Hubert Hurkacz achieves incredible ATP feat that has eluded Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer

11/03/2023 08:03 AM

Hubert Hurkacz has joined an exclusive club of players to achieve the extraordinary feat of serving 1,000+ aces during an ATP Tour season.

The Pole passed the 1,000+ ace milestone during the 2023 Paris Masters as he became the first player since 2019 to achieve this milestone, which the legendary trio of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have all failed to pull off.

Since the ATP started recording ace tallies in 1991, only nine players have managed to serve 1,000+ aces during a season with Pete Sampras the first to do so in 1993, but he only did it once in his career.

Players With 1,000+ Ace Seasons

1. John Isner – 2010, 2012, 2015-2019

Big-serving American John Isner achieved his remarkable feat seven times in his career with the first coming in 2010 when he served 1,048 aces in 62 matches.

His best-ever ace season was in 2015 when served 1,260 aces in 68 matches, but remarkably that was not the most that season as Ivo Karlovic casually outdid him by nearly 200 aces (more below).

In 2012 Isner served 1,005 aces in 60 matches, in 2016 it was 1,159 from 50 matches, in 2017 it was 1,123 from 57 matches, in 2018 it was 1,213 (54 matches) and in 2019 it was 1,032 (48 matches).

And in case you didn’t know, Isner – who retired earlier this year – has served the most aces during a career as he was on 14,470 when he called it a day.

Isner also holds the record for most aces served during a match (113) with that feat coming during his extraordinary 2010 Wimbledon match against Nicolas Mahut that lasted 11 hours and five minutes.

2. Ivo Karlovic – 2007, 2014-2016

Croatian giant Karlovic is second behind Isner for most aces served during a career as he sent down 13,728 aces before he retired.

Karlovic’s best-ever ace season was in 2015 when he served 1,447 aces from 63 matches, which is second in the overall list.

The eight-time singles title winner first broke the milestone in 2007 when he served 1,318 aces in 64 matches. In 2014 he clocked 1,318 aces (64 matches) and in 1,131 (54 matches)

3. Goran Ivanisevic – 1994, 1996-1998

2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic holds the record for most aces served during a season as he sent down 1,477 from 103 matches during the 1996 tennis season.

Two years earlier he hit the 1,000-ace mark for the first time as he served 1,156 aces from 92 matches. In 1997 it was 1,011 (75 matches) and in 1998 he served 1,065 aces in 72 matches.

4. Milos Raonic – 2012, 2014

Canadian Milos Raonic just cracked the 1,000 ace milestone in 2012 as he served 1,002 in 62 matches to finish three behind Isner.

Two years later he again finished second for most aces served during the season as he clocked 1,107 in 67 matches with Karlovic leading the way again

5. Kevin Anderson – 2015, 2018

South African Kevin Anderson became only the seventh player to serve 1,000 aces during a season in 2015 as sent down 1,074 aces from 70 matches, but he only finished third in terms of most aces during the season with Karlovic and Isner taking the top two spots.

In 2018 he finished second behind Isner, this time Anderson served 1,082 aces in 66 matches.

6. Pete Sampras – 1993

After serving 745 aces during the 1992 season, Pete Sampras upped his game the following year as he became the first player to send down 1,000 aces during a season.

His final tally was 1,011 from 101 matches.

7. Andy Roddick – 2004

Andy Roddick came close to the 1,000 mark in 2003 as he finished the year on 989 aces from 91 matches, but he wasn’t to be denied in 2004 as he cracked 1,017 in 92 matches.

The following year he was back in the 900s as he served 912 aces.

Roddick finished his career with 9,074 aces, which puts him sixth in the all-time list.

8. Reilly Opelka – 2019

Reilly Opelka became member No 8 of the club when he served 1,014 aces from only 48 matches to finish second behind Isner.

Injuries and a loss of form meant he hasn’t come close to that total again.

9. Hubert Hurkacz – 2023

Pole Hubert Hurkacz is the newest member of this very small club as he became the first player in four years to hit the milestone.

And here is an incredible statistic for you as the 6'5″ (1.9m) Hurkacz is the first player shorter than 6’8 to hit 1,000 aces in a season since Milos Raonic (also 6'5″) nine years ago.

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