Tennis
Who are the Best Break Point Savers in Tennis History? A Ranking
In all of sports, is there a bigger pressure moment than facing a break of serve? They are, without question, moments which can swing the momentum of the entire match, and often those who are able to hold their nerve can go on to land big results on the court. Interestingly, it is not just the break point itself which asks questions of the player’s mentality, but it also sees a moment where their skill level and ability to produce quality are severely tested.
Ivo Karlovic of Croatia serves to Brayden Schnur of Canada//Getty Images
SB Market Index: How We Evaluate Tennis’ “Break-Point Kings”
For us, we look at rankings through the lens of the SB Market Index, which combines the SB Score and Industry Insights. While the former uses the player’s career break points saved as a percentage, the latter seeks to identify how often a player’s name is brought up in conversation around being the greatest server, clutch performer or most dominant under immense pressure.
Industry Insights
| Player | Total Mentions |
| Ivo Karlovic | 10 |
| Goran Ivanisevic | 9 |
| Milos Raonic | 9 |
| Richard Krajicek | 8 |
| Wayne Arthurs | 3 |
| Pete Sampras | 9 |
| Mark Philippoussis | 5 |
| Greg Rusedski | 5 |
| Boris Becker | 9 |
| Andy Roddick | 9 |
SB Score
| Player | Career Break Points Saved % | SB Score |
| Ivo Karlovic | 71.1% | 1.000 |
| Milos Raonic | 70.3% | 0.989 |
| Andy Roddick | 69.9% | 0.983 |
| Pete Sampras | 69.1% | 0.972 |
| Wayne Arthurs | 69.1% | 0.972 |
| Richard Krajicek | 68.7% | 0.966 |
| Goran Ivanisevic | 68.4% | 0.962 |
| Greg Rusedski | 68.3% | 0.961 |
| Boris Becker | 68.1% | 0.958 |
| Mark Philippoussis | 67.8% | 0.954 |
SB Market Index Rating
| Rank | Player | SB Score | Industry Insights | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Ivo Karlovic | 1.000 | 10 | 8.200 |
| 2 | Milos Raonic | 0.989 | 9 | 7.398 |
| 3 | Pete Sampras | 0.972 | 9 | 7.394 |
| 4 | Goran Ivanisevic | 0.962 | 9 | 7.392 |
| 5 | Boris Becker | 0.958 | 9 | 7.392 |
| 6 | Andy Roddick | 0.983 | 9 | 7.397 |
| 7 | Richard Krajicek | 0.966 | 8 | 6.593 |
| 8 | Mark Philippoussis | 0.954 | 5 | 4.191 |
| 9 | Greg Rusedski | 0.961 | 5 | 4.192 |
| 10 | Wayne Arthurs | 0.972 | 3 | 2.594 |
The Kings of Clutch: Karlovic, Raonic and Sampras
Ivo Karlovic tops the charts for having the most dominant break point saver list. He was an absolute giant, standing at 6’11’’, but his service game was often unreturnable and a guaranteed tool to keep him in the game.
At the height of his career, he had a dominant 71.1% break point save rate, the highest of any ATP at any given time. This sort of consistency got him out of trouble on many occasions and largely saw him fight back in tough moments.
Milos Raonic is not far off with a 70.3% break-point save rate. He was such a calm player, able to remain composed in pressure moments and quickly became a big point player on the tour.
And finally, this list would be incomplete, and it would be remiss of us to ignore the master that was Pete Sampras. A break point save rate of 69.1%, his career was littered with moments of massive clutch performances and domination on the grandest stages of tennis.
The Serve-and-Volley Legends: Ivanisevic and Becker
The deadly serve-and-volley combination, when used correctly, successfully dismantled many a tennis game. Furthermore, not too many did it better than Goran Ivanisevic and Boris Becker.
Ivanisevic was committed to spin and a fearless style, which often resulted in aces at the most opportune moments. Who could forget his Wimbledon win as a wildcard in 2001? This legacy was only enhanced when he was able to demonstrate a consistent game under immense pressure.
Boris Becker was another who thrived on an explosive serve, which allowed him to manipulate the game almost immediately. His serve-and-volley tactic kept opponents under pressure, and his versatility only made his approach even more effective.
The American Powerhouse: Andy Roddick
Is there really any discussion around serving legends that is complete without mention of Andy Roddick? His 69.9% break point save rate ranks among the very best in the game, and this is alongside the fact that he holds the record for the fastest serve ever clocked.
His name is seen in nine different expert lists, only enhancing the fact that his service game was undeniable, but his aggression is another aspect which is celebrated as a benchmark for break point saving serves.
Conclusion on Tennis’ Ultimate Pressure Performers
When you consider all of the data, it is clear that Ivo Karlovic tops the list as the ultimate Break-Point King. He is universally recognised and lauded as the level many hope to aspire to, but that is not without considering the likes of Raonic, Sampras, Ivanisevic, Becker and Roddick.
Saving pressure moments is less about finding brute force and more about mental toughness, with the complete belief in your ability and service game. At the end of the day, who was able to thrive when it mattered most?
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.