Kyrgios 3rd man to serve 30 aces in a Wimbledon final in past 30 years

[Kralingen]

Nick’s 30 aces are the 3rd most in a Wimbledon final in the past 30 years, only behind Federer ‘09 (50) and Goran ‘98/92 (32/37) - however, each were 5 setters, Nick did it in 4 sets with one in a TB, only 16 service games.

He also got 74% first serves in (also hit 110mph on almost a dozen 2nd serves, so produced something like 80% first serve quality serves in reality)

Obviously aces are only one measure of serve dominance - URS% is more accurate and complete, plus SnV players didn’t always go for aces… but 30 aces in only 4 sets vs a returner of Novak’s caliber is pretty insane, especially given that this was 2nd week ‘green clay’.

Overall, gotta tip the cap to him, that’s an undeniable ATG serving performance and up there with the best seen in a Slam final. It’s not just his power, he’s got every serve in the book. Great disguise, precision, alternates between slice serves on the line to power flat serves and changes pace expertly. A true serving talent beyond any doubt.

Of course there are other components to tennis, I thought Nick lost focus in the TB and 40-0 game in the 3rd set, but that was a dazzling service performance from one of the best servers in the modern era. Even if the baseline game left a bit to be desired, huge credit to him for serving like that on the biggest stage.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

He was a great servebot alright, but as a servebot you need to be clutch to win and Kyrgibot was not, to no surprise. Bad fail at the end of third and fourth sets.

 

[MichaelNadal]

His serve was insane. Kudos to Novak lol

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

He was a great servebot alright, but as a servebot you need to be clutch to win and Kyrgibot was not, to no surprise. Bad fail at the end of third and fourth sets.

At least he admitted as such in the presser, I guess.

 

[Flash777]

Ppl complaining abt Fast Grass still need to understand that a Serving performance of this calibre was put to the sword by Novak.....Surfaces wudnt matter against him. Fats or Slow.

 

[junior74]

He certainly talked himself out of it

 

[DSH]

His serve was insane. Kudos to Novak lol

His serve abandoned him in the tiebreak and he showed all the deficiencies in his game, physically, mentally and emotionally.
That definition is a perfect portrait of what Kyrgios is: a real mess!

 

[Deleted member 629564]

Nick’s 30 aces are the 3rd most in a Wimbledon final in the past 30 years, only behind Federer ‘09 (50) and Goran ‘98/92 (32/37) - however, each were 5 setters, Nick did it in 4 sets with one in a TB, only 16 service games.

He also got 74% first serves in (also hit 110mph on almost a dozen 2nd serves, so produced something like 80% first serve quality serves in reality)

Obviously aces are only one measure of serve dominance - URS% is more accurate and complete, plus SnV players didn’t always go for aces… but 30 aces in only 4 sets vs a returner of Novak’s caliber is pretty insane, especially given that this was 2nd week ‘green clay’.

Overall, gotta tip the cap to him, that’s an undeniable ATG serving performance and up there with the best seen in a Slam final. It’s not just his power, he’s got every serve in the book. Great disguise, precision, alternates between slice serves on the line to power flat serves and changes pace expertly. A true serving talent beyond any doubt.

Of course there are other components to tennis, I thought Nick lost focus in the TB and 40-0 game in the 3rd set, but that was a dazzling service performance from one of the best servers in the modern era. Even if the baseline game left a bit to be desired, huge credit to him for serving like that on the biggest stage.

Do you have the exact numbers of aces in the last twenty finals?

 

[Bubcay]

Nick’s 30 aces are the 3rd most in a Wimbledon final in the past 30 years, only behind Federer ‘09 (50) and Goran ‘98/92 (32/37) - however, each were 5 setters, Nick did it in 4 sets with one in a TB, only 16 service games.

He also got 74% first serves in (also hit 110mph on almost a dozen 2nd serves, so produced something like 80% first serve quality serves in reality)

Obviously aces are only one measure of serve dominance - URS% is more accurate and complete, plus SnV players didn’t always go for aces… but 30 aces in only 4 sets vs a returner of Novak’s caliber is pretty insane, especially given that this was 2nd week ‘green clay’.

Overall, gotta tip the cap to him, that’s an undeniable ATG serving performance and up there with the best seen in a Slam final. It’s not just his power, he’s got every serve in the book. Great disguise, precision, alternates between slice serves on the line to power flat serves and changes pace expertly. A true serving talent beyond any doubt.

Of course there are other components to tennis, I thought Nick lost focus in the TB and 40-0 game in the 3rd set, but that was a dazzling service performance from one of the best servers in the modern era. Even if the baseline game left a bit to be desired, huge credit to him for serving like that on the biggest stage.

