Pro Serve Speeds Clocked At 2025 JOOLA Legends Tour: Ben Johns And Zoey Wang Lead The Pack

Source: Pickleball Malaysia (Facebook)

Serving in pickleball might not carry the same reputation for speed as tennis, but if last month’s 2025 JOOLA Pickleball Legends Tour proved anything, it’s that today’s top pros can pack a serious punch with their serves.

Hosted in Asia as part of a global exhibition circuit, the JOOLA Legends Tour blended elite competition with show-stopping entertainment. Among the standout moments was a crowd-pleasing fastest serve contest that pitted some of pickleball’s finest against tennis royalty in a radar-measured challenge.

Ben Johns Blazes The Radar

Men’s World No. 1 Ben Johns came out on top, sending his fastest serve screaming in at 68.35 mph (110 km/h)—a number that’s not just impressive, but potentially intimidating when you’re standing across the net. Tyson McGuffin wasn’t far behind, clocking in at 64.62 mph (104 km/h), while tennis legend Andre Agassi held his own at 64 mph (103 km/h).

For context, these numbers sit comfortably above average serve speeds seen in recreational and even many competitive matches. The power, placement, and precision required to produce a 65+ mph serve in pickleball highlights just how far the sport’s athleticism has come.

Zoey Wang Dominates The Women’s Field

On the women’s side, rising star Zoey Wang took top honors with a blazing 59.03 mph (95 km/h) serve—putting her in elite company. Anna Bright followed closely behind at 56.54 mph (91 km/h), while tennis icon Steffi Graf registered 51.57 mph (83 km/h), showing she still has the goods to compete with today’s best.

These numbers underscore the increasing speed and strength in the women’s game. Players like Wang and Bright are demonstrating that high-velocity serves can shift momentum, apply pressure early in a rally, and force opponents to adapt quickly.

The Serve As A Strategic Weapon

In pickleball, where the serve was once considered little more than a way to get the ball in play, modern pros are redefining what’s possible. A powerful serve today does more than just impress the radar gun—it sets the tone, pushes returners deep, and creates early opportunities to control the kitchen.

Standing across from someone like Ben Johns or Zoey Wang when they’re serving at full tilt isn’t just a test of reaction speed—it’s a mental game, too. The serve has become an evolving weapon in the professional toolkit, blending velocity with spin and disguise.

What This Means For The Sport

As pickleball continues to grow globally, events like the JOOLA Legends Tour offer fans an exciting peek into just how much the pro game has evolved. Blistering serve speeds, high-level matchups, and crossover appearances from tennis legends like Agassi and Graf not only entertain, but also highlight pickleball’s depth and athletic appeal.

So, next time someone suggests pickleball is a “slower” sport—point them toward a radar gun.