WIMBLEDON, England — Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard hit the quickest serve ever recorded at Wimbledon on Monday, clocking 153 mph (246 kph) within the first spherical.
The 6-foot-8 Mpetshi Perricard recorded the serve within the first set of his first-round match in opposition to American Taylor Fritz, and hit one other 151 mph.
The brand new mark breaks the earlier report of 148 mph set by American Taylor Dent in 2010. Monitoring of serves started at Wimbledon in 1991.
The primary-round match between the 2 males was postponed shortly after 10:20 p.m. native time, tied at two units apiece. Mpetshi Perricard took the primary two units 7-6 (8), 7-6 (10) however Fritz leveled it by taking the subsequent two 6-4, 7-6 (6).
Taking part in with the No. 1 Courtroom retractable roof closed and synthetic lights on, Mpetshi Perricard was two factors from successful whereas main 5-2 within the fourth-set tiebreaker, however by no means acquired nearer.
From 6-all within the fourth set tiebreak, 2024 US Open runner-up Fritz took the subsequent two factors to drive a fifth set and pounded his proper fist on his chest, yelling, “Let’s [expletive] go! Come on!”
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The choice to postpone the match till Tuesday was greeted with booing from the gang on Courtroom No. 1, and Fritz appeared to need the match to proceed. He appeared towards his visitor field along with his palms up and stated: “I could not do something. I attempted.”
Wimbledon has an 11 p.m. native curfew, and matches will be stopped earlier than then if the umpire believes there’s a good likelihood they won’t end on time.
Over at Centre Courtroom, Monday’s final match additionally was halted, with No. 3 Alexander Zverev, a three-time main finalist, even at a set apiece in opposition to Arthur Rinderknech once they stopped at 10:54 p.m. native time.
There have been no breaks of serve in both of the 2 units they performed. Rinderknech took the primary 7-6 (3), and Zverev the second by a 7-6 (8) rating.
Along with the velocity report, Mpetshi Perricard served 33 aces in opposition to Fritz, who had 24 himself and has not confronted a single break level on his serve.
Fritz, a 27-year-old Californian, was a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 2022, dropping to Rafael Nadal, and once more a 12 months in the past, dropping to Lorenzo Musetti.
The 21-year-old Mpetshi Perricard, who’s No. 36 within the ATP rankings, topped Wimbledon service speeds in 2024 at 140 mph. American Ben Shelton was initially recorded at 153 mph final 12 months, however his serve was later corrected to 132 mph due to a monitoring malfunction.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
