the ATP top 10. While the United States did quite well in the tournament and John Isner won three of the four games he played, Croatia still beat the United States in the quarterfinals of the tournament. Standing at a gigantic 6 feet 11 inches, Croatia's Ivo Karlovic is the joint tallest ATP professional in history, along with Reilly Opelka. At a 2011 Davis Cup doubles match against Germany, Karlovic delivered a cannonball of a serve, clocking a speed of 251 km/h (156 mph). Powerful servers tend to perform better on the faster grass and synthetic courts as opposed to clay, where it is difficult to hit the ball past the opponent on the very first strike. Raonic's game is based on a powerful and fast serve, backed up by solid groundstrokes from the baseline. LESSON 1 I’ve never seen a professional improve his serve as much as Rafael Nadal has since he came onto the tour. While he faced only two break points against Dodig, Nadal had his fastest serve clocked at 123 mph, with his average first serve speed 108. We use simple text files called cookies, saved on your computer, to help us deliver the best experience for you. Those three greatest tennis players of all time are Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal. In the earlier days, a good serve set the tone for a smooth serve-and-volley attack; in the modern era, a powerful and accurate serve can set up an easy forehand putaway. Scroll down to read more below about the fastest recorded serves in tennis and what it is about Rafael Nadal’s playing technique that makes him so unstoppable. The serve is decent, but he needs to find some big weapons. With a career-total of 13,633 aces till date, Karlovic stands first in the all-time aces chart. 7: Sam Groth (238.2kph/148.0mph) The Aussie’s fastest serve, according to SMT, was 148 m.p.h. Post-match reactions. Nadal Djokovic 1st serve % 60 of 99 = 61%: 55 of 95 = 58% Aces: 3: 2 Double faults: 4: 3 Winners: 29: 33 Unforced errors: 23: 40 Winning % on 1st serve ... Net approaches: 7 of 13 = 54%: 16 of 23 = 70% Total points won: 125: 116 Fastest serve: 203 km/h: 205 km/h Average 1st serve speed: 184 km/h: 187 km/h Average 2nd serve speed: 142 km/h: 150 km/h Source. Soon after the 2010 US Open victory, Nadal's newly acquired weapon was gone. 2019 Year-End Top 10: 2nd Serve Win Percentages. Rafael Nadal’s serve doesn’t even make it into the top twenty fastest serves in the league. While fast, it is not close to the world’s fastest serves. You can get a full breakdown of Rafael Nadal’s forehand technique from Online Tennis Instructor by watching the below YouTube video. Of course, his serve is backed up by an even more impressive game. 2014 Stanford Classic. With the head pointing downwards and arm stretched back, there is plenty of room and time for generating acceleration – thus helping the Spaniard impart maximum velocity on the ball.”. 5 … Groth’s serve clocked in at an astounding 263 kilometers an hour or 163.4 miles per hour. On that note, we take a look at the five fastest men's serves ever seen in men's tennis history: Feliciano López, a veteran of the ATP Tour, has featured in 445 ATP tournaments (all-time highest) and 73 Grand Slam tournaments (second only to Roger Federer's tally of 79). His average speeds compared with 2010 are down too — by a lot. Top volleyball duo boycott country over bikini ban. The second-fastest serve to ever be recorded was hit by French player Albano Olivetti at the 2012 Internazionali Trofeo Lame Perrel–Faip in Bergamo, Italy. It says “Rafael Nadal arches back his arm in such a way that a lag is created between the racquet head and his shoulder region. The second component of lag is best described in this Sportskeeda article. Finally, the way he snaps his wrist allows him to create that beautiful topspin that can cause big problems for his opponents. Was it that Lisicki, whose tour nickname is "Boom Boom," reached back on game point and smoked the ball at 131 mph -- the same neighborhood as the great Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal typically serve? ... ‘Fastest serve is within one mile an hour. However, the speed of Groth’s serve wasn’t enough to take him all the way in the tournament that was won by Japanese tennis player Tatsumo Ito. These speeds are, however, not officially recognized by the ATP as they were recorded in Challenger tournaments. Shopping. Info. Tournament. That technique is his forehand topspin. Ranking third on the all-time list of players with the highest service games won percentage at 91%, the former World No. "Speed and his competitiveness are great attributes. Since the start of the 90s, the emergence of lighter graphite racquets with bigger head sizes has given the players a larger sweetspot to strike with. With new technology in tennis racquets and players getting stronger than ever, serves are faster than ever. The former World No. 25. He is able to really give his opponents a run for their money with his quick movements. Tap to unmute. Nadal isn’t known for having fast serves though, he is known for his technique. Heck, he’s one of the best tennis players the world has ever seen. Women’s first serve (same as above) 4. This year, his fastest serve is 124 mph. Men’s second serve (typically kick, and slower but with more action) 3. They combined to average 95.5 mph for their second serve while the five leading players averaged right at 100 mph. It is to be noted that Albano Olivetti's 257.7 km/h (160 mph) serve at a 2012 Challenger Tournament and Sam Groth's 263 km/h (163.4 mph) serve at the 