Who has the fastest serve in men's tennis? A ranked list

Who has the fastest serve in men's tennis? A ranked list

Lenah Ann
March 26, 2024 at 12:08 PM

A serve in tennis is a crucial shot that can determine the outcome of a game. Tennis enthusiasts and specialists have witnessed the best and fastest serves on courts from legendary players like Sam Groth, Albano Olivetti, and John Robert Isner. So, who has the fastest serve in men's tennis, and how fast was it?

The fastest serves in tennis history
Albano Olivetti (L) at the 2016 Wimbledon event, M. Raonic (C) and Sam Groth (R) at the 2012 and 2016 Australian Open respectively. Photo: Adam Pretty, Clive Brunskill, Paul Crock (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

There are many talented men's tennis players, but only a handful have left their marks with their incredible serves. Record holder Samuel Groth and other legends who have made a lasting impression on the game with their powerful serves are among the top legends.

Top 10 fastest servers in men's tennis

After an in-depth analysis from various online sources such as Khel Now and Racquet Point, here is a ranked list detailing which players have the fastest serves in tennis history based on their recorded statistics and other relevant metrics.

Name

Serve Speed

Joachim Johansson

152.0 mph or 244.6 km/h

Feliciano López

152.0 mph or 244.6 km/h

Chris Guccione

154.1 mph or 248.0 km/h

Andy Roddick

155 mph or 249.4 km/h

Milos Raonic

155.3 mph or 249.9 km/h

Jerzy Janowicz Jr.

156.0 mph or 251 km/h

Ivo Karlovic

156.0 mph or 251 km/h

John Robert Isner

157.2 mph or 253.0 km/h

Albano Olivetti

160.0 mph or 257.5 km/h

Sam Groth

163.4 mph or 263.0 km/h

Tennis has produced remarkable athletes like Marius Copil (151.6 mph or 244.0 km/h), Oscar Otte, and Hubert Hurkacz (151 mph or 243.0 km/h), who are not among the top ten with the fastest serves. Let us find out more about the record-breaking tennis stars.

10. Joachim Johansson - 152.0 mph or 244.6 km/h

Who has the fastest serve in tennis history?
Joachim Johansson is a legendary Swedish tennis star who left a mark in the sport. Photo: @MatchTenis, @Tennis (modified by author)
Source: Twitter
  • Full name: Joachim Johansson
  • Date of birth: 1 July 1982
  • Age: 41 (as of March 2024)
  • Birthplace: Lund, Sweden
  • Nationality: Swedish
  • Status: Retired

The former Swedish tennis sensation won three singles titles and reached the semifinals of the US Open. His highest singles ranking was ninth in February 2005. Johansson hit 152.0 mph serve speed while playing for Sweden in the 2004 Davis Cup doubles match against Australia. He teamed up with Jonas Bjorkman and won 2-1.

9. Feliciano López - 152.0 mph or 244.6 km/h

How fast do men's tennis players serve?
Feliciano Lopez of Spain walks off the court after losing to Andrey Rublev of Russia at the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on 13 February 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Andy Cheung
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Feliciano López Díaz-Guerra
  • Date of birth: 20 September 1981
  • Age: 42 (as of March 2024)
  • Birthplace: Toledo, Spain
  • Nationality: Spanish
  • Status: Retired

López peaked in the singles sphere in March 2015, when he rose to an impressive 12th place worldwide. His highest doubles ranking was ninth in November 2016. The Spaniard recorded his 152.0 mph serve during the 2014 Aegon Championships. López retired in 2023 after 26 years of his career.

