Double faults turn a serve into an instant loss, and they can change a match fast. Tennis history tracks these mistakes closely because extreme totals stand out and shape careers.
The highest known single-match totals reach over 30 double faults in professional tennis.
These records show how pressure, technique, and risk collide on serve. They span early tournaments, Grand Slam matches, and the modern tours.
Stats have been recorded in detail since the early 1990s. Some players still won despite huge totals, which makes the numbers more striking.
This article looks at how double faults work, which matches set records, and which players appear most often on these lists. It also breaks down trends, famous moments, and the real causes behind these costly errors.
Understanding Double Faults in Tennis
A double fault directly gives a point to the opponent and can change the score fast. Players manage risk on the second serve, balance speed and control, and notice how pressure affects serve results.
Definition and Rules
A double fault happens when a server misses both the first and second serve on the same point. The receiver wins the point right away.
The rule applies in singles and doubles and at all levels of play. Officials judge each serve by clear rules.
The ball must land in the correct service box and clear the net. Foot faults also count as serve faults.
Key rules at a glance
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Two chances | One first serve, one second serve |
| Miss both | Point goes to the receiver |
| Foot fault | Counts as a serve fault |
| Let serve | Replay if the ball clips the net and lands in |
The sport has tracked records since 1991 at the top level. More can be found in the official definition of a double fault in tennis.
How Double Faults Occur
Players create double faults through a mix of technique and choices. A poor ball toss often starts the problem.
Mistimed contact and late swings add to it. Risky targets raise the chance of error.
Players who aim close to the lines on both serves accept more risk. Fatigue also plays a role, especially in long matches.
Common causes include:
- Inconsistent toss height or placement
- Rushing the motion under time pressure
- Overhitting the second serve
- Tension in the arm and grip
Surface matters too. Faster courts punish small mistakes.
Wind and sun can disrupt timing and vision.
Second Serve Pressure and Serve Percentage
The second serve carries pressure because it decides the point if missed. Players usually slow the swing and add spin to gain control.
This trade-off affects pace and placement. Serve percentage measures how often serves land in.
A high first-serve percentage reduces second-serve pressure. When the first serve drops, players face more risk on the backup serve.
Coaches track patterns to manage risk:
- Safer targets on break points
- More spin when ahead in the game
- Fewer double faults late in sets
Elite players adjust strategy to protect serve percentage without giving away easy returns. They aim for reliable patterns rather than power alone.
Historical Double Fault Records
Early tennis records show that double faults have shaped match outcomes for more than a century. In the years before modern tracking, officials and historians still documented extreme cases with clear numbers and match details.
Amateur Era Notables
One of the clearest amateur-era records belongs to Gerald Patterson. He committed 27 double faults in a Grand Slam final during the 1927 Australian Championships.
The match lasted 71 games, yet he still won the title. This mark stands as one of the highest totals ever recorded in a major final, as noted in accounts of amateur-era double fault records.
Another unusual case came at Wimbledon in 1957. Maria de Amorin made 17 double faults in a row during a second-round match.
She still managed to win a set before losing. Records from this period remain limited, but these matches highlight how service errors could reach extreme levels even among top players.
Pre-1991 Grand Slam Records
Before 1991, Grand Slams did not track double faults with the same consistency seen today. Even so, some matches stand out.
The most famous example came at the 1999 Australian Open, where Anna Kournikova hit 31 double faults in a single match. That total remains one of the highest ever recorded at a major, as detailed in reports on the 1999 Australian Open double fault record.
Other pre-1991 data includes high counts spread across formats. These matches help frame later records, such as most double faults in a match, and provide context for later benchmarks like most double faults in a three-setter and most double faults in a two-setter.
All-Time Double Fault Match Records
Match-level double fault records show how serve control can break down, even at the top level. Several matches stand out for total volume, match length, and rare streaks that changed momentum within games.
Highest Double Faults in a Match
The clearest modern benchmark for the most double faults in a match comes from the WTA. Anna Kournikova hit 31 double faults during her second‑round match at the 1999 Australian Open.
That figure remains the highest officially cited total in a main‑draw professional match, as documented in coverage of the double fault record held by Anna Kournikova.
Earlier eras include extreme numbers that predate modern stat tracking. In the Amateur Era, Gerald Patterson reportedly committed 27 double faults in the 1927 Australian Championships final, yet still won the match.
Accounts of that final appear in summaries of Amateur Era double fault records.
| Match | Player | Double Faults | Era |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open R2, 1999 | Anna Kournikova | 31 | Open Era |
| Australian Championships Final, 1927 | Gerald Patterson | 27 | Amateur Era |
Notable Three-Setter and Two-Setter Records
Kournikova’s 31 double faults came in a three‑set match, making it the most cited example for most double faults in a three‑setter. The match lasted deep into a deciding set, which increased service pressure and volume.
High totals also appear in two‑set matches, though confirmed records vary due to incomplete historical data. Straight‑set matches with double‑digit counts show how a struggling serve can persist without the reset of a third set.
Official recording of these figures only began in the early 1990s, as explained in overviews of Open Era singles double fault records.
Consecutive Double Fault Streaks
Streaks within a match can matter as much as totals. One of the most extreme examples occurred at Wimbledon 1957, when Maria de Amorin reportedly served 17 consecutive double faults in a single stretch of play.
This episode appears in historical summaries of consecutive double fault streaks. Shorter runs also affect outcomes.
Four consecutive double faults in one game often flip service games instantly, leading to breaks without extended rallies. While no single player holds a universal record for most double faults in a game, multiple double faults in the same game regularly decide sets, especially under scoreboard pressure.
