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Have ATP and WTA tennis pros dramatically increased the peak velocity of their ground strokes in just the last few years? Comparing stats from two majors held four years apart the answer is an emphatic yes.
This article examines how the speed of top pros’ groundstrokes has increased, following a pair of articles focused on topspin in groundstrokes. (Click Here for pro spin levels. Click Here for an article on measuring speed and spin in your own game.)
In 2017, Tennis Australia’s statistics arm disclosed top forehand stats for that year’s Australian Open after tracking velocity of every shot on its main courts. The maximum forehand speeds hit by men were: Rafael Nadal at 112 MPH, Novak Djokovic at 110 MPH, Tomas Berdych at 108 MPH.
Madison Keys had the fastest women’s forehand at 97 MPH. Her average forehand velocity was actually higher than that of any of the men.
For several years, whenever anyone asked me what the fastest tennis groundstrokes were I gave this short list. Hitting 120 MPH wasn’t unheard of, but it was extraordinary, so rare that people would question whether the result was actually a measurement error.
These shots are like unicorns. Many people wouldn’t…