January Serves That Powered 2026’s Fiery Start

The 2026 campaign roared to life in January, where serves didn’t merely hold—they dominated, slicing through returns and silencing crowds under the weight of fresh expectations. From the team frenzy of the United Cup to the individual grind of Auckland’s hard courts, players unleashed precision that blended raw power with tactical cunning. These moments, captured in the Stella Artois ATP Perfect Serve, set a tone of unyielding intensity as the tour builds toward majors.

Hurkacz anchors Poland’s title charge

At the United Cup, Hubert Hurkacz shouldered Poland’s hopes, his 28-year-old frame delivering masterclass after masterclass on the fast Perth surfaces. He claimed four of five matches, firing 21 aces in wins over Alexander Zverev and Tallon Griekspoor, where flat rockets down the T disrupted their aggressive returns. The final against Stan Wawrinka ramped up the stakes, with another 18 aces sealing the championship, his kick serves climbing high to force weak replies amid the electric team atmosphere.

Hurkacz’s adjustments shone through: mixing inside-out sliders with body jammers to exploit the court’s pace, turning potential breaks into holds that rippled through Poland’s roster. This surge not only lifted a nation but sharpened his edge for solo battles, where such composure could vault him deeper into title contention. As the mixed-team roars faded, his serve stood as a blueprint for thriving in high-pressure opens.

Mensik erupts for Auckland glory

Across the ocean at the ATP 250 in Auckland, Jakub Mensik chased personal redemption on the medium-paced hard courts, capturing the crown with serves that flipped the script against Sebastian Baez. Locked at 1-1 in the first set, the 20-year-old Czech unleashed four straight aces, blending crosscourt slices with down-the-line flats to shatter his opponent’s rhythm. He wrapped the match with 18 total, each delivery a testament to his growing command under the solitary glare of individual stakes.

Mensik’s variety kept Baez guessing—underspin out wide pulling returns long, followed by heavy topspin 1–2 patterns that opened angles for winners. The outdoor conditions, with their subtle grip, favored his aggressive tosses, building momentum that echoed through the draw. This breakthrough injected confidence into his season, positioning the young talent to challenge seeds in bigger fields as rankings tighten.

Perricard’s bold save flips drama

Auckland’s quarters brimmed with tension when Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard faced a match point against Cameron Norrie, his second serve emerging as the night’s hero on the slower baseline. The Frenchman blasted a flat strike to the backhand corner, saving the point and sparking a 25-ace run to the quarters, where shortened backswings let him exploit Norrie’s positioning. Crowd murmurs turned to cheers as that delivery kicked up just enough to induce an error, rewriting the match’s narrative in an instant.

Perricard’s fearlessness highlighted the tour’s early psychological tests: adapting spin on seconds to counter returns, turning deficit into defiance amid the hard court’s variable bounce. This escape fueled his progress, hinting at the resilience needed for deeper runs. As fans flock to the Stella Artois ATP Perfect Serve hub, these serves beckon votes, foreshadowing how such clutch edges will carve paths through February’s escalating draws.