GIG: Monfils tops list of most hurried players

Published by The GIG

Gael Monfils plays the fastest of any player – man or woman – according to data collected at the Australian Open. The entertaining Frenchman takes on average just 14.07 seconds between points, and has set the record for the fastest time between points at an Australian Open at just 6.63 seconds.

At the other end of the spectrum, Karin Knapp is the slowest recorded player, clocking up 25.54 seconds on average between points.

Using data collected between 2014 and 2016, Tennis Australia’s Game Insight Group (GIG) calculated which players were the ‘most hurried’ and which players took their time between the end of one point and the start of the next. When calculating this average, the data excluded the first points of a game, points after a change of ends, and points that were interrupted (for instance because of a challenge or injury).

GIG Leaderboard: Novak Djokovic the fastest player in the world

Players at Grand Slams are allowed just 20 seconds between the conclusion of a point and their first serve in the next. Receiving players, meanwhile, are expected to play to the speed of the server.

Madison Brengle was the only WTA player to make it in to the Top 5 of fastest players, recording an average time between serves of 15.11 seconds. Benoit Paire (15.06 seconds), Stephane Robert (14.95 seconds), Nick Kyrgios (14.88 seconds) and Gael Monfils (14.07 seconds) rounded out the five fastest players. Roger Federer was 14th overall, averaging 17.29 seconds, and Angelique Kerber came in at 21st, averaging 18.03 seconds.

At the other end of the spectrum, Rafa Nadal came in fifth slowest overall (24.91 seconds on average), Thanasi Kokkinakis was fourth (24.93 seconds), Vika Azarenka came in third (25.19 seconds), Petra Kvitova was second (25.37 seconds) and Karin Knapp was the slowest (25.54 seconds).

Gael Monfils holds the record for the fastest time between points, clocking 6.62 seconds in his 2015 match against Lucas Pouille. Andy Murray, meanwhile, holds the record for the slowest time between points when he took 42.46 seconds during the 2015 final against Novak Djokovic.

Top 10 fastest players on average (plus selected)

Rank Name Average time between points (seconds)
1 Gael Monfils 14.07
2 Nick Kyrgios 14.88
3 Stephane Robert 14.95
4 Benoit Paire 15.06
5 Madison Brengle 15.11
6 Bernard Tomic 16
7 Lukas Rosol 16.48
8 Fabio Fognini 16.73
9 Naomi Osaka 16.74
10 Alexandr Dolgopolov 17.14
14 Roger Federer 17.29
21 Angelique Kerber 18.03

Top 10 slowest players on average (plus selected)

Rank Name Average time between points (seconds)
1 Karin Knapp 25.54
2 Petra Kvitova 25.37
3 Victoria Azarenka 25.19
4 Thanasi Kokkinakis 24.93
5 Rafael Nadal 24.91
6 Yulia Putintseva 24.88
7 Dominika Cibulkova 24.79
8 Maria Sharapova 24.35
9 Lauren Davis 24.25
10 Shuai Zheng 24.13
14 Andy Murray 23.95
50 Novak Djokovic 21.34
85 Serena Williams 20.18

Top 3 Fastest times between serves (2014-16)

Rank Name Time between points (seconds)
1 Gael Monfils 6.62
2 Serena Williams 6.9
3 Roger Federer 9.24

Top 3 slowest times between serves (2014-16)

Rank Name Time between points (seconds)
1 Andy Murray 42.46
2 Maria Sharapova 42.23
3 Rafael Nadal 40.67
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