Big-serving Milos Raonic blasts 47 aces to set new world record at Queen’s Club

Former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic served notice at the Queen’s Club on Monday after saving two match points in a statement first-round win over home favorite Cameron Norrie. The 6’5” Canadian also served his way into the tennis history books in the process, as he blasted 47 aces during his three-set comeback—a new ATP Tour world record.

Raonic moved on at the Cinch Championships with a 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-6 (9) victory over Norrie, the British No. 2. He struck 18 aces in the final set alone, including a 232 kph (144 mph) rocket during the deciding tiebreak to bring up match point.

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“With the scoreline and having to save match points, I probably needed every single one of those!” Raonic told press afterward. “This small record, it's something special, something meaningful. I’m glad that (it) also stands behind a win, because maybe I'd feel differently or maybe a bit more sour if I was to get that many free points and lose the match.

“Overall, a very positive thing and a fun stat to be proud of.”

With 47 aces in a best-of-three match, Raonic has broken the record previously held by Ivo Karlovic for a decade. The Croatian struck 45 aces during a 2014 ATP match in Zagreb, and then equalled his own record a year later in Halle.

MOST ACES HIT IN A BEST-OF-THREE ATP MATCH:

• Milos Raonic (47): 2024 Queen's Club, vs Cameron Norrie
• Ivo Karlovic (45): 2015 Halle, vs Tomas Berdych
• Ivo Karlovic (45): 2014 Zagreb, vs Daniel Brands
• Mark Philippoussis (44): 1995 Kuala Lumpur, vs Byron Black
• Nick Kyrgios (44): 2019 Brisbane, vs Ryan Harrison
• John Isner (44): 2023 Dallas, vs Wu Yibing
• John Isner (43): 2016 Queen's Club, vs Gilles Muller
• Mardy Fish (43): 2007 Lyon, vs Olivier Rochus
• Reilly Opelka (43): 2019 New York, vs John Isner
• Reilly Opelka (43): 2019 New York, vs Brayden Schnur

- Since 1991, Source: ATP Tour

WATCH: "It's just an ace party!" Milos Raonic sets new world record at Queen's Club | TC Live

Of course, Raonic’s new world record doesn’t even come close to the men’s all-time figure for most aces in a match: 113 by John Isner during his grueling 2010 Wimbledon victory over Nicolas Mahut, who also hit 103 aces of his own. That match famously went five sets and took place over a marathon three days, with the final scoreline reading 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70–68.

Raonic’s own previous best was 38 aces struck during a three-set match against Radek Stepanek at 2011 Memphis.

Read More: The 2024 grass season will get good early in Berlin, Birmingham, Halle and at the Queen's Club

Well known for his towering figure and booming serve, the Canadian is perhaps equally notable for his career-long struggle with injury. Raonic has gone under the knife multiple times for hip, both feet and wrist injuries, in addition to having torn his Achilles and broken a toe. This year, he pulled out of Indian Wells due to injury and had to retire against Alex de Minaur at the Australian Open.

Currently ranked No. 186 but once as high as world No. 3, Raonic has been finding vintage form on grass-courts—back at the site of his biggest breakthrough, having reached the 2016 Wimbledon final after making the Queen’s Club final that same year.

Last week, Raonic reached the quarterfinals in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, including a win over No. 8 seed Jordan Thompson, before backing it up in London to defeat world No. 39 Norrie.

Raonic awaits the winner of No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz and Taro Daniel, who will face off on Tuesday.