Stefanos Tsitsipas Loses His Cool After US Open Upset: The Underarm Serve Drama That Has Tennis Talking

The Underarm Serve Debate: Much Ado About Nothing?

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – was Altmaier actually in the wrong here? Short answer: absolutely not. Long answer: still absolutely not, but with more context.

Underarm serves have been part of tennis for decades. Nick Kyrgios has made them his signature move. Even the legendary John McEnroe has defended their use. They’re a tactical weapon, plain and simple. If you’re standing three counties behind the baseline waiting for a serve, don’t be shocked when your opponent decides to drop one short.

The real question is why Tsitsipas got so worked up about it. Was it the frustration of another early exit? The embarrassment of losing to a player ranked 30 spots below him? Or maybe just the culmination of a season that’s gone about as well as a chocolate teapot?

Altmaier, for his part, handled the situation with more class than a finishing school graduate. Speaking to Sky Sports afterward, he basically gave Tsitsipas the benefit of the doubt: “Tomorrow Stefanos will regret his words. When you’re playing tennis until midnight, you can sometimes say something you don’t really mean.”

What’s Next for the Struggling Greek Star?

The harsh reality is that Tsitsipas finds himself at a crossroads. At 26, he’s no longer the promising young gun who could get away with inconsistent results. The tennis world has moved on, and players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have claimed the spotlight he once held.

His ranking slide tells the whole story. This is a player who was once knocking on the door of Grand Slam glory, reaching the French Open final in 2021. Now he’s struggling to make it past the second round of majors and picking fights over perfectly legal serves.

The question isn’t whether Tsitsipas can turn things around – he’s still got the talent. The question is whether he’s got the mental fortitude to handle the pressure when things aren’t going his way. Based on Thursday night’s performance, that jury’s still very much out.

Why This Controversy Matters More Than You Think

This incident reveals something deeper about the current state of men’s tennis. The sport has become incredibly competitive, and the margins for error have shrunk dramatically. When you’re struggling, every little thing becomes magnified. A routine underarm serve suddenly becomes a personal affront. A standard handshake becomes an opportunity for grievance airing.

For Tsitsipas, this moment will likely follow him for a while. Tennis has a long memory, and players don’t forget when someone questions their tactics – especially when those tactics are completely within the rules. Altmaier handled it with grace, but you can bet other players took note of how Tsitsipas conducted himself.

The Greek star needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Is this the player he wants to be? The guy who picks fights after losses instead of figuring out how to win more matches? Because right now, that’s exactly what’s happening.

As for what comes next, Tsitsipas has some serious soul-searching to do. His next tournament can’t come soon enough – not because anyone expects a miraculous turnaround, but because he needs to prove he can handle adversity without losing his cool. Tennis is hard enough without making enemies out of your opponents over legal serves.

The clock is ticking on what was supposed to be a golden career. Time will tell if Tsitsipas can find his way back to the top, or if we’ll be watching more post-match confrontations instead of championship celebrations.