Prediction platform Kalshi is looking to start offering markets on the speed of tennis serves. The company submitted a formal notice through the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) portal on Friday to start taking wagers on whether the fastest serve in a tennis match will be above or below a certain speed.
The market is now up and running as of Friday, with the exposure limit set at $25,000 per strike per participant. Kalshi listed those excluded from trading in this market, including players’ immediate family, coaches, staff, league employees, and the players themselves.
Tennis is already a popular sport among bettors, especially in-play. About 90% of all wagers on matches come during the live action, as bettors try to react to the match dynamics.
most sportsbooks offer serve-related markets like total aces for a player or the first break of serve
While most sportsbooks offer serve-related markets like total aces for a player or the first break of serve, none have yet started accepting bets on serve speed.
The bigger tennis tournaments will have a display showing the speed of each serve. The all-time fastest serve in the men’s game was 163.4 mph, set in 2012 by Sam Groth. Sabine Lisicki holds the women’s record at 131 mph.
