Andy Roddick backs the underarm serve after Cameron Norrie’s failed attempt in Madrid
The underarm serve remains one of tennis’ more debated tactics, with players using it to different effects across the tour.
Cameron Norrie tried his luck with the underarm serve during his round of 16 match against Jannik Sinner, but it didn’t pay off. His attempt clipped the net, and he went on to lose the match 2-6, 5-7.
It’s a move that has caught many players off guard over the years and has even frustrated a few. But plenty have misjudged it as well, just like Norrie did here.
One person who doesn’t see an issue with its use is Andy Roddick. The former ATP number one has spoken out in support of the tactic before and thinks there’s nothing wrong with pulling out an underarm serve when needed.
Andy Roddick stands behind the underarm serve
“It’s a horrible play. It’s literally only if you catch someone not paying attention. And at that point, if someone’s not paying attention, guess what you do in sports? You expose it?
“It’s within the rules. I’m sorry, if I would pay someone to do this tactic all the time, I would literally have gone into every match and be like, I’ll drop you $500 today if you just serve underhand.
“Are you kidding me? If it’s something I want someone to do.
“We are the hardest sport in the world. And do you know when we look soft, is when we complain about getting hit in doubles, and when we complain about someone hitting an underhand serve, as if they’ve done something to personally offend us.
“There is nothing wrong with it. If you get caught not paying attention, that’s on you.”
The Briton was speaking absolute sense, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with using an underarm serve.
Nick Kyrgios once pulled out an underarm serve against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon
Few players have embraced the underarm serve quite like Nick Kyrgios, who’s made it something of a trademark throughout his career.
And it’s no real shock given the Australian has always done things his own way, never shying away from playing with a bit of flash and edge.
Kyrgios’ most memorable use of the tactic came during his 2019 Wimbledon match against Rafael Nadal. Down 5-2 in the first set but holding game point, he hit an underarm serve to take the game.
The crowd loved it, even though he went on to lose both the set and the match. Nadal wasn’t exactly pleased either. While he cracked a brief smile at first, you could tell he was ready to step up his intensity from that point on.
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