The serve can represent one of the trickiest shots to master for any player, as Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have found out.
Before becoming the fearsome server we all know her to be, world number one Aryna Sabalenka struggled mightily, regularly recording double-digit double faults during matches.
Currently, American star Coco Gauff is suffering from a similar issue, demonstrated by her 23 double faults against Danielle Collins at the Canadian Open.
However, during the 1999 Australian Open, a young star eclipsed the struggles of Sabalenka and Gauff, serving the most double faults in a professional match ever.
Remarkably, this player managed to win the contest.
Anna Kournikova served 31 double faults in a match
At the 1999 Australian Open, 17-year-old Anna Kournikova was the 12th seed and considered one of the best young talents on the WTA Tour.
However, she had a day to forget in the first round of the singles, serving 31 double faults during her 1-6, 6-4, 10- 8 victory over Japan’s Miho Saeki.
This total number of double faults is still the highest amount registered by a player in a professional singles match.
In her post-match press conference, 17-year-old Kournikova was asked about the double faults.
As per the Independent, the Russian star said: It has been happening for a while, so I am kind of used to it [smiling.]
“I’m really frustrated with it, just like everybody who is watching. In practice, I feel fine, I serve normal, and there’s no sign of double faults – it’s just when I come to the line, when I play, there’s something happening, so I’m just going to have to get over it and try to fight through.”
Kournikova would go on to reach the fourth round before losing to Mary Pierce.
In the women’s doubles tournament, Kournikova would taste Grand Slam glory, winning the title alongside Swiss legend Martina Hingis. Kournikova would achieve the status of world number one for doubles in November 1999.
Kournikova and Hingis would go on to win the same Australian Open title again in 2002.
What did Kournikova’s opponent say?
Kournikova’s double faults certainly played a huge role in the bizarre match, which saw 149 unforced errors and 21 breaks of serve.
Remarkably, Miho Saeki claimed Kournikova’s double faults were a hindrance to her own game.
As per BNP Paribas, Saeki said: “You would think that her problems at the service were a chance for the opponent, but actually they weren’t.
“With so many faults, I couldn’t read her serve!
“You just never know if it will pass or not, whether to move because the ball will be short over the net, or if you should go towards the baseline because it will be long… there is no pace.”