Did Roger really have 50 aces against Roddick in 2009? Don't remember that match at all. I know Roger has one of the best serves ever, but I had no idea that Roddick was unable to return that badly... . That is two sets worth won just by serving... Wow...

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

Did Roger really have 50 aces against Roddick in 2009? Don't remember that match at all. I know Roger has one of the best serves ever, but I had no idea that Roddick was unable to return that badly... . That is two sets worth won just by serving... Wow...

He did. But given the last set was 16-14 basically makes it a 7 set match in length. Nevertheless pretty impressive.

 

[mahatma]

Nick’s 30 aces are the 3rd most in a Wimbledon final in the past 30 years, only behind Federer ‘09 (50) and Goran ‘98/92 (32/37) - however, each were 5 setters, Nick did it in 4 sets with one in a TB, only 16 service games.

He also got 74% first serves in (also hit 110mph on almost a dozen 2nd serves, so produced something like 80% first serve quality serves in reality)

Obviously aces are only one measure of serve dominance - URS% is more accurate and complete, plus SnV players didn’t always go for aces… but 30 aces in only 4 sets vs a returner of Novak’s caliber is pretty insane, especially given that this was 2nd week ‘green clay’.

Overall, gotta tip the cap to him, that’s an undeniable ATG serving performance and up there with the best seen in a Slam final. It’s not just his power, he’s got every serve in the book. Great disguise, precision, alternates between slice serves on the line to power flat serves and changes pace expertly. A true serving talent beyond any doubt.

Of course there are other components to tennis, I thought Nick lost focus in the TB and 40-0 game in the 3rd set, but that was a dazzling service performance from one of the best servers in the modern era. Even if the baseline game left a bit to be desired, huge credit to him for serving like that on the biggest stage.

You should also add a great disguised underarm serve. Not much to boast though, but it is what it is.

 

[accidental]

in one of his other matches v Djokovic he hit 25 aces in 2 sets

Yet he only managed 1 break of serve in the final.

 

[Kralingen]

Do you have the exact numbers of aces in the last twenty finals?

Yeah it’s all on UTS but can’t paste the correct formatting from my phone now.

4th most would be Federer in 2014 vs Djokovic. Pete’s maximum aces was 26.

most shocking one is finding out that Federer held Roddick to only 18 aces across 7 sets in 2004/05.

 

[PUSB]

His serve abandoned him in the tiebreak and he showed all the deficiencies in his game, physically, mentally and emotionally.
That definition is a perfect portrait of what Kyrgios is: a real mess!

Kyrgios has no plus one shot. That is a killer for him and will stop him breaking into the top 10.

 

[Milanez82]

T

Nick’s 30 aces are the 3rd most in a Wimbledon final in the past 30 years, only behind Federer ‘09 (50) and Goran ‘98/92 (32/37) - however, each were 5 setters, Nick did it in 4 sets with one in a TB, only 16 service games.

He also got 74% first serves in (also hit 110mph on almost a dozen 2nd serves, so produced something like 80% first serve quality serves in reality)

Obviously aces are only one measure of serve dominance - URS% is more accurate and complete, plus SnV players didn’t always go for aces… but 30 aces in only 4 sets vs a returner of Novak’s caliber is pretty insane, especially given that this was 2nd week ‘green clay’.

Overall, gotta tip the cap to him, that’s an undeniable ATG serving performance and up there with the best seen in a Slam final. It’s not just his power, he’s got every serve in the book. Great disguise, precision, alternates between slice serves on the line to power flat serves and changes pace expertly. A true serving talent beyond any doubt.

Of course there are other components to tennis, I thought Nick lost focus in the TB and 40-0 game in the 3rd set, but that was a dazzling service performance from one of the best servers in the modern era. Even if the baseline game left a bit to be desired, huge credit to him for serving like that on the biggest stage.

To put things in perspective Djokovic was on fire return wise, putting a lot unreturnables back, putting a lot of returns at Kyrgios feet and in 4 sets managed only 4 bp chances

Did they ever show a stat what percentage of Kyrgios serves were unreturned? I know during the tournament after qf he had one of historically high numbers but can't remember what it was?

 

[bobleenov1963]

He will likely serve two years in the slammer. That's a lot less than 30 aces, LOL...

 

[Biotic]

Grass is still grass, and all you need to keep it close is a monster serve.

Out of 125 points on Kyrgios' serve he won 82 (30 aces), Djoko won 43 (7 DFs).

I'd like to see that URS%...

