The 10 Fastest Female Serve in Tennis: Record-Breaking Speeds

Year by year, serve speed in women’s tennis is picking up the pace.

While men’s tennis players record faster serves on average, a number of female tennis stars are closing the gap with their impressive power and precision.

The question remains - just how fast are the top women’s serves in tennis?

Multiple female tennis players have recorded serve speeds of above 200 kilometres per hour and we could see new records in 2025.

Ahead of the French Open in May, SportsBoom looks at who puts the ‘ace’ into pace.

Record-Breaking Tennis Services

Rating the fastest female tennis serves in history is somewhat tricky, since the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) does not keep official rankings.

In addition, not all of the top service speeds have been recognised by the WTA.

This is said to be due to variances in technology, inconsistent measuring of service speeds and the fact that some minor tournaments and qualifying events are not even considered.

Therefore, the WTA does not recognise all of the women on the list of fastest serves.

However, certain female tennis players are unofficially recognised for their blistering service speed and have also been included in these rankings.

Georgina Garcia Perez

During the final qualifying round of the 2018 Hungarian Ladies Open, the 32-year-old Spaniard hit the fastest serve on record - registering 220 km/h or 136.7 mph.

She went on to win the doubles title with her Hungarian partner Fanny Stolar.

Although Garcia Perez’s impressive service speed has not been formally recognised by the WTA, she has been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Her highest WTA ranking was #71 on the doubles chart.

Sabine Lisicki

The German has the fastest officially recognised serve speed at 210.8 km/h or 131.0 mph, measured during the first round of the 2014 Stanford Classic.

Surprisingly, Lisicki went on to lose the match against Ana Ivanovic in straight sets.

Highlighting the link between speed and accuracy for a service game, she also previously held the record for the most aces in a singles match - 27.

Lisicki’s career high was reaching the final of Wimbledon in 2013.

Brenda Schultz-McCarthy

The former Dutch tennis star held the record for the fastest female serve for many years after a strike measured at 209.2 km/h or 130.0 mph.

Schultz-McCarthy achieved this at the first round of the Cincinnati Masters in 2006.

She claimed seven women’s WTA titles in her career during the late 80s and 90s but never went beyond the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam tournaments.

Schultz-McCarthy’s highest career ranking was #9 in 1996.

Venus Williams

The American icon doesn’t need an introduction.

Venus Williams has excelled in tennis at all levels, from WTA and ITF tournaments to Grand Slam competitions and even the Olympics.

She is regarded as one of tennis’ most prominent players.

During the opening round of the 2007 US Open, Venus Williams recorded a serve of 207.6 km/h or 129.0 mph, eventually bowing out in the semi-finals.

However, her legacy in the sport is undeniable.

As a singles competitor, Venus Williams has won Wimbledon five times and the US Open twice, and achieved a doubles Grand Slam alongside her sister, Serena.

Serena Williams

The American legend and sister to Venus Williams is another trailblazer in women’s tennis, considered among the greatest to step onto the court.

In her career, Serena Williams claimed 23 women’s major titles.

Her blazing serve at the 2013 Australian Open acts as a reminder of her pedigree, registering a speed of 207.0 km/h or 128.6 mph.

More importantly, Serena Williams also embodied serve consistency.

With this weapon in her arsenal, the American became the only singles player - among men and women - to achieve three career Grand Slams.

Serena Williams//Getty Images

Coco Gauff

The 20-year-old American debuted on the WTA Tour in 2019 at the age of only 15 and went on to win her first singles title that same year.

Three years later, she achieved a remarkable feat at the 2022 US Open.

At break point down in the second round of the major against Elena Ruse, Coco Gauff smashed a serve recorded at 205.5 km/h or 128.0 mph.

This was also the second-fastest serve in US Open women’s singles.

With only Coco Gauff adding her name to the list of fastest serves since 2018, could 2025 see a rising star add their name alongside these notable players?

Women’s Tennis Serve Records: Methodology

Ratings are based on speed (60%), competition context (30%), and player legacy (10%).

Speed notes the recorded pace of the serve, while competition context is influenced by the tournament and the round in which that serve was made.

Player legacy also factors in the female star’s impact on the sport.

These three factors combine for the MetaScore scale, which has helped SportsBoom determine how these female tennis stars rank on the list of fastest serves.

Aryna Sabalenka//Getty Images