What is an ace in tennis ?

Asked 14-Aug-2018
Viewed 284 times

1 Answer


0

An ace is a legal service that is not touched by the recipient and wins the point in tennis. Aces are most commonly seen in professional tennis on a player's first serve, when the server can strike the ball with maximum force and take greater chances with ball placement, such as the service box's far corners. This term was coined by sports journalist Allison Danzig, according to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The top-level professional tennis circuits have been officially recording aces since 1991, therefore these records begin there.

With 214 aces during the 2018 Wimbledon, John Isner holds the record for most aces in a tournament, and he also holds the record for most aces in a single match, with 113 during his 11-hour duel with Nicolas Mahut in 2010. He's also second on the list of most aces in a career.

With 13,728 career aces, Ivo Karlovi holds the record. With 45 in a best-of-three set match at Halle in 2015, he also holds the record for most in a best-of-three set match. He became the only player to hit at least 40 aces in three consecutive matches two weeks later, at Wimbledon.

With 1,477 in a single season in 1996, Goran Ivanievi holds the record. He also holds the record for most wins in a single tournament, with 213 when he won Wimbledon in 2001.

In the 2009 Wimbledon final, Roger Federer set the record for most aces in a Grand Slam final with 50. In addition, he is ranked third on the career list.

Serena Williams set the record for most aces in a tournament with 102 while winning Wimbledon in 2012.

With 530 aces in 2016, Karolina Plková set a new record for most aces in a single season, breaking her own mark of 517 set in 2015. With 21 aces in her second-round victory over Jeena Ostapenko in Stuttgart in 2021, she holds the record for most aces served in a clay match.