For American Andy Roddick and Briton Greg Rusedski will be going head-to-head on Centre Court in the race to hit the world's first 150 miles per hour (241.4 kph) serve.

Both players treat their graphite rackets like weapons of mass destruction and share the current record of 149 mph -- a speed unthinkable to former wood-wielding stars like Bjorn Borg.

The rackets are strung tight enough nowadays to send a ball into orbit. Pity the poor line judges in the frontline for the clash of the tennis gladiators.

The technology used to measure these super-quick serves is the same as the police use to catch speeding motorists and the ball's flight can be measured with pinpoint accuracy.

The radar gun was first introduced in 1991 on Wimbledon's centre court. Since then, the tennis ball has turned into a scud missile and the gentle touch player has become an endangered species in the 21st century power game.

Keith Sohl, the IBM tennis consultant who first introduced the machine to the All England Club, said feedback has always been positive.

"Whether on television or courtside, the more information the fans have the better. It enhances their enjoyment," he told Reuters.

Patiently explaining to the layman how the technology works, he said: "The ball is measured within inches of the ball leaving the racket.

"The only way to have a consistent measurement is at the fastest point -- which is immediately after it has left the racket.

"The radar guns are positioned on the court in a static position behind the servers. Effectively it measures radio waves from the ball as the police radar does.

"It is flashed up on courtside screens in less than a second. But then there is human intervention to define whether the ball is in, out or a let."

The current record at Wimbledon is 144 mph, shared by Roddick (2002) and his compatriot Taylor Dent (2001). Rusedski's fastest at the grasscourt grand slam was 139 mph two years ago.

NOSTALGIC FANS

Sohl has watched his fair share of matches at Wimbledon over the years and defends the modern game against nostalgic fans longing for what they see as the good old days.

"I think the game has got interesting dimensions," he said. "What makes it interesting is having a lot of variety. Tim Henman is not a very big server but he is very accurate.

"People talk about big servers but Lleyton Hewitt won and he is not a big server."

"And also there is a lot of excitement with masters blasters like Roddick and Rusedski who are characters and great ambassadors for the game.

"The beauty of tennis -- and I will defend it to the hilt -- is the variety."