Daily Data Viz: Serve speeds at the 2015 Grand Slam events

A look at the serve speeds at the Grand Slam events of 2015 for Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

How do Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray compare in terms of the serve speeds at the Grand Slams? Serena averaged five mph faster on her second serves through the first three Grand Slam events in 2015 than Murray, and Sharapova hit serves that recorded 7 mph faster than the Scotsman. Sharapova is notorious for taking big risks on her second serves and her double fault totals tell some of that story—she’s averaging more than five double faults per match on the WTA Tour this year. In her 17 Grand Slam matches in 2015, Sharapova hit 98 double faults, just under six per match. There can be a risk to going for a big second serve. Djokovic leads the ATP Tour winning 61% of his second serve points—his 96 mph average second serve has good pace and spin and sets up his very strong baseline game. Take a look at how these four players stack up.

Check SI.com's 2015 U.S. Open data hub page throughout the whole tournament for the latest data-driven infographics and charts from IBM, the official technology partner for the U.S. Open. IBM captures and analyzes the data that powers all of the Grand Slams, as well as the digital platforms that extend the experience to fans around the world.