Advertisement
Rui Vieira/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Ace

Groth smashes record for fastest-ever serve

The 24-year-old Australian served a 263 kph rocket in South Korea on Wednesday.

WORLD NUMBER 340 Samuel Groth smashed his way into the tennis record books on Wednesday with the fastest-ever recorded serve.

The 24-year-old Australian fired in a 263 kph (163 mph) rocket in his defeat against Uladzimir Ignatik of Belarus.

He also produced serves of 253.5 kph and 255.7 kph, both of which were also faster than the previous record of 251 kph, held by Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic.

Groth's missiles came during a challenger tournament at Busan in South Korea. An ATP statement yesterday confirmed that his 263 kph serve was the fastest at a professional event but said that it does not officially recognise speed records.

"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."

Confirmed: Raul signs for Qatari club Al Sadd

Friends reunited: Will Robbie get to meet Obama again this week?