Fastest Serves in Tennis

SI Staff | Mar 10, 2011

Fastest Serves in Tennis

Ivo Karlović: 156 mph

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Croatia's 6' 10" Ivo Karlovic, ranked No. 239 at the time, struck a 156 mph serve in the fourth set of a doubles match against Germany in the 2011 Davis Cup, breaking Andy Roddick's previous record by one mph.

Andy Roddick: 155 mph

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Roddick may no longer hold the record for fastest serve, but he has been the most consistent, recording more 150-plus mph serves in his career than all other players combined.

Roscoe Tanner: 153 mph

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Tanner's strong left-handed serve earned him the nickname "The Rocket." His 153 mph serve was the fastest ever recorded in tournament competition until Roddick hit 155 mph 26 years later. Tanner shares the record for the third-fastest serve with Karlović (2007 Nottingham Open) and Roddick (2004 Queen's Club).

Joachim Johansson: 152 mph

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Sweden's Johansson reached 152 mph in 2004 and then 150 mph at the 2011 Davis Cup.

Milos Raonic: 152 mph

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In addition to his 152-mph output, Canada's Raonic hit 150 mph at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis.

Taylor Dent: 150 mph

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Plagued by severe back problems throughout his career, Dent not only reached 150 mph in what would be his final season, but also set a record with the fastest serve ever recorded at Wimbledon (148 mph).

Greg Rusedski: 149 mph

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Some contend that Rusedski held the record for fastest serve (briefly), not fellow-lefty Tanner, when he reached 149 mph in 1998, claiming the clocking equipment in 1978 was not accurate enough for Tanner's speed to be official.