Karlovic breaks Roddick's serve record

Croatia's Ivo Karlovic fired a 251 kmph (156mph) serve to break the fastest serve record during his country's Davis Cup tie against Germany in Zagreb on Saturday.

The record was previously held by American Andy Roddick who served at 249.4 kmph (155mph) in another Davis Cup match against Vladmir Voltchkov of Belarus in 2004. The new record has been ratified by the International Tennis Federation.

Karlovic, the tallest player on the tennis circuit at 6ft 10in sent down the serve while partnering Ivan Dodig in the doubles match against Philipp Petzschner and Christopher Kas of Germany. Karlovic and Dodig however, lost the game 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 and Croatia eventually crashed to a 3-2 defeat to Germany.

Karlovic also shares the record for the third fastest serve - 153mph (246kph) - with Roddick and another American, Roscoe Tanner.