(Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/05/Features/Groth-Fast-Serve.aspx)
Australian Samuel Groth hit an ace recorded at 163.4 mph (263 kph) Wednesday during an ATP Challenger event in Busan, South Korea. The serve, which came during Groth’s second-round defeat to Belarusian Uladzimir Ignatik, is the fastest ever recorded at a professional tennis event.
The ATP does not officially recognise service speed records because of the variance in radar guns, but confirmed that the event was using approved equipment, and that other data gathered appeared within a normal range.
Currently, the fastest-recorded serve at an ATP World Tour or Davis Cup level event is a 156 mph (251 kph) rocket hit by Croatian Ivo Karlovic during a Davis Cup tie between Croatia and Germany in Zagreb in March, 2011.
Groth hit two other serves recorded at 157.5 mph (253.5 kph) and 158.9 mph (255.7 kph) respectively in the same match.
Groth (@samuelgroth on Twitter), No. 340 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, tweeted after the match: ‘Lost 4&3 average! Did hit a 263kmh serve though in for an ace.’ The 24 year old reached the Challenger final in Burnie, Australia, in February and the semi-finals of the Kyoto Challenger in Japan in March.
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Editor’s Comments: 10sBalls.com would like know if any of the tennis fans or readers have a large serve?
Topics: Atp Challenger, Australian tennis news, big serve, Smauel Groth 2012 South Korea Open, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Uladzimir Ignatik