Historically, the very best servers on the ATP Tour have not returned anywhere near as well. Jannik Sinner is changing that.
The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, who will try to complete the Career Golden Masters Sunday in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final against Casper Ruud, has enjoyed jaw-dropping success on both sides of the sport, especially during his career-best 28-match winning streak.
One year ago, Sinner became the first player since statistical records began in 1991 to lead the ATP Tour in both service games (92%) and return games won (32.6%) in a single season. The 24-year-old has reached new heights during his current streak.
Sinner has won 95.6 per cent of his service games since beginning his winning streak at Indian Wells, losing serve just 12 times in 28 matches. The Italian has won 19 of those 28 matches without dropping serve.
To put that into context, 6’11” Ivo Karlovic owns the record for highest percentage of service games won in a full season at 95.5 per cent in 2015. Only three times has a player broken the 94 per cent mark in a season — Karlovic won 94.5 per cent of his service games in 2008 and 6’10” John Isner claimed 94.1 per cent of his service games in 2019 (Milos Raonic was just shy of 94% in 2015).
It is yet to be seen if Sinner, who stands 6’3”, can maintain his performance throughout 2026. But he has won 94.3 per cent of his service games for the year, putting himself in rare air.
Now comes the shocking part. Of the Top 10 serving seasons since stats have been tracked in 1991, only one of those players has won more than 12.3 per cent of their return games that same season. Nick Kyrgios, who won 92.9 per cent of his service games in 2022, claimed 19.5 per cent of his return games that season.
Top 10 Serving Seasons On Record (since 1991)
| Year | Player | Service Games Won % | Return Games Won % |
| 2015 | Ivo Karlovic | 95.5% | 9.6% |
| 2008 | Ivo Karlovic | 94.5% | 11.6% |
| 2019 | John Isner | 94.1% | 9.6% |
| 2015 | Milos Raonic | 94% | 12.2% |
| 2018 | John Isner | 93.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015 | John Isner | 93.3% | 9.6% |
| 2016 | John Isner | 93.2% | 10.7% |
| 2014 | John Isner | 93.1% | 9.3% |
| 2022 | Nick Kyrgios | 92.9 % | 19.5% |
| 2016 | Ivo Karlovic | 92.7% | 7.4% |
Sinner is blowing that out of the water in 2026. The World No. 1 has won 31.9 per cent of his return games this season, including 34.1 per cent during his 28-match winning streak.
With few exceptions, players have been able to find success on their own serves against the returns of the best servers in history. That is not the case against Sinner.
The winner of every ATP Masters 1000 event this year already is well ahead of the field in service games won, and enters the Rome final ranked second in return games won, only behind Francisco Cerundolo (33.9%).
If Sinner continues on the pace he has set during his winning streak, Cerundolo's lead could be under threat. The big difference is that Cerundolo has won just 78.3 per cent of his service games compared to 94.3 per cent for the World No. 1.
Former World No. 4 Brad Gilbert this week took to social media to ask Isner if Sinner qualifies as a servebot based on his performance.
Isner replied: “Not a bot when you return like that.”
Whether on serve or return, there is nowhere to hide against Sinner, who employs an unrelenting two-pronged attack. The results speak for themselves: a 35-2 record this season, with the chance to earn another victory Sunday against Ruud in Rome for even more history.
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