What is First Service? First Service Explained in 2 minutes
Jesse M. Cox Last Verified
31/03/2021
First service is the initial serve in tennis. One player will serve to the other and it is more common for the player with the serve to win the game. Players alternate service in a predetermined order throughout the match to have equal chance of winning. If there is some kind of fault on a first service – the ball lands outside the permitted area, or the ball hits the net – the player will then get a second service chance to play for the point.
How is First Service used in Sports Betting?
Although most online sportsbooks you can find through our site offer tennis betting markets, they generally aren't bets relating specifically to first service. However, the skill and power of a tennis player on their first serve will go a long way to determine who the eventual winner of a match will be. To learn more tips and techniques that you can use to become a successful tennis bettor, check out our tennis betting strategy guide.
If a player has a very strong first service game then they are more likely to win the match as they will be victorious in more of their service games – and will hope to break the other player’s serve in their games.
Researching the strengths of tennis players – like in any sports betting – is recommended and the serve is an integral part of a tennis player’s skills. If a player can be dominant in their service games and successful with the vast majority of first serves, they can be expected to win matches.
Did You Know...
Serving is a major part of a tennis player’s tactics but it is not always the most powerful server that goes on to win multiple championships. The fastest serve ever was recorded by Australian Samuel Groth who achieved a service speed of 163.7 mph (263.4 kph) at the Busan Open Challenger event in South Korea in 2012.