8. Chris Guccione - 154.1 mph or 248.0 km/h

Chris Guccione of Australia at the 2006 Davis Cup
Chris Guccione of Australia hits a backhand against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in the Davis Cup first-round match at The Geneva Arena on 10 February 2006, in Switzerland. Photo: Paul Gilham
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Christopher Luke Guccione
  • Date of birth: 30 July 1985
  • Age: 38 (as of March 2024)
  • Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
  • Nationality: Australian
  • Status: Retired

The Greenvale native in Victoria enjoyed a remarkable tennis career by winning five ATP Tour doubles events. His best ATP singles ranking was 67 in April 2008, and his best doubles ranking was 38 in November 2014. Guccione clocked his impressive serve of 154.1 mph while representing his country against Switzerland at the 2006 Davis Cup.

7. Andy Roddick - 155 mph or 249.4 km/h

Andy Roddick at the 2004 David Cup
Andy Roddick at the 2004 David Cup semifinal against Vladimir Voltchkov at Daniel Island, South Carolina on 24 September 2004. Roddick won 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. Photo: A. Messerschmidt
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Andrew Stephen Roddick
  • Date of birth: 30 August 1982
  • Age: 41 (as of March 2024)
  • Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States
  • Nationality: American
  • Status: Retired

Stephen Roddick is an American tennis legend known for his performances in the 2000s. He won the 2003 US Open and reached the Wimbledon Championship final thrice (2004, 2005, and 2009) but lost to Roger Federer on all three occasions.

Roddick is one of the wealthiest tennis stars. He achieved his serve speed at the 2004 Davis Cup, which was the fastest for seven years before Ivo Karlovic broke it.

6. Milos Raonic - 155.3 mph or 249.9 km/h

Who has the fastest serve in men's tennis right now?
Milos Raonic of Canada plays a forehand against Filippo Volandri of Italy at the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on 17 January 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Clive Brunskill
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Milos Raonic
  • Date of birth: 27 December 1990
  • Age: 33 (as of March 2024)
  • Birthplace: Podgorica, Montenegro
  • Nationality: Canadian
  • Status: Active

Raonic registered the sixth-fastest serve at the 2012 SAP Open. His highest ATP singles ranking was third in November 2016. The Montenegro-born Canadian athlete is still active and ranks 197, according to ATP Tours' ranking as of March 2024.

5. Jerzy Janowicz Jr. - 156.0 mph or 251 km/h

How fast is an average tennis serve?
Poland's Jerzy Janowicz returns against Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania during the Jr. Boy's Singles Final at the 2007 US Open on 9 September 2007 in New York City. Photo: Matthew Stockman
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Jerzy Filip Janowicz Jr.
  • Date of birth: 13 November 1990
  • Age: 33 (as of March 2024)
  • Birthplace: Łódź, Poland
  • Nationality: Polish
  • Status: Retired

Janowicz Jr. made history at the 2013 Wimbledon Championships, becoming the first Polish person to reach a major semifinal. He was known for his powerful groundstrokes and outstanding start shot, with a maximum hitting speed of 155 mph, which he achieved at the 2012 Pekao Szczecin Open.

4. Ivo Karlovic - 156.0 mph or 251 km/h

Croatia's Ivo Karlovic at the 2011 Davis Cup
Ivo Karlovic of Croatia returns the ball to Philipp Petschner of Germany during their Davis Cup match on 6 March 2011 in Zagreb. Photo: Stringer
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Ivo Karlovic
  • Date of birth: 28 February 1979
  • Age: 45 (as of March 2024)
  • Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia
  • Nationality: Croatian
  • Status: Retired

Ivo Karlović held the record for the fastest serve in tennis before Samuel Groth, Albano Olivetti, and John Isner overtook him. The Croatian broke Roddick's record during the 2011 Davis Cup first-round match by shooting at 156 mph.

3. John Robert Isner - 157.2 mph or 253.0 km/h

The fastest serves in tennis history
John Isner of the United States plays a backhand in his match against Bernard Tomic of Australia during their Davis Cup tie at Kooyong on 6 March 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Robert Prezioso
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: John Robert Isner
  • Date of birth: 26 April 1985
  • Age: 35 (as of March 2024)
  • Birthplace: Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
  • Nationality: American
  • Status: Retired

As reported by AP News, Isner retired after playing his last game at the 2023 US Open, having served over 14,000 times. He recorded his fastest and third-best serve in tennis at the 2016 Davis Cup. His career-best ATP rating in singles was eighth in July 2018 and 14th in doubles in July 2022.

