Was Tsitsipas 39 first serves in a row a record after astonishing feat at Madrid Open

Monday, 01 May 2023 at 07:00

Stefanos Tsitsipas had the impressive statistic of 39 consecutive first serves in his match against Dominic Thiem at the Madrid Open.

Two of the best players over the last 5 years faced each other in the second round of the Madrid Open. Tsitsipas won an incredible match against the former US Open champion 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(5). The Greek player hit 39 consecutive first serves from the end of the first set until the middle of the third set.

"That's fantastic, 39 is a lot," Tsitsipas said afterwards. "That shows that perhaps I improved today on my serve. That's a positive mark for me.

"I think I just owe it all to fluidity and just being relaxed on my serve...I think it's just pure relaxation and focus," Tsitsipas added.

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The 39 Serves 🎬 @steftsitsipas made 39 first serves in-a-row in his match last night against Thiem! 🤯 #MMOpen

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8:30 AM · Apr 30, 2023

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Is it a record within tennis? The Greek player matched the record set in 2002 when Ecuadorian player Nicolás Lapentti hit the same number (39) in his defeat against Karol Kucera at Indian Wells. Kucera was also almost perfect, hitting 40 out of 41 first serves in the match. The Spanish player Albert Montañes holds the record for achieving 50 consecutive first serves in his victory at the 2022 Palermo Open over Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo.

“It took time to adjust, I won’t lie. But I just stayed calm,” said Tsitsipas.

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“I had confidence in my tennis, and I knew that bit by bit I would be able to fight back, and my confidence showed in that second set where I was just serving very well, and started finding my rhythm on the returns.

“The third set was just pure fight. He’s not someone who’s going to give up, and he hates even giving the slightest to you in terms of free points. So I knew I was dealing with something big,” concluded world No. 5.

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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