Facing an early departure from the Australian Open 2022, Naomi Osaka stated that she will temporarily cease using social media. Since taking a mental health break last year, this is her first major competition.

Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, was eliminated in the third round of the Australian Open on Friday. She lost in three sets to another American player Amanda Anisimova. Facing an early departure from the Australian Open 2022, Naomi Osaka stated that she will temporarily cease using social media. Since taking a mental health break last year, this is her first major competition.

After a long break, Osaka returned to the Australian Open in 2021 and fought hard against her new opponent. She won the opening set by 6-4 before falling to 6-3 in the second. Finally, she lost the third set in a tie break with a score of 7-6. According to reports, the loss drops her to 84th in the Women's tennis rankings. Her 84th position will be her lowest since August 2016, when she was still a rising talent.

Read also: Australian Open 2022:Who can win the women's title with 14 major champions in the draw?

Osaka told reporters shortly after the match "I mean to me it's always a tennis match, you know what I mean? I feel like the outside stuff comes after. The first thing that I'll probably do when I look at my phone is delete Instagram and Twitter, and then I probably won't redownload it for a couple of weeks."

She went ahead to add "To me it's exciting. Not the loss itself, but, like the person I lost to because it's like showing the growth of tennis. I feel like now I'm in this position where if I lose to someone, it might make a headline, but I also think it kind of grows more superstars, and I feel like that's good for the game."

Anisimova stated after her victory over two-time Australian Open champion Osaka "Naomi is an absolute champion. So, I knew I had to really step up my game. "I think I started doing that in the second set. I'm so grateful I was able to play so well today and get this win. It means a lot."

The Australian Open isn't getting any easier for Anisimova. In the next round, she will face world number one and home favourite Ashleigh Barty.

Read also: Australian Open 2022 Day 5 results and report card

Artificial Intelligence has been improving the sports we watch and analyze for nearly the past 20 years, but the latest generation of ultra-modern AI tools is revolutionizing every aspect of sports, from improving player and team performances to ensuring safety along with fan engagement and the experiences.

AI can process and store large amounts of data, which allows us to gain insights that we couldn't see before. This capability is at the center of the revolution. For the players, this brings improved strategies, varied training methods, and a significantly lower risk of injury.

The fans enjoy a whole new level of engagement in the game, thanks to Al-powered platforms providing content tailored to them, such as virtual reality experiences and more.

The massive impact of AI in the Sports Industry

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the Sports Industry rapidly by offering solutions to common problems such as individual performance, tactical requirements, injuries and recoveries, variations in training, etc.

The capacity of AI and GenAI tools to analyze complex data and provide instant insights is ushering in a new era of athletic performance and fan engagement as well.

From predictive analytics that improve player safety and performance to AI-powered viewing experiences for fans, the influence of artificial intelligence is setting the bar higher across the industry.

1. Player and team performance

GenAI can analyze team and player behavior to reach conclusions that would contribute to improved training and coaching. For example, they can monitor and analyze the movements of players with computer vision.

In this way, they can assess whether an athlete is moving wrongly or could be injured. Machine learning algorithms can watch game videos to identify patterns of the opposing team. Sports coaches can be made to develop wiser game plans and strategies by artificial intelligence.

Some techniques, including motion tracking and motion analysis, can capture changes in the posture, movement, or technique of a player that indicte fatigue or poor motor control.

According to a study by Grand View Research, the sports analytics market size was valued at $1.9 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $5.2 billion by 2028, showcasing the rapid growth and demand for advanced analytics tools in sports.

The following two tools are widely applicable to player and team analysis:

• SportVU: This system tracks detailed player and ball motion in a game with computer vision and machine learning. It can analyze shot mechanics, accelerations and decelerations, speed, and distance.
• KINEXON: This system tracks positional and motion data in real-time by equipping players with sensors.

2. Injury Prediction and Prevention

Injuries occur regularly in professional sports. Identifying and preventing injuries before they even occur is likely one of the most thrilling applications of AI.

