Top five fastest serves in Australian Open history

Beginning with a good serve translates into half the job being done.  It alleviates the pressure on the server, and consistently high-quality service games can significantly influence the course of the match. Innovations in racquet technology have enhanced the speed capabilities of serves. In contemporary professional tennis, the average serve speed from players on tour reaches approximately 200 km/h (125 mph), frequently approaching 220 km/h (136 mph).

As the Australian Open draws near, Melbourne is set to host the finest tennis stars as they showcase their powerful serves and graceful strokes on the hard courts of Melbourne Park once more.

In this article, let’s take a look at the curated list of the top five fastest servers in Australian Open history. 

5. Hubert Hurkacz – 226 km/h (140 mph) – 2024 Australian Open

Polish tennis player Hubert Hurkacz is well-known for his ability to deliver rapid serves. As the 2023 serve leader on the ATP Leaderboard, he recorded a remarkable serve speed of 226 km/h during the 2024 Australian Open. This impressive serve occurred in the first round in Melbourne, where he faced Australian Omar Jasika, securing victory with a score of 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-2. Hurkacz advanced to the quarterfinals but was ultimately defeated by Daniil Medvedev in a five-set match.

His fastest serve is still the 243 km/h (151 mph) projectile he delivered during the 2016 Davis Cup match against Argentina.

4. Ben Shelton – 231 km/h (143 mph) – 2024 Australian Open

The fastest serve honour at the 2024 Australian Open goes to Ben Shelton. His fastest serve earned him the top spot just ahead of Hurkacz and came in his third-round match against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. Nevertheless, Shelton was unable to overcome Mannarino, resulting in his elimination in the third round after a five-set match that concluded with a score of 6-7(4), 6-1, 7-6(2), 3-6, 4-6.

The 22-year-old American surpassed his previous achievements at Wimbledon later that year by delivering a remarkable serve clocked at 246 km/h (153 mph) on the renowned grass courts of London. This impressive feat occurred during his second-round match against South African qualifier Lloyd Harris.

3. Milos Raonic – 235 km/h (146 mph) – 2017 Australian Open

Canadian tennis veteran Milos Raonic served at a speed of 235 km/h to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2017 Australian Open. However, his journey ended there as he was defeated by Rafael Nadal in straight sets, with scores of 4-6, 6-7(7), and 4-6.

The fastest serve recorded by Raonic came later in the year during the Citi Open held in Washington, D.C. It registered an impressive speed of 243 km/h (151 mph) on the radar.

2. Reilly Opelka – 240 km/h (149 mph) – 2021 Australian Open

Reilly Opelka, measuring 6 feet 11 inches in height, recorded the second-fastest serve in Melbourne. This impressive serve, reaching a speed of 240 km/h, was achieved during the 2021 Australian Open. Throughout that season, the American's average first serve speed was 211 km/h. Opelka efficiently defeated Yen-Hsun Lu in the first round but was subsequently eliminated by Taylor Fritz in the second round.

Opelka recorded his second-fastest serve during the 2022 Sydney Classics, reaching a speed of 237.0 km/h (147 mph), which was only marginally slower.

1. Marius Copil – 242 km/h (150 mph) – 2015 Australian Open

Marius Copil recorded the fastest serve at the Australian Open in Melbourne during the 2015 tournament. He delivered a serve that reached a speed of 242 km/h (150 mph) against Swiss competitor Stan Wawrinka. Regrettably for Copil, his impressive serving skills were insufficient to overcome Wawrinka, as he was eliminated in the second round with a score of 7-6(4), 7-6(4), 6-3.

Copil’s fastest recorded serve came at the 2016 European Open in the quarter-finals, clocking 244 km/h (151).

Cover Credits - USOpen.org