Players with the Most Double Faults
Some players post high double faults per match because they serve with speed and risk. Others became known for single matches where serving broke down for long stretches.
The records below focus on clear, documented cases from pro tennis.
Highest Career Double Faults per Match
Several modern players lead the tour in average double faults per match, not total career counts. In 2025, Denis Shapovalov topped the ATP list with 6.3 double faults per match.
He also hit many aces and won titles. His numbers show how aggressive serving can raise both rewards and errors.
A high double‑fault rate does not mean poor results. Many players balance risk with strong first serves and solid rally play.
The key detail for readers is rate, not raw totals, since longer careers inflate totals.
| Player | Avg. Double Faults per Match |
|---|---|
| Denis Shapovalov | 6.3 |
| Gaël Monfils | 5.6 |
| Alexander Bublik | 5.2 |
Season data comes from ATP double fault leaders in 2025.
Infamous Matches by Individual Players
Some double fault records come from single matches rather than season averages. In the 1927 Australian Championships final, Gerald Patterson committed 27 double faults in a 71‑game match and still won the title.
The length of the match played a major role. Another widely cited case involves Anna Kournikova, who reportedly hit 31 double faults in a match at the 1999 Australian Open.
Reports vary, and official records remain unclear, but the match became part of tennis lore. Historical oddities also include 17 double faults in a row by Maria de Amorin at Wimbledon in 1957.
These cases appear in summaries of tennis double fault records and highlight how pressure can overwhelm even elite players.
Memorable Double Fault Incidents
Several matches stand out because double faults directly shaped the result and public reaction. Some players struggled badly yet still won, while others saw momentum shift in key moments.
Anna Kournikova’s 1999 Australian Open
Anna Kournikova produced one of the most talked‑about serving performances at the 1999 Australian Open. In her second‑round match against Miho Saeki, she hit 31 double faults, the first time a WTA player passed 30 in one match.
Despite the errors, she won the match in three sets. The final set reached a long tiebreak, which increased pressure on every serve.
Her second serve often landed short or clipped the net, giving Saeki many chances to attack.
Key details from the match:
| Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Opponent | Miho Saeki |
| Round | Second round |
| Double faults | 31 |
| Match result | Kournikova won |
This match later appeared in records tracking extreme serving performances, including those listed in summaries of double fault records in tennis history.
Other Notable Matches
Other matches became memorable because double faults appeared at the worst possible times. In some cases, players served multiple double faults while closing out sets or matches, which shifted control to the opponent.
Fans often recall matches where a player still won despite heavy serving trouble. These moments stand out because they mix poor execution with mental resilience.
They also show how double faults can pile up without always deciding the final result. Discussions among fans frequently highlight these moments, including debates over which incidents felt the most damaging or surprising.
One example appears in fan-driven lists of memorable double fault moments, where pressure situations take center stage.
Statistical Trends and Analysis
Match data shows clear patterns in how often players double fault and why it happens. Tour level, serve speed, and first‑serve accuracy shape these results and help explain risk choices on serve.
Average Double Faults per Match on ATP & WTA Tours
Tracking sites that publish double faults per match show a steady gap between the tours. Men on the ATP Tour tend to record fewer double faults per match than women on the WTA Tour.
Compiled match logs from sites that track this stat in detail like ATP and WTA double fault data support this trend. Several factors drive this difference.
ATP players often rely on higher serve speed and more free points from aces, which reduces pressure on second serves. WTA matches include longer rallies and more second‑serve returns in play, which raises double fault risk.
Articles that rank players by total double faults, such as recent ATP double faults leaders, also show that aggressive servers can still top these lists despite strong results.
| Tour | Typical Pattern |
|---|---|
| ATP | Lower per‑match average, higher ace rates |
| WTA | Higher per‑match average, fewer free points |
Role of Serve Statistics in Double Faulting
Serve metrics explain most double fault trends. A lower first serve percentage forces players to hit more second serves, which increases risk.
Match stats published on official platforms like WTA match statistics show how quickly double faults rise when first‑serve accuracy drops.
Ace totals also matter. Players who generate more aces can accept a slightly lower serve percentage because free points offset errors.
Players without that power must aim safer, especially on second serves.
Second‑serve speed, toss consistency, and fatigue also affect outcomes. These elements shift late in matches.
Double faults often cluster at break points or in deciding sets.
Causes and Impact of Double Faults
Double faults come from clear serving mistakes and mental pressure. They affect point outcomes, game flow, and match results, especially during a weak second serve.
Technical and Psychological Factors
A double fault in tennis happens when both serves fail on the same point. Players often miss the second serve because they change mechanics to avoid risk.
This change can lower control and timing. Common technical causes include poor ball toss, late contact, and foot faults.
Many players slow the swing too much on the second serve, which hurts spin and net clearance. Pressure plays a role.
Tight matches increase fear of missing, which leads to rushed motion and errors. Mental focus matters as much as form.
Fatigue can reduce concentration late in matches, raising error rates. Clear rules define how a point ends after two faults, as explained in the official definition of a double fault in tennis.
Key causes of double faults
| Cause | How it affects the serve |
|---|---|
| Poor toss | Breaks timing and balance |
| Fear of missing | Slows swing and cuts spin |
| Fatigue | Lowers focus and accuracy |
### Competitive Consequences
Each double fault gives the opponent a free point. These points shift momentum and confidence.
Players with high double fault counts often face more break points. They also play longer service games.
In close matches, double faults can change outcomes. A single mistake on break point can decide a set.
Match data and examples appear in reviews of famous double fault records in tennis.
Double faults also affect strategy. Opponents may stand closer or apply pressure, knowing the server lacks trust in the second serve.
This pressure loop increases risk. It often leads to more errors.