Teams can utilize AI algorithms to monitor an individual's motion as they move their joints and strain their muscles. It can search for patterns or instabilities that signify an injury before the symptoms themselves appear.

AI can recognize a slight deviation in the amount of strain a soccer player puts on their knee joint and warn the coaches or medical staff. Way before the injury became acute enough to cause the player to miss games, the team could either give them rest or do exercises to help them recover.

A report by MarketsandMarkets estimates that the global sports medicine market, which incorporates AI-driven health monitoring solutions, is projected to reach $9.3 billion by 2026, underlining the significant role of AI in athlete well-being.

The following two tools could be used in the AI-powered prediction and prevention of injuries:

• Sparta Science: It uses computer vision and motion sensing in analyzing movement patterns of an athlete. Based on motion data, biomechanical deficiencies, and especially risks of increased injury, machine learning models are able to identify those. 
• Zone 7: It measures injury risk using factors such as workload, degree of fatigue, and others through artificial intelligence and research in sports science. Their methods take age, position, body composition, and medical history into account. 

3. Training Through AI-Powered Analytics and Wearables

Smartwatches and fitness trackers are examples of wearable technology that have become essential for tracking many of the parameters mentioned earlier.

Wearable GPS devices that can track athletes' speed and location, overall distance traveled, and movement patterns are available to provide relevant information.

Wearable heart rate monitors use optical sensors to measure blood flow in real-time, tracking the heart rate. This is an important aspect of monitoring heart health, fitness levels, and recovery. It also helps in tracking blood oxygen levels, which is another important component of modern-day fitness trackers. They use optical sensors to track the oxygen saturation level of blood.

Since the 2010s, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), such as GPS tracking vests, have been commonly used in professional sports. Such vests are offered with discrete and effective GPS tracking and sensors located on the back and shoulders; they are typically worn as tank tops.

In football and rugby, the vest is mainly utilized to track the location and movement of a player and, thereby, report strengths and weaknesses.

4. Sports Commentary and Reporting

Sports commentary and reporting can automatically be generated from match events and live data by employing natural language processing (NLP) methods like GPT-3. Artificially intelligent commentary not only comments on a strategy but also summarizes the critical events of match play. 

Similarly, GenAI can create such highlights, summaries, and post-match data reportage for viewing audiences as well.

NLP methods can make the commentary more dramatic and interesting by taking into account the game statistics and situations in real-time data. With the use of generated personalities and tones, it is possible to accommodate various fan interests in the coverage.

Automated GenAI reporting enhances sports coverage and commentary without losing interesting and captivating stories.

5. Sports Officiating

The use of AI in sports officiating is not without controversy, including traditional backlash and concerns regarding technology's influence on the game. Yet, the improvements it introduces, such as real-time analysis and decision support, are dramatically enhancing the accuracy and fairness of officiating.

Its capabilities to review plays from multiple angles and analyze them in seconds are proving invaluable in high-level games where every call matters.

Despite initial doubts, the use of AI in officiating is increasingly being accepted, with many seeing its potential to eliminate human error and ensure a level playing field.

As the technology improves and its uses extend, its role in assisting fair play and accuracy in sports is poised to increase, ushering in a new era in the use of technology and sportsmanship.

6. Player Scouting

Team owners are using artificial intelligence to review the performance of the players. To determine the most skilled people to invest in, they use data analysis using artificial intelligence. It takes millions of dollars to find talent in the sports world.

So, team owners would like to ensure that scouting one player is the best decision. Artificial intelligence is used widely in scouting players for any sport, be it cricket, football, or basketball.

AI-powered Change in Fan Engagement and Experiences

1. Personalized Fan Engagement

To provide customised fan experiences, GenAI algorithms can model the preferences and behaviours of audiences. Sports teams and broadcasters can use these insights to optimize engagement across media channels.

For example, social media platforms can deliver tailored video highlights, personalized promotions, and AI-recommended content to resonate with each fan.