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

To put things in perspective Djokovic was on fire return wise, putting a lot unreturnables back, putting a lot of returns at Kyrgios feet and in 4 sets managed only 4 bp chances

Did they ever show a stat what percentage of Kyrgios serves were unreturned? I know during the tournament after qf he had one of historically high numbers but can't remember what it was?

Obviously he wasn't getting *a lot* of unreturnable back or putting *a lot* of returns at Kyrgios feet given Neeck's rate of unreturned serves. Novack had brief stretches when he was zoning on return but only converted them into one break (set 2); the second break was at least 50% donated and the tiebreak had Nicky performing a classic nextgen nervous flop.

 

[DSH]

Obviously he wasn't getting *a lot* of unreturnable back or putting *a lot* of returns at Kyrgios feet given Neeck's rate of unreturned serves. Novack had brief stretches when he was zoning on return but only converted them into one break (set 2); the second break was at least 50% donated and the tiebreak had Nicky performing a classic nextgen nervous flop.

Exactly, more demerit of the Australian than something superlative in the game of the Serbian.
But of course, for an unstable guy, emotionally, physically and psychologically, referring to the "stability" of his rival, clearly shows that he is not suitable for this type of challenge, no matter how much he says otherwise.
His attitude in the defining moments always betrays him and without a clear, cool, calm and stable demeanour it is impossible to win a Major.
Even "crazy Goran" kept a cool head to win Wimbledon 2001.

 

[tex123]

Aces mean nothing. When is he "acing" his opponent? 40-0 up or 0-40 down? Can he consistently hit the lines 0-40 down?

It is what you do when the ones that don't go in and you have to make the second serve count with placement that sets up the next shot. Yes, he can servebot. An excellent returner like Djokovic can shug that off but boy when he gets his racket on a serve, it lands at Nick's feet. He then craps in his pants. It is also about when you ace. Can you do it 0-40 down holding your nerve all the way to win the game. Oh no. He's 40-0 up and loses the game.

That's why people will never understand Sampras and his serving followed by point set up. The most clutch 1st and 2nd server of all time.

 

[bobleenov1963]

Exactly, more demerit of the Australian than something superlative in the game of the Serbian.
But of course, for an unstable guy, emotionally, physically and psychologically, referring to the "stability" of his rival, clearly shows that he is not suitable for this type of challenge, no matter how much he says otherwise.
His attitude in the defining moments always betrays him and without a clear, cool, calm and stable demeanour it is impossible to win a Major.
Even "crazy Goran" kept a cool head to win Wimbledon 2001.

They should ban the Nick "the ghetto" Kyrgios from all tennis tournaments. This mental "midget" was up 0-40 on Novak's server at 5-3 in the 2nd set and couldn't break. He was up 40-0 in the 3rd set at 4-4 and lost the game. Maybe prison time will toughen him up, LOL....

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah it’s all on UTS but can’t paste the correct formatting from my phone now.

4th most would be Federer in 2014 vs Djokovic. Pete’s maximum aces was 26.

most shocking one is finding out that Federer held Roddick to only 18 aces across 7 sets in 2004/05.

Federer playing Roddick like me disabling red cards on Fifa

 

[Spencer Gore]

The curse of the serve bot seems to be making a worrying return at Wimbledon. If Djokovic wasn't the greatest returner of all time (almost supernatural at moments) Kyrgios would have won Wimbledon by basically having an all but unreturnable serve. Would be interesting to see what the stats say.

 

[DSH]

They should ban the Nick "the ghetto" Kyrgios from all tennis tournaments. This mental "midget" was up 0-40 on Novak's server at 5-3 in the 2nd set and couldn't break. He was up 40-0 in the 3rd set at 4-4 and lost the game. Maybe prison time will toughen him up, LOL....

His act of bravado only serves to intimidate weak players like Tsitsipas but in tense situations like a Grand Slam final that "composure" is completely reversed and he shows all his shortcomings not only on a tennis level but above all on a personal level, his true self.

 

[NoleFam]

I can honestly say the guy is a serve machine and one of the most talented servers of all time, up there with the best. I don't know about others but watching that match it felt to me that this is the most difficult serve for Djokovic to return. Yea he put a lot of excellent serves in play but Kyrgios was still getting so many points off that shot and fooling Djokovic with the direction of them time and time again. His average on the 2nd serve was 110 mph while serving 73% which is just ridiculous.

 

[Shaolin]

Just curious how many aces Djokovic had in the final.

Edit...nvm, 15

 

[Jokervich]

Nick’s 30 aces are the 3rd most in a Wimbledon final in the past 30 years, only behind Federer ‘09 (50) and Goran ‘98/92 (32/37) - however, each were 5 setters, Nick did it in 4 sets with one in a TB, only 16 service games.

