Move over, Venus — there’s a new serving sheriff in town.
On Tuesday, in a first-round match at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, Calif., Germany’s Sabine Lisicki struck a first serve at 131 miles per hour, setting a WTA record for a fastest legal serve.
Lisicki’s serve — which was later confirmed by the WTA as valid — broke the previous record of 129 miles per hour, set by Venus Williams during the 2007 U.S. Open.
Despite her record-setting shot, Lisicki lost the match, falling to Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic, 7-6 (2), 6-1.
After the match, Lisicki — whose biggest claim to fame was making last year’s Wimbledon final, and was ranked as high as No. 12 in the world two years ago — was able to be in a good mood despite the setback.