The NBA revealed 'NB-AI', allowing fans to activate "movie mode" and watch live games animated like popular films, such as Spider-Man

pic.twitter.com/zb2IYT2YBX

— Dexerto (@Dexerto) February 16, 2024

Based on their past interactions and activities, the Generative AI identifies what content types, sports stats, and topics each fan finds most appealing. It creates and sends personalized content for each person. This level of customization, enabled by GenAI in sports, helps sports organizations connect more deeply with their audiences.

2. Viewing Experiences

GenAI can process live video to generate augmented reality (AR) overlays and graphics that enhance broadcasts or live streams.

For example, shot trajectories, real-time player stats, and situational analysis can be visualized and overlaid onto the gameplay footage. For virtual reality (VR), GenAI can create real-world simulated environments for an immersive in-game perspective.

The key innovation is using Generative AI to dynamically generate and adapt AR/VR overlays and environments on the fly, customized to each moment. As the narrative and action of the game shift, the GenAI-powered augmented experiences shift with them, elevating viewing to multidimensional engagement. 

A survey conducted by PwC found that 65% of sports fans are interested in using AR or virtual reality (VR) devices to watch sports, indicating a growing appetite for immersive experiences enabled by AI-driven technologies.

Conclusion

AI collaboration with sports is making the place safer as well as fairer. Predictive modeling and algorithms in AI are becoming a must for injury prevention. AI guarantees that more accuracy and fairness can be introduced in the outcome of a game by enhancing officiating. Both the aspects of performance and integrity are vital components in ensuring the prosperity and popularity of sports continue.

The impact of AI reaches sports journalism, advertising, and the creation of next-gen sports equipment, beyond the field or court. These innovations create new revenue streams and provide more exciting ways for fans to engage with their beloved sports and teams.

In this sense, artificial intelligence in the sports field could be said to be, by itself, a change not only for the athletes or for the coaches but for the sports system in general. With AI, the sports of the future could easily be foreseen because technology would harmoniously mix with manly athleticism at its highest levels.

The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis and is held annually in Melbourne, Australia.

The women's tournament has seen a number of talented players win the title in recent years.

Also Read: Australian Open Winners list (Men)

The Australian Open winners list (Women) are given below.

Players who won the tournament multiple times

Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, and Naomi Osaka are some of the players who have won the Australian Open multiple times. 

Serena Williams, meanwhile, cemented her position as the most successful women’s player of all-time at the event, with seven titles.

In 2021, Naomi Osaka became the first player from Japan to win the Australian Open. She defeated American Jennifer Brady in the final. 

Naomi Osaka also won the tournament in 2019, becoming the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam singles title. 

Sofia Kenin, who hails from the United States, won the 2020 tournament, beating Spain's Garbiñe Muguruza in the final. 

Kenin, who was just 21 years old at the time, became the youngest player to win the Australian Open since Maria Sharapova in 2008.

In 2018, Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki won her first Grand Slam title, defeating Romania's Simona Halep in the final. 

Wozniacki had previously been the runner-up at the tournament in 2011 and 2014. 

Serena Williams, who is widely considered one of the greatest female players of all time, won the Australian Open in 2017 and 2015. 

She defeated her sister Venus Williams in 2017 final and defeated Maria Sharapova in the 2015 final.

Also Read: Top 10 most-talked about Tennis dresses worn by female players

Madison Keys won Australian Open 2025 title

Meanwhile, Madison Keys of America won her first-ever Grand Slam title by becoming the champion in the women's singles event of the Australian Open 2025. 

In the title match, Keys defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. 

Keys is the second-oldest woman to claim her first Australian Open singles title in the Open era after China’s Li Na, who was 31 when she triumphed at Melbourne Park in 2014.

Here is the full list.

Australian Open Winners list (Women)

A distinguished wardrobe has always had its place on the tennis court. Long considered a pastime of the elite, the refined sport has been encouraging smart dress since the turn of the 20th century.

But while tradition mandates all-white ensembles, the game’s gutsiest players have since experimented with a rainbow of uniforms, accessories, and even hairstyles.