He also got 74% first serves in (also hit 110mph on almost a dozen 2nd serves, so produced something like 80% first serve quality serves in reality)

Obviously aces are only one measure of serve dominance - URS% is more accurate and complete, plus SnV players didn’t always go for aces… but 30 aces in only 4 sets vs a returner of Novak’s caliber is pretty insane, especially given that this was 2nd week ‘green clay’.

Overall, gotta tip the cap to him, that’s an undeniable ATG serving performance and up there with the best seen in a Slam final. It’s not just his power, he’s got every serve in the book. Great disguise, precision, alternates between slice serves on the line to power flat serves and changes pace expertly. A true serving talent beyond any doubt.

Of course there are other components to tennis, I thought Nick lost focus in the TB and 40-0 game in the 3rd set, but that was a dazzling service performance from one of the best servers in the modern era. Even if the baseline game left a bit to be desired, huge credit to him for serving like that on the biggest stage.

Interesting. So you're saying his absolute best serving performance was only good enough to lose to Djokovic in 4?

 

[Kralingen]

Aces mean nothing. When is he "acing" his opponent? 40-0 up or 0-40 down? Can he consistently hit the lines 0-40 down?

It is what you do when the ones that don't go in and you have to make the second serve count with placement that sets up the next shot. Yes, he can servebot. An excellent returner like Djokovic can shug that off but boy when he gets his racket on a serve, it lands at Nick's feet. He then craps in his pants. It is also about when you ace. Can you do it 0-40 down holding your nerve all the way to win the game. Oh no. He's 40-0 up and loses the game.

That's why people will never understand Sampras and his serving followed by point set up. The most clutch 1st and 2nd server of all time.

Agreed that aces are misleading - to be fair at least a dozen of those came in 30-0 or 40-0/15 situations when the game was mostly over.

Still, they aren’t meaningless as you said, that’s BS. Rattling off 2-3 free points in a row is a skill that every player wants to have. Look at the struggle of getting through even one service game for shorter players who have to dazzle, play 30 shot rallies, drop shots and sliding gets galore.

The best shot in tennis is the one your opponent can’t touch. Kyrgios closed the first set with an ace on the line - the value of that shot is no matter how GOATy your opponent is, even if they have the biggest FH, best drop shots, and best BH, there’s nothing they can do about it.

I do agree on his serves not flowing into his pattern of play. You almost felt like he was shocked to see some of those serves come back and left flat footed. Especially in the 40-0 game, he lost the initial point and seemed extremely annoyed. It’s like he doesn’t always move into the serve and expects it just to be a free point.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

A prime example as to why a big server can be overrated. You need more than just a big serve. Kyrgios’s return game is putrid.

 

[Marco Rotim]

Nick’s 30 aces are the 3rd most in a Wimbledon final in the past 30 years, only behind Federer ‘09 (50) and Goran ‘98/92 (32/37) - however, each were 5 setters, Nick did it in 4 sets with one in a TB, only 16 service games.

He also got 74% first serves in (also hit 110mph on almost a dozen 2nd serves, so produced something like 80% first serve quality serves in reality)

Obviously aces are only one measure of serve dominance - URS% is more accurate and complete, plus SnV players didn’t always go for aces… but 30 aces in only 4 sets vs a returner of Novak’s caliber is pretty insane, especially given that this was 2nd week ‘green clay’.

Overall, gotta tip the cap to him, that’s an undeniable ATG serving performance and up there with the best seen in a Slam final. It’s not just his power, he’s got every serve in the book. Great disguise, precision, alternates between slice serves on the line to power flat serves and changes pace expertly. A true serving talent beyond any doubt.

Of course there are other components to tennis, I thought Nick lost focus in the TB and 40-0 game in the 3rd set, but that was a dazzling service performance from one of the best servers in the modern era. Even if the baseline game left a bit to be desired, huge credit to him for serving like that on the biggest stage.

4th Man in Last 32 years sounds better, Goran served 37 aces in 1992 final but lost anyway, highest in a losing final since then.

 

[Marco Rotim]

A prime example as to why a big server can be overrated. You need more than just a big serve. Kyrgios’s return game is putrid.

Federer served 29 aces vs Novak in 2014 final and lost anyway.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Federer served 29 aces vs Novak in 2014 final and lost anyway.

Aces don’t mean jack.

 

[JasonZ]

Did Roger really have 50 aces against Roddick in 2009? Don't remember that match at all. I know Roger has one of the best serves ever, but I had no idea that Roddick was unable to return that badly... . That is two sets worth won just by serving... Wow...

yes 50 aces. roddick had one of the worst reaction times on return (while federer has outstanding reflexes). federer outaced him in many of their matches, despite roddick having the much better serve.

however roddick always had a huge number of service winners. even if fed was able to get the racket on many first serves of roddick, their power made it hard to control the return.