2012 Busan Open were technically faster than Isner's. In fact, he has worked for years to develop his unique playing style that revolves around spin in his hits. 81/127 (64%) 1ST SERVE IN. He claimed the then record of the fastest men's serve during USA's 2004 Davis Cup tie against Austria, delivering a 249.4 km/h (159 mph) ace. Rafael Nadal (Fastest Serve – 135 mph) Rafael Nadal has a powerful game to beat anyone but his serve is not one of the fastest on the tour. Share. He was able to reach the speed during a 2016 Davis Cup match. Nadal ended Federer’s five-year winning streak in a match lasting four hours and 48 minutes. Nadal isn’t known for having fast serves though, he is known for his technique. The value of a good serve has remained sky-high across all eras. The ATP doesn't recognize speed of serves in Challenger tournaments, so Sam Groth misses the cut. Andy Murray (Fastest Serve – 141 mph) His baseline solidity and foot speed are his major strengths, which help him break back as often as he gets broken. Copy link. Isner ranks second in the all-time aces list with 12,467 aces till date. After all, he is one of the best. There are four types of serves to consider here 1. Known to possess a powerful serve, the Spaniard delivered a 244.6 (152 mph) bullet in his first-round match at the 2014 Aegon Queen's Club Championships. They combined to average 95.5 mph for their second serve while the five leading players averaged right at 100 mph. John Isner hails from Dallas, Texas, and this 6ft. Something amazing is happening in tennis right now, three of the greatest players to ever grace the sport are all playing. The way he performs his forehand is bizarre but it’s not sloppiness, he hits the ball like a champ. But in time he is absolutely going to need to get more power on that backhand. Wimbledon.com uses cookies. 8 blasted a thunderbolt of a serve in the 2016 Davis Cup tie against Australia, officially recording the fastest ever serve at 253 km/h (157.2 mph). While fast, it is not close to the world’s fastest serves. Rafael Nadal’s techniques are what has led to him having huge success on the courts. On the women’s side, Romanian Simona Halep leads the pack with a peak speed of 23.04kph. His fastest recorded serve is 157.2 mph. In the following weeks during tournaments in Asia, the Spaniard's serve seemingly came undone. But the serve is still the single most important shot across surfaces and conditions; it is the one weapon that is always under complete control of the player. Djokovic Sets Fastest Serve Record in ProTennis History If Olympic official match statistics is correct (I think it is), Djokovic has achieved something other than Gold or Silver in Beijing 2008. Carla Suarez Navarros was second (22.48kph) and Dominika Cibulkova third (21.98kph). Raiders player arrested in Texas street-racing incident His fastest serve was 135 mph (217 km/hr) at the 2010 US Open. 131.0 mph (210.8 km/h) Height. Age when serve hit. 58/79 (73%) 22/46 (48%) 2ND SERVE POINTS WON. 79/116 (68%) 60/81 (74%) 1ST SERVE POINTS WON. By that measure, Rafa’s retooled serve has excelled, helping the Spaniard post some of the best-ever serving numbers of his grand slam career. The very mention of Isner's name reminds fans of the epic clash that he had against Nicolas Mahut in the 2010 edition of the Wimbledon Championships. Watch later. Rafa Nadal was twelfth on the overall list with a top speed of 26.84kph, while Roger Federer’s top speed was nearly 10kph slower than Djokovic at 26.03kph. In this countdown our focus is on service speed, a dominant feature of the modern day game. Speed in a serve isn’t enough to take a tennis player to the top. https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/5-fastest-serves-men-s-tennis-history Men’s first serve (typically flat or slice, and faster) 2. They combined to average 95.5 mph for their second serve while the five leading players averaged right at 100 mph. While a fast serve can throw off an opponent, it’s more the technique and skill of the player that wins out eventually. The exclusive home of Roland-Garros tennis delivering live scores, schedules, draws, players, news, photos, videos and the most complete coverage of The 2021 Roland-Garros Tournament. JUNE 11, 2018 17:24 ... Rafael Nadal confirms - 'Roger Federer is the best player, but I still remember..' Fastest Serves of All-Time: Here at Lob and Smash, we continue our in-depth look at the men’s game. Nadal has stated that it’s the combination of power, lag, and snap that give his hits that special spin. This technique allows him to create more bounce and speed in the ball’s movement on courts whose surface tends to slow down the ball. Up Next. Rafael Nadal’s fastest serve ever was 135 mph or 217 kph. Rafa isn’t known for his serve which is why it’s not surprising to see him on the list of fastest servers, but he does have an incredibly solid serve that we believe to be underrated. 10inch tennis player holds the record of … John Isner. Great question! As we mentioned above, having a fast serve really has nothing to do with how good a tennis player someone is. 3 recorded one of the fastest serves ever at the 2012 SAP Open. Even though Rafael Nadal doesn’t have the fastest serve in the WTA, he is still one of the best players in the world. While the serve was impressive, it was not enough for Olivetti to even be seeded in the tournament. Atp does n't recognize speed of 23.04kph is nothing to balk at, there have been some serves were! 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