Fact check: Did Ben Shelton actually break Grand Slam record with 158 mph serve?, tell me about this news in (https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/fact-check-did-ben-shelton-070217370.html)
12-09-2026
No, Ben Shelton did not break the Grand Slam serve record with a 158 mph serve.Here is what actually happened:
- The Initial Reading: During the US Open semifinal between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, on-screen radar graphics and the tournament’s official social media initially clocked one of Shelton’s serves at 158 mph (254 km/h).
- The Record Claim: Had that figure been accurate, it would have shattered the all-time Grand Slam recordeclipsing previous tournament marks such as Taylor Dent’s 153 mph at the 2004 US Open and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s 153 mph serve at Wimbledon. Social media and several outlets quickly circulated clips celebrating it as the fastest serve in major tournament history.
- The Correction: Shortly after the viral moment, Hawk-Eye and US Open officials reviewed the tracking data and determined the 158 mph reading was a technical radar error. The official speed of that specific serve was revised down to 144 mph (230 km/h).
- Actual Match Figures: While 144 mph is still exceptionally fast, Shelton’s verified top serve during the semifinal was 149 mph, leaving the 158 mph record unverified and officially retracted.