 

[NoleFam]

Also worth pointing out that Kyrgios at 73% is the highest percentage of the 4. Ivanisevic '92 (66.8%), Ivanisevic '98 (57.4%), Federer '09 (64.5%)

 

[bobleenov1963]

Aces don’t mean jack.

Last time I check, you don't get extra points for getting more aces than your opponent.

 

[Third Serve]

His serve was super good in that final, especially in the first set where I believe his first serve percentage was abnormally high. Credit to Djokovic for returning it as well as he did, although Nick did implode a little to hand over one of the breaks and the fourth set tiebreak.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

I'm not impressed.

 

[zvelf]

His serve was super good in that final, especially in the first set where I believe his first serve percentage was abnormally high. Credit to Djokovic for returning it as well as he did, although Nick did implode a little to hand over one of the breaks and the fourth set tiebreak.

Kyrgios got in 77% of first serves in the first set, averaging 126 mph/203 kmh and won 80% of his first serve points. He did not double fault once in the first set. His second serve averaged 111 mph/179 kmh and he won 83% of second serves that set.

Djokovic is a good server himself and Djokovic's fastest serve of the entire match, 122 mph/197 kmh, was less than Nick's AVERAGE first serve speed of 123 mph/198 kmh for the entire match. Whatever weaknesses Kyrgios has in the rest of his game, he put in one of the best statistical serve performances ever in a Wimbledon final. That probably would have been enough to beat any active player outside of Djokovic and Nadal.

 

[mike danny]

So does that mean that Fred is a better returner than Djoker? Roddick in 2009 only had 27 aces over a long 5 setter.

 

[The Guru]

Yeah I was impressed with Nick I thought he would be bad but he belonged out there. One of the best serving performances I’ve seen which was his only route to competitiveness considering his weak return and average baseline game.

 

[Biotic]

So does that mean that Fred is a better returner than Djoker? Roddick in 2009 only had 27 aces over a long 5 setter.

2009 Fed vs 2022 Djoko? It's a possibility. But compared to Kyrgios, Roddick's serve was predictable af.

 

[mike danny]

2009 Fed vs 2022 Djoko? It's a possibility. But compared to Kyrgios, Roddick's serve was predictable af.

Well, he did a better job than Kyrgios somehow against a better grass player.

 

[BH40love]

Fed with more aces than Roddick shows you how great of a serve he has. Djokovic serve is excellent since Goran came to the picture.
Kyrgios overrated

 

[TheNachoMan]

His serving was insane.

 

[The Guru]

So does that mean that Fred is a better returner than Djoker? Roddick in 2009 only had 27 aces over a long 5 setter.

Roddick wasn’t exactly a spot server. Even if you think Roddick is the better server and served better in that match than Kyrgios did (neither of those are givens) that doesn’t mean he would/should serve more aces. Plus aces against is an awful measure of returning skill returns in play is at least an ok one but even that doesn’t measure whether you’re serving up shirt balls or getting them back deep and doing damage.

 

[Biotic]

Well, he did a better job than Kyrgios somehow against a better grass player.

You were talking about serve only. Few could serve better than Kyrgios did yesterday.

 

[mike danny]

You were talking about serve only. Few could serve better than Kyrgios did yesterday.

Roddick has to be in the running.

 

[Kralingen]

So does that mean that Fred is a better returner than Djoker? Roddick in 2009 only had 27 aces over a long 5 setter.

Peak Fed was a better returner on grass than Djokovic was I think. He’s always had incredible reflexes on low bouncing surfaces.

Novak is more from the Agassi school I think, he’s fine with getting aced a bit more than Muzz or Fed because when he reads the serve he gets great contact and depth.

 

[mike danny]

You were talking about serve only. Few could serve better than Kyrgios did yesterday.

Can we somehow prove that Nick was better than 2009 Karlovic who was unbroken before meeting Fed?

 

[NoleFam]

2009 Fed vs 2022 Djoko? It's a possibility. But compared to Kyrgios, Roddick's serve was predictable af.

Federer's peak level of returning only lasted about 5 years. Djokovic can still turn it on at 35. Look at these stats:

Federer won 28.5% return points against Roddick in 2009 who served 70.7%, averaging 127 mph on the 1st and 105 mph on the 2nd.
Djokovic won 34% return points against Kyrgios in 2022 who served 73%, averaging 123 mph on the 1st and 110 mph on the 2nd.