2. Albano Olivetti - 160.0 mph or 257.5 km/h

Albano Olivetti at the 2014 Open Sud de France World Tour ATP Series
Albano Olivetti returns the ball to Richard Gasquet during the Open Sud de France World Tour ATP Series match on 7 February 2014 in Montpellier, France. Gasquet won 6-4, 6-2. Photo: Pascal Guyot
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Albano Olivetti
  • Date of birth: 24 November 1991
  • Age: 32 (as of March 2024)
  • Birthplace: Haguenau, France
  • Nationality: French
  • Status: Active

The French tennis star focuses on doubles. Olivetti recorded his highest ATP doubles ranking of 46 on 5 February 2024. His start shot in the first round of the 2012 Internazionali Trofeo Lame Perrel–Faip tournament is the second fastest serve in tennis.

1. Sam Groth - 163.4 mph or 263.0 km/h

Who hit the fastest serve in men's tennis?
Australia's Sam Groth at the People's Court during the 2015 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on 27 January 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Vince Caligiuri
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Samuel Groth OLY
  • Date of birth: 19 October 1987
  • Age: 36 (as of March 2024)
  • Birthplace: Narrandera, Australia
  • Nationality: Australian
  • Status: Retired

The legendary tennis player tops the list with the fastest serve in tennis history (163.4 mph or 263.0 km/h), as reported by Tennis Creative. Groth broke the record at the 2012 ATP Challenger event in Busan. He attained his highest ATP singles ranking of 53 in August 2015 and his best doubles ranking of 24 in February 2015.

Frequently asked questions

Men's tennis is home to many players with mindblowing start shots that have stunned opponents and onlookers. Here are some frequently asked questions about the fastest servers in the sport.

Who has the fastest serve in men's tennis right now?

Former tennis star and now Australian politician Sam Groth is the record holder of the fastest serve speed in tennis at 163.7 mph. Hubert Hurkacz recorded one of the recent best speeds (151 mph) at the 2016 Davis Cup while representing his country, Poland, against Argentina.

What is the fastest female tennis serve ever recorded?

What is the fastest female tennis serve ever recorded?
Spain's Georgina Garcia-Perez during her game against Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand at the 2023 ITF World Tennis Tour W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz on 19 July 2023. Photo: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce
Source: Getty Images

Spanish tennis legend Georgina Garcia Pérez holds the record for the fastest serve in women's tennis. Georgina posted a 220 km/h speed or 136.7 mph in 2018.

What is the fastest serve ever recorded at Wimbledon?

According to Dario AS, American legend Taylor Dent has the fastest serve recorded at Wimbledon at 238.2 km/h or 148 mph. Taylor achieved the record at the 2010 Wimbledon Championship.

How fast is an average tennis serve?

The sport has seen some of the most outstanding serves in its history. So, how fast do men's tennis players serve on average? Men's speed is around 120 mph or between 190-200 km/h, and women's speed is around 105 mph or between 170-180 km/h.

Final word

Fans wondering who has the fastest serve in men's tennis are now on the loop. Even though some players may never be clear winners in the men's tennis competition, their power and accuracy are evidence of their extraordinary skill and athleticism, which make them legends.

READ ALSO: 10 oldest sports in the world: When were they invented?

Sports Brief compiled a list of the ten oldest sports in the world. Some archaeological evidence indicated that some sports have existed for over 15,300 years and were meant precisely for enjoyment.

Over the years, athletes have transformed it into a full-time profession and, without a doubt, one of the highest-paying careers in the world. Click on the link above for more details.

Authors
Lenah Ann photo
Lenah Ann
Lenah Ann is a Kenyan-based content creator with 2 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media and Communication from Dedan Kimathi, Kenya in 2021.