The most aces in a Grand Slam match is 113, hit by John Isner in his famous Wimbledon 2010 match against Nicolas Mahut. Mahut struck 103 aces in the same match, which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes across three days.
That record is the clearest answer to “grand slam most aces,” but it is not the only useful one. Aces can be counted in a single match or across an entire tournament, and the men’s and women’s records are different. Here’s how the main marks compare—and why Isner and Mahut’s match still stands apart.
Most aces in a Grand Slam match
| Record | Player | Aces | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s match record | John Isner | 113 | Beat Nicolas Mahut, Wimbledon 2010 |
| Second-highest total in that match | Nicolas Mahut | 103 | Lost to Isner, Wimbledon 2010 |
| Women’s match record | Sabine Lisicki | 27 | Beat Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, Wimbledon 2012 |
Isner’s 113 aces came in the first round at Wimbledon. The match ended 6–4, 3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 70–68 to Isner. Its final set alone lasted longer than many full matches: neither player could be broken, and the score kept climbing until Isner finally earned the decisive break.
Mahut’s 103 aces show why this was not simply a case of one player serving well while the other struggled. Both men kept landing powerful first serves and finding ways to hold. Isner won the match, but Mahut’s total is also the second-highest ever recorded in a Grand Slam match.
Women’s Grand Slam match record
Sabine Lisicki holds the women’s mark with 27 aces. She set it at Wimbledon in 2012 against Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, winning 6–4, 6–2. Lisicki was known for her big, attacking serve, and grass helped make it especially effective. A fast, low bounce can give a returner less time to set up, even when they read the direction correctly.
The gap between the men’s and women’s match records is striking, but the Isner–Mahut match was an unusual outlier. It lasted more than 11 hours and included a final set of 138 games. In a typical match, players have far fewer service games in which to add to their totals.
Most aces in a Grand Slam tournament
A tournament total is a different record from a single-match total. It adds together a player’s aces across all their matches at one major. John Isner hit 214 aces at Wimbledon in 2018, a standout total for one Grand Slam campaign. He reached the semifinals, where he lost to Kevin Anderson in another five-set match.
Isner’s serving style explains why he appears so often in ace records. He was exceptionally tall, used a high contact point and could hit the ball hard to either side of the service box. When his serve was working, opponents often had to focus on getting the ball back rather than building an attacking return.
Still, a high ace count does not guarantee a title. Isner’s 2018 run ended in the semifinals, while champions may win with fewer aces by returning well, defending under pressure and making the most of key points. Aces are valuable, but they are only one part of a match.
Why Wimbledon produces so many ace records
Grass courts tend to reward strong serving. The ball often skids through the surface and stays relatively low, making it harder for the returner to get into a comfortable position. Wimbledon also uses best-of-five-set matches in the men’s singles draw, giving players more time—and more service games—to build a large total.
That does not mean every big server will set a record on grass. Placement, disguise and the ability to vary pace matter too. A serve aimed at the body can be just as awkward as a faster one aimed at the corner. Players also need to handle the pressure of serving late in sets, when one loose game can decide a match.
What counts as an ace?
An ace is a legal serve that wins the point without the receiver touching the ball. If the receiver gets a racket on the serve, it is not an ace—even if the return goes out or lands short. The point may still be won by the server, but it is recorded differently.
This distinction helps explain why ace totals are not a complete measure of serving quality. A serve can force a weak return and set up an easy volley without earning an ace. Conversely, a clean ace ends the point immediately and is especially valuable on break points or at the end of a tight set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the most aces in a Grand Slam match?
John Isner holds the men’s record with 113 aces against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010. Mahut hit 103 in the same match.
Who holds the women’s Grand Slam match ace record?
Sabine Lisicki holds the women’s record with 27 aces against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez at Wimbledon in 2012.
What is the most aces in one Grand Slam tournament?
John Isner hit 214 aces at Wimbledon in 2018. That total came across his run to the semifinals, rather than in a single match.
Does a fast serve always count as an ace?
No. The receiver must not touch the serve. If the receiver makes contact, even with a failed return, the point is not recorded as an ace.
Final Thoughts
For a single Grand Slam match, John Isner’s 113 aces remain the men’s record, set in the epic 2010 Wimbledon contest against Nicolas Mahut. Sabine Lisicki owns the women’s match mark with 27, while Isner’s 214 aces at Wimbledon in 2018 stand out as a major tournament total. These numbers capture the power of a great serve—but the Isner–Mahut match also shows how stamina, nerve and one final breakthrough can matter just as much.
