When you break it down, the game of tennis is refreshingly simple. Unlike other sports that are littered with mind-boggling regulations and various interpretations of said rules, racket games tend to buck the trend.
Hit the ball over the net and win points as quickly as possible. Once that has been achieved, the games and match wins will start to stack up. What could be simpler!
Victories mean a rise up the rankings, with major silverware eventually looming into view. The very best in the business will challenge for titles at the four Grand Slams, with the most prestigious of trophies up for grabs.
Machine
Novak Djokovic has mastered that art more than most, with the Serbian superstar seemingly forever the favourite to win US Open tennis – as he sits at 10/11 in 2023 betting markets – alongside other marquee events staged in Australia, Paris and Wimbledon. When it comes to tennis betting tips, it is talent such as his that has a tendency to attract the most attention.
Djokovic is a relentless winning machine, with there seemingly no chinks in his sporting armour, but he does not yet sit among the top 10 when it comes to the biggest ace-serving stars in world tennis. There are, however, a number of Grand Slam champions on that list.
John Isner – 14,411
14-14.
Of course, this is a stroll in the park for John Isner… #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/vxOyfIc7eL
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018
As a man so accustomed to bringing points to the earliest possible conclusion, it still comes as something of a surprise to find that Isner was involved in the longest match ever – his 11-hour, five-minute epic against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010.
Ivo Karlovic – 13,728
Standing at 6ft 11in tall, Croatian star Karlovic was famed for booming serves past opponents at the opposite end of the court who knew precisely what was coming, but were unable to do anything about it.
Roger Federer – 11,478
He may no longer boast the most major honours in his glittering trophy cabinet, but for many the classy Swiss – who made the game look effortless and rarely broke into sweat – will always be the greatest of all time.
Feliciano Lopez – 10,261
A favourite of Andy Murray’s mother, Judy, but not necessarily because of his ability to leave rivals rooted to the spot as they prepared to move over to the other side of the court.
Goran Ivanisevic – 10,237
Ivansevic’s victory at Wimbledon in 2001, as a wild card entrant, is the stuff of sporting legend – but he always possessed the tools required to compete for the grandest of prizes.
Andy Roddick – 9,074
Just a roddick ace. Probably 130mph #nbd pic.twitter.com/RxpAXASsDx
— Derrick Ceder (@CederDceder) April 2, 2015
He won the US Open on home soil in 2003 and famously suffered agonising defeats in three Wimbledon finals. His serving action was unique, but so effective and he once blasted an ace down at 155 mph.
Sam Querrey – 8,879
Like Isner and Karlovic, Querry saw his serving power overshadow other aspects of his game, but he was always competitive and holds the record for most successive aces served in a match – 10.
Pete Sampras – 8,858
The undoubted superstar of men’s tennis before the likes of Federer, Djokovic and Rafa Nadal came along. Sampras won 14 Grand Slam titles, with only success on the red clay of Roland-Garros eluding him.
Milos Raonic – 8,270
He rose as high as number three in the world at one stage, reaching the final of Wimbledon in 2016, but form and fitness have proved difficult to maintain for the big-hitting Canadian.
Ivan Ljubicic – 8,138
A mercurial talent who always had spectators on their feet, Ljubicic boasted enough ability to tempt the likes of Federer and Raonic into appointing him as their coach.
Longevity
As things stand, Djokovic is closing in on 7,000 career aces. He has some way to go before claiming a spot on yet another top 10 chart, but he is showing no sign of slowing down and will believe that he has the longevity required to dominate just about every area of men’s tennis.