Hit a serve past (4)
I believe the answer is:
aced
'hit a serve past' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for aced that I've seen before include "Reached a golf hole in one shot" , "got a hole in one" , "Comprehensively beaten" , "Sailed through" , "passed with highest marks in US" .)