Isner set to break 14,000 aces barrier at the Australian Open next week

37-year-old Isner, the oldest player in the top 100, already holds the world record for most aces in tennis history

John Isner at the 2023 ASB Classic in Auckland

John Isner | © Image Credit: Photosport / Panoramic

January 10, 2023

American John Isner served 28 aces in first-round match against qualifier Gregoire Barrere at the ASB Classic in Auckland on Tuesday. Although that was not enough to get him over the finish line in Auckland, Isner now looks set to break the 14,000 aces barrier at the Australian Open next week.

The 28 aces Isner hit on Tuesday took his career tally at the ATP Tour and Grand Slams to 13,988 and the big-serving American, who already owns the record for most aces hit since the ATP Tour started tracking the same in 1991, is now just 12 aces away from becoming the first player to hit 14,000 aces on record.

Besides Isner, there are only four others with more than 10,00 aces and only one of those still being active

Ivo Karlovic – 13,728
Roger Federer – 11,478
Pete Sampras – 10,237
Feliciano Lopez – 10,188

Can't touch this 😜@JohnIsner rears back and fires a SECOND serve at #ASBClassic pic.twitter.com/TAxAEDR1ea
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 9, 2023

“I would love to get 500 wins” – Isner

Although Isner is down to 42 in the rankings, the 37-year-old American remains the oldest player in the ATP 100 – a record that he says he is proud of.

“I am still feeling pretty good. I know I am in the twilight of my career and a lot of players my age aren’t playing anymore, so I think I’m very fortunate to still be playing,” Isner said to the ATP Tour. “I think I’m the oldest player in the Top 100, which is actually something I’m very proud of.”

The 14,000 ace barrier is not the only milestone Isner is aiming for. The American, who currently has 480 wins on the ATP Tour, is gunning for the 500-wins mark.

“I would love to get 500 wins,” said Isner. “I’ve never set performance goals for myself. I’ve always had the motto to work hard and take care of myself and let the results fall where they fall. But I would love to get to 500 wins. I think that’d be an amazing milestone for myself. Something I never could have imagined in a million years myself doing when I turned pro at 22 years old.”