Naturally, their taste for forward-thinking fashion extends beyond the confines of the court as well and also their sartorial choices regularly make headlines.

So, let's take a look at the top 10 most-talked-about Tennis dresses worn by female players.

Fashion in Tennis dress 

From the sport’s earliest days to its top moments of controversy, tennis has long been influenced by fashion and has influenced it in turn.

As the sport evolved, a more uniform but still formal style of dress started to form for women. 

The tennis look drew from lawn dresses, which were often worn to garden parties, racecourses and other outdoor leisure events. These all-white, cotton and linen garments featured lace inserts and elaborate embroidery patterns. 

They eventually transitioned from being worn by spectators to being worn by players on the court. The prominence of these dresses shows that the focus of tennis attire was still on fashion, not performance.

Tennis Dress | Historical Overview

One of the earliest moments that this form-over-function mindset was challenged was at the 1887 Wimbledon Championship. 

Tennis star Charlotte Dod, known as Lottie, was only 15 the first time she won a Wimbledon title; because of her youth, she was able to wear clothing that was not as restricting.

Ditching the tight corset, full-length dress and multi-layered gown, she wore calf-length garb more similar to a school uniform than a tennis uniform at the time.

Many older opponents argued that her attire gave her an unfair advantage by allowing her to move in ways and at speeds that the traditional tennis gear could not, bringing to the sport, for one of the first times, the question of designing garments for mobility and agility.

Suzanne Lenglen, center of Wimbledon 1919 fashion scandal

This concept was furthered by the iconoclastic Suzanne Lenglen, who was the center of another Wimbledon fashion scandal in 1919 when she wore a calf-length skirt, short sleeves and a floppy hat. 

Despite the backlash from the press, which called her indecent, Lenglen went on to win the tournament. 

She often wore a tulle wrap around her head while playing, called the “Lenglen bandeau,” which caught on to become a defining look of the Roaring Twenties.

Most-talked About Female Tennis dress | Top 10 List

1. Naomi Osaka’s girlhood, brat-inspired look (US Open 2024)

Naomi Osaka made a grand return to the US Open 2024 after a two-year break, leaving the internet obsessed with her.

Osaka entered the court to play her match against Jelena Ostapenko in a neon green ruffled dress.

The dress was styled with a detachable matching tulle-adorned mini skirt, a white cropped jacket adorned with a large green bow, and bow-decked accessories - including sneakers and headphones. 

Designed by Yoon in collaboration with Nike, the dress was a nod to Naomi and the designer's love for Japan and Japanese subcultures.

Read Also | 20 Highest-paid female athletes in the world: PV Sindhu only Indian on the list

2. Serena Williams’ diamond-encrusted Nike outfit (US Open 2022)

Tennis star Serena Williams, who took retirement from the sport in 2022, made a remarkable appearance for her match with Danka Kovinic in the first round of the women's singles event at the US Open 2022. 

The star not only won the game but also left her fans impressed with her sartorial choice of attire.

Known to make heads turn with her on-court outfit choices, Serena once again proved her fashion prowess.

Serena turned up wearing a pair of diamond-encrusted Nike shoes, featuring solid gold lace deubre that read mama and queen with a black ensemble.

The black outfit that she wore featured an embellished bodice and sheer sleeves, and flowed into a voluminous skirt. 

The tennis star herself worked with the Nike team and took to Instagram to share the details.

Also Read: Top 10 fastest serves in tennis history (Women's tennis)

3. Emma Raducanu’s Tiffany & Co. Jewellery (Wimbledon 2022)

British tennis star Emma Raducanu made her Wimbledon debut in 2022 wearing approximately $37,000 worth of diamond and pearl jewelry. 

The diamond teardrop earrings from the Tiffany Victoria collection, which are priced at $9,300, feature a 11-12 mm pearl suspended from a diamond flower.

The matching diamond and pearl pendant from the same collection is worth $4,800.

Raducanu paired the two pieces with an 18k gold bangle, half set with round diamonds and hinged with a "T" motif at the center. 

