Talk about a handshake that wasn’t! Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniel Altmaier delivered more drama than tennis at the US Open. An underarm serve, a pointed warning, and a post-match spat that’s got everyone talking. What truly happened at the net?

The 2025 US Open witnessed a dramatic second-round exit for Stefanos Tsitsipas, but it was the contentious post-match exchange with his opponent, Daniel Altmaier, that truly ignited headlines. What began as a grueling five-set battle on the court escalated into a heated dispute, drawing significant attention from the tennis world and beyond.

Tsitsipas, a former world No. 3, found himself just one point away from advancing to the third round of a Grand Slam, a stage he hadn’t reached since the 2024 French Open. However, the resilient Daniel Altmaier mounted an impressive comeback, ultimately overcoming the Greek in a thrilling encounter that stretched over four hours and 26 minutes, pushing both athletes to their physical and mental limits.

The catalyst for the post-match fireworks stemmed from Altmaier’s strategic decision to employ underarm serves, notably on at least two occasions during the pivotal fourth set. This unconventional tactic, while permitted within the rules of tennis, visibly frustrated Tsitsipas, setting the stage for the dramatic confrontation that would overshadow the athletic performance.

As the players converged at the net for the customary handshake, Tsitsipas’s displeasure was palpable. His stern words to Altmaier, including the now-infamous line, “Next time, don’t wonder why I hit you, okay? No, I’m just saying if you serve underarm…”, underscored the intensity of his raw emotion and the depth of his irritation with Altmaier’s approach.

In response to the Greek’s pointed remarks, Altmaier remained composed, later explaining his perspective on the incident. He asserted that while he understood the heat of the moment, employing an underarm serve was a legitimate part of the game. Furthermore, he expressed his general disapproval of such heated discussions occurring at the net, advocating for sportsmanship.

The German challenger also offered a sharp retort, confidently stating that Tsitsipas would “regret his words” by the following day. Altmaier drew a parallel to other competitive sports, noting that “in football, fists fly or people get into arguments,” suggesting that such tensions are an inherent part of high-stakes athletic competition.

This early exit marks a significant setback for Stefanos Tsitsipas, as it signifies his first season since 2017 where he has failed to advance beyond the second round of a Grand Slam tournament. This consistent underperformance at major events continues to fuel discussions about his trajectory and mental fortitude on the biggest stages of professional tennis.

Meanwhile, Daniel Altmaier celebrates a hard-fought victory that propels him into the third round, where he is set to face the eighth seed, Alex de Minaur. Altmaier will be looking to build on this momentum and potentially match or even surpass his personal best Grand Slam finish, having reached the fourth round at this year’s French Open.