Daniel Altmaier Fires Shots at Stefanos Tsitsipas After Heavy Underarm Service Row at the US Open

Stefanos Tsitsipas complained about the underarm serve from Daniel Altmaier.

Daniel Altmaier Fires Shots at Stefanos Tsitsipas After Heavy Underarm Service Row at the US Open

Daniel Altmaier and Stefanos Tsitsipas (via Independent)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ poor run continued with a second-round defeat at the US Open, adding more drama to the opening week. The Greek star fell in a five-set battle to world No. 56 Daniel Altmaier, who claimed a 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win on Grandstand court.

The match ended with controversy as Tsitsipas confronted Altmaier at the net, angry over the German’s use of an underarm serve. Tsitsipas warned he would hit the ball at him if it happened again. Altmaier later responded to the remarks, saying Tsitsipas would regret those words and that he stood by his tactical choice. Altmaier said on Bounce:

Tomorrow, Stefanos will regret his words. In football, fists fly or people get into arguments. In tennis, you say something that might not be appropriate. That’s part of the sport. A lot of money and self-confidence are at stake. When you’re playing tennis until midnight, you can sometimes say something you don’t really mean. Or maybe he does. I respected that.

Altmaier’s fearless play was a key factor in the victory. He saved a match point while serving at 4-5, 30-40 in the fifth set, then broke Tsitsipas in the following game before sealing the win. His underarm serve in the fourth set also highlighted his willingness to take risks under pressure.

The defeat adds to Tsitsipas’ ongoing struggles in 2025. Once ranked as high as world No. 3, he has slipped down the standings and has not won back-to-back matches since April’s Barcelona Open. His frustration was clear in New York, while Altmaier walked away with one of the biggest victories of his career.

Daniel Altmaier advances to the US Open third round

Two-time Grand Slam runners-up Stefanos Tsitsipas’ US Open run ended on Day 5 with a dramatic five-set loss to Germany’s Daniel Altmaier. The 27-year-old Greek fell 7-6, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7 in a battle that lasted more than four hours. The match featured tense rallies, heated moments in the crowd, and even a rare coaching violation against Tsitsipas’ father, Apostolos.

Stefanos Tsitsipas 1
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Image via X/ESPN)

Chair umpire James Keothavong had to step in several times to calm the atmosphere. He warned spectators to maintain proper conduct before handing Apostolos a code violation. The penalty came after he was heard giving instructions while Stefanos was on the far side of the court, a move still barred under the updated coaching rules despite broader legalization in 2022.

Amid the drama, Altmaier’s grit stood out. Having already endured long matches in the first two rounds, he once again showed stamina and resilience. He saved a match point in the final set and defended multiple break points on his serve before seizing the decisive break. At the handshake, Tsitsipas voiced his frustration over an underarm serve Altmaier used in the fourth set, drawing boos from the crowd.

The defeat deepens Tsitsipas’ struggles at the majors. He has not reached the third round of a Slam since Roland Garros in 2024 and has consistently fallen early this season. Altmaier, meanwhile, advances to the third round in New York for the first time, building on his strong run to the fourth round at this year’s French Open.

Stefanos Tsitsipas set to play the China Open

The 2025 China Open men’s singles will run from September 25 to October 1 in Beijing, featuring top ATP talent at the 500-level event. Since its debut in 1993, the tournament has crowned many big names. Novak Djokovic is the most successful player with six titles, his last coming in 2015 with a win over Rafael Nadal. Other past champions include Nadal, Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, and Jannik Sinner.

Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas (via The Tennis Letter)

Jannik Sinner lifted the trophy in 2023 by defeating Daniil Medvedev in straight tiebreak sets. Last year, Carlos Alcaraz edged Sinner in a three-hour final that went to a deciding set tiebreak, securing his first title in Beijing.

However, Alcaraz will not defend his crown in 2025, having opted to play the Japan Open in Tokyo instead. His absence is a major loss for the tournament, especially given his rise as one of the sport’s biggest stars.

Sinner enters as the favorite in Beijing, though his position as world No. 1 could be challenged if he slips in the final stretch of the season. Alexander Zverev, now world No. 3 and Olympic champion, is also in the field.

Zverev has been chasing a maiden Grand Slam and even worked with Toni Nadal during the summer hard-court swing. Stefanos Tsitsipas will compete as well, having returned to working with his father after parting ways with Goran Ivanisevic.

The draw is stacked with more contenders. Andrey Rublev, known for his consistency at ATP 500 events, is expected to be dangerous on hard courts. Daniil Medvedev, despite recent controversy in New York, remains a threat. Other notable entries include Lorenzo Musetti, Karen Khachanov, rising star Jakub Mensik, and veteran Gael Monfils, ensuring a strong field in the Chinese capital.

Also Read: Alexander Zverev Shares Important Update on his Back Problems at the US Open