The gold bracelet worn by Raducanu is priced at $23,000, however Tiffany & Co offers both a rose gold and silver bracelet with a slimmer band for $11,500.

4. Serena Williams’ Wakanda-inspired catsuit (French Open 2018)

Serena Williams stunned fans at the 2018 French Open when she stepped onto the court in a black Nike catsuit, a nod, at least in part, to Black Panther.

Black with a red waistband, the full-length bodysuit looked striking on Williams, a new mom; she was likened to a superhero in the ensemble.

But the catsuit won’t be welcome at Roland Garros. 

While fans and the media praised the look, French Tennis Federation banned catsuits and changed the tournament’s dress code in direct response to the look.

Serena's suit was more than a fashion moment, though. It had potentially live-saving functionality. 

As a full-body compression garment, it was made to help with blood clots, a health issue she’s dealt with frequently in the past. 

Read Also | Mother's Day 2024 | Women In Sports: Female Athletes and Motherhood

5. Anne White’s spandex catsuit (Wimbledon 1985)

The former American tennis star Anne White caused uproar at Wimbledon in 1985 with her choice of clothing, leaving her opponent and officials furious.

Anne was warming up in a tracksuit for her match against fifth seed Pam Shriver in the first round when she removed her suit and revealed an all-white lycra unitard. 

Being 1985, it created quite a stir among the crowd and photographers. Play was stopped for the day due to bad lighting with the match tied at one set all. 

The umpire Alan Mills instructed Anne to wear a more appropriate outfit the next day; she did, and lost the third set.

She was the first tennis star to be criticised for wearing a catsuit on-court.

Also Read: 20 Highest-paid female athletes in the world: PV Sindhu only Indian on the list

6. Venus Williams’ Moulin Rouge-inspired look (French Open 2010)

Every time Venus Williams steps onto a court, spectators are eager to see what outfit she's wearing. 

At Roland Garros 2010, Venus once again surprised the crowd when she unzipped her jacket to reveal an anything but ordinary on-court get up.

When the jacket came off, Venus wasn’t just a tennis player, she had the look of a 19th-century can-can dancer. 

As she slid into forehands and loaded her legs, flying up to smash serves, Venus also had the movement of an iconic Parisian dancer.

The black and red outfit mostly consisted of lace, with the upper half a tight corset and the bottom flaring out into a flowy tutu. 

Coffee-colored spandex, perfectly matching her skin-tone, rounded out the number.

This was no mistake, as Venus designed the Eleven by Venus dress herself, and every inch of this stunning dress was intentional.

7. Bethanie Mattek-Sands’ Lady Gaga look (Wimbledon 2011)

Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who is famous for her unusual fashion taste, decked out in a Lady Gaga-inspired jacket festooned with real tennis balls before her first round defeat in the Wimbledon 2011.

Although the All England Club usually demands a conservative, predominantly white outfit, Mattek-Sands lived up to her flamboyant reputation. 

She wore a white jacket covered in tassel and cut-in-half tennis balls, knee-high socks and a top which had one sleeve missing to show off her tattoos.

The American's lengthy list of fashion crimes also includes being fined for wearing a striped cowboy hat during a match at the 2005 US Open and donning a leopard-print outfit at the same event.

8. Serena Williams' silver stud black dress (US Open 2004)

For her third round of women's singles at US Open 2004, Serena Williams opted for an all-black ensemble (also by Nike), wearing a dress featuring silver studs all around the neck, down the midline and at the hips. 

The GOAT paired the look with a heart-chain bracelet on one wrist and a matching black studded wristband on the other.

She rounded out her accessories with diamond-encrusted hoop earrings and a black headband that debuted the official Serena logo.

Instead of a typical athletic sneaker, Williams sported what can only be described as knee-high sneaker boots.

9. Maria Sharapova' s Riccardo Tisci little black dress (US Open 2017)

Maria Sharapova created sensation to the US Open 2017 courts with her little black dress designed by Riccardo Tisci for Nike. 

