First Serve in Tennis: Meaning and Key Stats | Algosport
Statistic•Tennis
First Serve
The first serve is a player's first service attempt at the start of a point.
In plain English
The first serve is the first of the two service attempts available at the start of a point. It is usually hit with more pace or aggression than the second serve. First-serve percentage and points won behind it help measure serving quality.
Derived terms
1st Serve In%
The percentage of first-serve attempts that land in the correct service box.
1st Serve Points Won%
The percentage of points won when the first serve lands in.
Why it matters
A strong first serve can shorten rallies and give the server immediate control. It directly influences hold rate and the pressure placed on the receiver. The numbers help show whether a player dominates through serve or relies more heavily on rally performance.
Practical example
A player lands a high percentage of first serves and regularly takes control of the next shot. The first serve is creating a clear advantage.
Related terms
Statistic•Tennis
Second Serve
The second serve is the final service attempt after a first-serve fault.
