What is an ace in tennis? An ace in tennis is a serve that the opponent does not touch. It’s a point-winning shot where the returner is unable to get a racquet on the ball.
Unlike other serves, where there might be returns or rallies, an ace concludes the point instantly.
I am Chris, a British tennis player based in London, ERSA Pro Stringer, and a fan of all things tennis. I have spent hours researching this in-depth, so you don’t have to (you’re welcome!). Seeing as you got this far, let’s jump straight in! Feel free to skip ahead to the bit that interests you!
What is an Ace in Tennis? How is it different from a regular serve?
So, what is an Ace in Tennis? An Ace in tennis is a serve that lands in the opponent’s service box, leaving no chance for them to return it.
In other words, an immediate point is scored by the server! Sounds easy? Not exactly.
It takes incredible precision and speed to land an Ace. What distinguishes an ace from a regular serve is the fact that it can’t be returned!
An ace is not just about power. It is about accuracy and placement choice. As mentioned in The Guardian [1], power comes second to placement and accuracy when serving aces.
A good serve puts pressure on your opponent, and it can be hard to return if hit powerfully. An Ace guarantees you win that point.
Aces at pivotal points in a match can swing things in your favor and determine the result.
This is why players repeatedly practice this off-court so they can execute it in the match.
It is the combination of technique, power, and placement required to achieve it that makes it so hard to do.
The importance of an Ace in Tennis
What is an ace in tennis and why are aces so important? Well, they aren’t much fun for the opponent! Any guesses why? They don’t even get a racquet on the ball to begin the point!
Soul destroying, right? But seriously, they impact the flow of the game! I once played a chap who served four Aces in a row against me.
The result, he went a game up, and I hadn’t even touched the ball. That might say more about my return game, but you get the idea!
If a player delivers an ace, not only do they earn an immediate point, but it can also shift the momentum of the match! If your opponent is smashing aces at you all day, it does rather put you in a bad spot!
Whatever you do, keep your feet moving, and do not give your opponent an easy ride on their serve. Easier said than done, right?
The psychological advantage can be immense. Imagine that your opponent gets a few aces and the wind behind their sails! Huh, what do sails have to do with tennis, Chris?
It is an expression! Trust me, after having several aces banged down at you, you feel demoralized. And guess what follows? Anxiety around your return game, which then impacts other parts of your game.
All this talk of Aces reminds me of a match involving Federer against Djokovic in Shanghai. Watch Djokovic’s body language in the video below. Disbelief!
Aces do more than just score points! They can totally shift the mental landscape of a match. Trust me, I’ve been on the receiving end.
When a player delivers an ace, it sends a clear message to your opponent. It portrays confidence and dominance!
Different types of Aces in tennis
There are different types of aces that players can execute in a match. Each type of ace has its unique characteristics [2]:
- Flat Serve Ace – One of the most common types of ace, especially in professional tennis. A flat ace travels straight at high speed without any spin or slice. This makes it difficult for the opponent to react.
- Slice Serve Ace – This serve ace involves slicing the ball with a sidespin or backspin. This makes the ball bounce lower and unpredictably, making it hard for your opponent to reach it.
- Kick Serve Ace – This is also known as a topspin serve [2]. It involved hitting upward on the ball, causing it to bounce high at an awkward angle. This makes it very difficult for the opponent to reach.
- Out-wide Ace – Usually a slice with perfect placement. It is designed to break the tram line and create a short angle. This makes it hard for the opponent to reach as they are reaching out of their strike zone.
Famous aces in tennis history
Did you know there are many famous aces in tennis history? I mentioned earlier that they can swing the momentum in a match. This is especially true in professional tennis!
One of the most famous aces in tennis history was served by Arthur Ashe in his 1968 US Open final against Tom Okker. There are still clips of this incredible match on YouTube.
With match point on his side, Ashe served an unreturnable ace down the middle. This clinched his first Grand Slam title. Talk about an iconic moment!
It solidified Ashe’s place in tennis history but also marked a historic milestone. He became the first African American man to win a Grand Slam tournament [3].
Another famous ace came from Serena Williams. This was during her 2010 Wimbledon final against Vera Zvonareva. I remember watching this match! Incredible performance, if a little one-sided!
Serena Williams served an incredible ace at a speed of 122 mph [4]. This caught her opponent off guard with an ace on championship point. She secured her fourth Wimbledon title with an ace!
Talk about delivering when it counts!
One of my favourite aces (ok, I am biased being a Brit) was from Emma Raducanu. This was in her 2021 US Open final triumph against Leyla Fernandez.
She sealed her maiden Grand Slam title with an ace. She also made history as the first qualifier to win the title without dropping a set! Incredible!
The longest match in tennis history featured John Isner and Nicolas Mahut. This was a first-round match at Wimbledon in 2010. It featured some memorable serves and aces. I write in more detail about this match in my article how long are tennis matches.
The match lasted over three days! Incredibly, both players earned a combined total of 215 points from serves alone. This included numerous aces that kept them on the court for eleven hours!
Thankfully, I never had to face John Isner, who still holds the record for having the most Aces in a match [5]. He served an incredible 113 Aces in this first-round match against Nicolas Mahut.
So next time you’re out on court, see if you can bang a few aces at your opponent and see if it helps swing the match!
Over to you!
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