Lace, Swarovski crystals, dots and leather details, the Russian carried them all for an ultra daring and glamorous look perfect for night matches in New York. 

The tennis fashion queen decided to balance the femininity of the dress with masculine energy of a slightly oversized bomber jacket that is billowy in the back.

The best thing is that the elegant outfit, far from a typical sports look, is by no means compromising performance and Sharapova proved that by ousting world number two Simona Halep in the first-round thriller.

10. Caroline Wozniacki's beige Adidas dress (Toray Pan Pacific Open 2014)

Danish former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki sported a beige Adidas dress at the 2014 Toray Pan Pacific Open.

The Adidas number featured contrasting panels of brown and beige, as well as a side ruffle that added some flair to an otherwise classic look.

Despite being bogged down by a useless ruffle, Wozniacki finds herself back in a Slam final.

Big-serving players have benefited throughout tennis history. One of the most advanced weaponry a tennis player may have is a powerful, well-placed first serve.

While most professionals can put the ball anywhere they want, only a few are capable of reaching speeds in the upper 140s and also the 150s.

However, We'll not limit ourselves to WTA-recognized fastest serves in tennis history for the applications of this top ten.

Therefore, without any further ado, let us dive right into the topic.

Read more: Top 10 fastest serves in Tennis history (ATP recognised)

Fastest Serves in Tennis History | Women's tennis

10. Caroline Garcia and Liudmila Samsonova (126.1 mph)

French tennis sensation Caroline Garcia and Russian player Liudmila Samsonova share the ninth spot on this list, chalking up a serve speed of 203 km/h (126.1 mph).

Caroline Garcia achieved her personal best at the 2016 Federations Cup in Strasbourg, where France hosted the Czech Republic in the final.

The host nation failed to outclass the Czech brigade in the summit clash and settled for a second-place finish.

Kicking off the top 10 list is the 6 ft” Russian, Liudmila Samsonova hit a 126.1 mph serve at French Open in 2024.

She has won five singles and two doubles titles on the WTA Tour, her first title being a WTA 500 title at the 2021 German Open. 

9. Elena Rybakina (126.8 mph)

9th on the list is Elena Rybakina, who left a lasting impression during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open with her serve clocking in at a remarkable speed of 204 km/h (126.8 mph). 

Rybakina is the first player from Kazakhstan to win a title at a major tournament, claiming the 2022 Wimbledon.

She has won eight titles on the WTA Tour, including two WTA 1000 titles at the 2023 Indian Wells Open and the 2023 Italian Open.

8. Naomi Osaka (127.4 mph)

Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka is one of the WTA’s brightest talents whose well-rounded game includes a powerful serve that’s a crucial element in her success.

At the 2016 US Open, she hit her fastest serve at 125 mph (201 km/h).

After that, she broke her own record by serving at 205 km/h (127.4 mph) at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open.

7. Coco Gauff (128.0 mph)

Since turning pro in 2018, Coco Gauff has had one of the more powerful games on tour, and her career fastest serve is proof.

At the young age of 18, Coco hit her fastest serve, which reached 128 mph (206 km/h) while playing at the 2022 US Open. Born in 2004, she’ll have plenty of opportunities to break her record.

Gauff has already won a Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open and reached a final at the 2022 French Open.

6. Serena Williams (128.6 mph)

A list of the fastest serves in tennis history in the women's game would be incomplete without the name of the legendary Serena Williams.

Serena's strong serve has saved her numerous times, and it has been her go-to weapon under duress for more than two decades.

At the 2013 Australian Open, Serena didn't just hit one 203.0 km/h (128.6 mph) serve; she blasted two in her match against Garbine Muguruza.

Asked about her achievement in the post-match interview, Serena said - "It's my fastest that went in. I've hit some 150s, but of course, they're, like, to the sky."

4. Venus Williams and Alycia Parks (129.0 mph)

Venus Williams, and Alycia Parks share the fourth spot on this list, recording a serve speed of 207.6 km/h (129.0 mph).

