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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Sports Desk • Tennis

Ace (tennis)

An ace in tennis is a legal serve that lands in the correct service box and is not touched by the receiver, winning the point immediately for the server.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

An ace in tennis is a legal serve that lands in the correct service box and is not touched by the receiver, winning the point immediately. The term was coined by sports journalist Allison Danzig, according to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

What it is

An ace is a serve that the receiver cannot touch, so the server wins the point outright. The ball must land in the correct service box to be valid; otherwise, it is a fault.

How it happens

Aces are usually produced by a combination of speed, accuracy, and placement, often aimed at the corners of the service box. They are most common on first serves, but can also occur on second serves.

Why it matters

Because an ace ends the point immediately, it is one of the most efficient ways to win a point on serve. The term is widely used in tennis statistics and commentary to measure serve effectiveness.

In short

  • An ace is a serve the receiver does not touch.
  • It must land in the correct service box to count.
  • Aces are most common on first serves but can happen on second serves.
  • The term was coined by journalist Allison Danzig.
Canadian angle

In Canadian English, the term is commonly used in tennis coverage and broadcasting, and French-language Canadian usage may use the term 'as' for an ace.[2]

Quick questions

What is an ace in tennis?
A legal serve that lands in the correct service box and is not touched by the receiver, winning the point immediately.
Does the ball have to land in the service box for an ace?
Yes. If the serve does not land in the correct service box, it is a fault rather than an ace.
Can an ace happen on a second serve?
Yes. Although aces are more common on first serves, they can also occur on second serves.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_(tennis)
    Supports: Definition of ace, common association with first serves, and attribution of the term to Allison Danzig.
  2. UTR Sports — https://www.utrsports.net/blogs/news/what-is-an-ace-in-tennis-meaning-rules-how-to-hit-one
    Supports: Definition of ace as an untouched legal serve that wins the point immediately.
  3. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_(tennis)
    Supports: French-language description of ace and note that it is often called 'as' in Quebec.
  4. Tennis Mindset — https://tennismindset.org/blogs/tennis-padel-tips/what-is-an-ace-in-tennis-definition-records-how-to-hit-one
    Supports: Rules-based definition, including that the serve must land in the correct service box and that a touched ball is not an ace if it is returned.
  5. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_tennis_terms
    Supports: Glossary definition of ace as a serve landing in the service box and not touched by the receiver.