In tennis, a big serve can be the ultimate weapon—part intimidation, part skill, and all power. Some players built entire careers around their ability to blast aces, paint the lines, and keep returners guessing.
From towering giants with 140 mph bombs to precision artists who could put the ball on a dime, these are the servers who made holding serve look effortless. Here are the 15 greatest servers in tennis history, ranked.
15. Ash Barty
Barty wasn’t the fastest server on tour, but her variety and placement were elite. She could hit every spot with spin, disguise, and just the right amount of pace.
14. Pete Sampras
Sampras didn’t just serve hard—he served smart. His second serve was legendary, and it almost felt unfair when he followed it up with a serve-and-volley clinic.
13. Elena Rybakina
Rybakina has one of the cleanest, most effortless power serves in the women’s game today. Her ability to rack up aces and control points off the first ball is a major weapon.
12. Andy Roddick
Roddick’s serve was pure heat, topping out over 150 mph in his prime. It didn’t matter if you knew it was coming—good luck trying to return it.
11. Serena Williams
Serena’s serve is arguably the most dominant in women’s tennis history. It had pace, placement, and most importantly, it showed up in the biggest moments.
10. Nick Kyrgios
When Kyrgios locks in, his serve is borderline untouchable. He mixes speeds, spins, and angles like a magician and makes it all look casual.
9. Goran Ivanišević
Goran’s lefty serve was a nightmare to read, and he rode it all the way to a Wimbledon title as a wildcard. His ace totals were the stuff of legend, and he made serving an art form.
8. Ivo Karlović
At 6’11”, Karlović basically served from the clouds. He didn’t do much else, but his ability to bang down ace after ace made him a nightmare draw for anyone.
7. John Isner
Isner’s serve is like a cheat code—massive power, huge kick, and deadly accuracy. He once hit over 100 aces in a single match, and no, that’s not a typo.
6. Novak Djokovic
Djokovic isn’t known as a servebot, but his serve under pressure is almost automatic. He places it perfectly and uses it to take control of rallies at the biggest moments.
5. Milos Raonic
Raonic’s serve was the centerpiece of his game, and when it was on, he was almost unbreakable. His motion was smooth, efficient, and packed a serious punch.
4. Karolína Plíšková
Plíšková’s serve has always been her calling card—flat, fast, and accurate. She holds multiple records for most aces on the WTA tour and has a serve that can take over a match.
3. Roger Federer
Federer didn’t always blow people off the court with pace, but his precision and disguise were unreal. He could hit any spot at any time, and it often felt like he had a remote control in his hand.
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2. Roger Taylor
A forgotten name for some, Taylor had a serve that was decades ahead of its time. His motion was smooth and powerful, and his serve consistently gave top players fits.
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1. Boris Becker
Becker’s serve was explosive, especially on fast courts where he could dominate with his signature motion. He was one of the first to truly weaponize the serve-and-volley combo and built a Hall of Fame career on it.
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