The serve can be a tennis player’s greatest weapon. While much of the sport is about finding a response to your opponent, serving is the one time you are in full control and can set the tempo.
The best in the business combine sheer power with razor-sharp precision and, vitally, unwavering consistency. It’s not just about hitting the right spots; it’s about hitting them over and over again.
At Wimbledon 2026, the top seeds possess ferocious serves. Aryna Sabalenka can use hers to overpower her opponent, while Jannik Sinner has worked hard on his to make it a key part of his game.
But who has hit the fastest ever? And just how fast was it?
Radio Times delves into the details of these powerful servers, highlighting the biggest and fastest serves ever recorded in both the men’s and women’s games.
How fast is an average tennis serve?
The standard speeds for professional players are around 120mph (190-200 km/h) for the men, and 105mph (170-180 km/h) for the women.
Those numbers alone, on average across every serve, are enough to put us into a dizzying spin, wondering how any serve is ever returned.
What is the fastest tennis serve ever recorded?
The quickest serve ever was reportedly hit by giant Australian Sam Groth in Busan, South Korea, in 2012 – with a serve clocking in at a mesmerising 163.7 mph (263.4 km/h).
However, this fact is contested. Groth’s serve came during a Challenger event – the step below the ATP Tour – meaning it was tracked using different equipment to Grand Slam games.
Instead, former Wimbledon semi-finalist John Isner’s 157.2 mph (253 km/h) serve in 2016 is the official fastest.
For more Wimbledon features, check out: Wimbledon FAQs, facts and figures | How does Wimbledon Hawk-Eye work?
What is the fastest women’s tennis serve ever?
Top of the serving tree for the women is relatively unknown Spanish player Georgina García Pérez, who slammed down a 136.7 mph (220 km/h) rocket in Hungary in 2018.
The politics of what is and isn’t recognised come into play again here as former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki holds the official title for her 131 mph (210.8 km/h) effort in 2014.
To add context, undeniable GOAT Serena Williams’s fastest serve of her career was 128.3 mph (206.4 km/h).
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