Venus Williams, like her younger sister Serena, has a tremendously powerful serve in her arsenal.

She is one of the tallest female tennis players in the world, and her first serve is one of her most powerful weapons.

Venus, however, relies heavily on her first serve because her second serve is problematic, with a number of double faults occurring at inopportune periods.

Venus has hit 207.6 km/h (129.0 mph) twice in her career, once in the first round of the 2007 US Open against Kira Nagy and again in the 2008 Wimbledon final against sister Serena.

Another big-hitting female tennis player on this list, Alycia Parks, has an explosive game, which includes one of the WTA’s biggest serves.

In 2021 she hit her fastest serve ever at 129 mph (207.6 km/h), which she clocked during her first-round match against Olga Danilovic.

Alycia won her maiden WTA title at the Lyon Open, outclassing French No. 1 Caroline Garcia in straight sets in the final.

3. Sabine Lisicki (131.0 mph)

2013 Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki was one of the finest servers on the WTA Tour between 2011-2015, before injuries and bad form took a toll.

Despite being sensitive to "grass," the German regards the surface as her favourite.

In fact, she has had more success on grass than on any other surface, including four consecutive quarterfinal appearances in the Wimbledon Championships from 2011 to 2014.

Sabine Lisicki rewrote the record books by serving the fastest-ever serve on the WTA circuit in her match against Ana Ivanovic at the 2014 Stanford Classic.

The German breached the elusive 130 mph mark for the first time as she clocked a thunderous serve measuring 210.8 km/h (131.0 mph).

2. Aryna Sabalenka (133.0 mph)

With a powerful baseline game and serve, Aryna Sabalenka has proved herself as one of the WTA’s elite players.

Her serve speed has topped out at 133.0 mph (214 km/h), number two on the list of fastest serves in tennis history.

She achieved the feat in 2018 at the WTA Elite Trophy, a year-end tournament.

Known for her aggressive playing style, Sabalenka's powerful serve has become one of her signature weapons on the court.

She's one of the most in-form players on the women's tour at the moment.

1. Georgina García Pérez (136.7 mph)

Topping the fastest serves in the tennis history list is Spanish player Georgina García Pérez, who unleashed a monstrous serve with a speed of 220 km/h (136.7 mph) during the 2018 Hungarian Ladies Open.

However, Garcia Perez couldn't find her best potential in terms of her all-round game.

She struggled to make the top 100 of the WTA rankings and has never won a main tour title in her career.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka will miss next month's Billie Jean King Cup finals in Spain due to injury. She said in Tokyo on Sunday that she had ruptured abdominal muscles.

Also Read: US Open Champion: Last 10 years list (Women)

Osaka's stomach muscles had been torn

The 27-year-old revealed on Sunday that her stomach muscles had also been torn. “I thought I strained my back, but I did an MRI in Beijing and they said that I bulged a disc in my back and I also ruptured abdominal muscles,” 

Osaka, currently ranked 58th, suffered a lower back injury and retired during her round-of-16 match against Coco Gauff at the China Open in October. Subsequently, she withdrew from two tournaments in Japan, including the Pan Pacific Open, which starts on Monday.

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be held in Málaga, Spain from November 13-20. Osaka played a key role in helping Japan qualify for the final by defeating Kazakhstan in April, its first Billie Jean King Cup appearance since 2020.

“I’ve played so many tournaments this year, so it was definitely the toughest decision to not play this and obviously not play BJK. I really honestly enjoyed it so much, and I think it helped with my development as a player.” She said.

Also Read: Roger Federer: A Look At The Career Of One Of The Best Tennis Players

Osaka will focus on Australian Open

Osaka will now focus on preparing for the Australian Open in January, working with respected French coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Her appearance at the China Open was her first tournament under Patrick Mouratoglou, the Frenchman best known for being the long-time former coach of Serena Williams.

Osaka has struggled for consistency since returning to tennis in January after the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023. Her best results since becoming a parent have been two quarter-final appearances.