“Bottom-tier Sportsmanship” – Stefanos Tsitsipas Invites Backlash For Criticizing Daniel Altmaier on Underarm Serve After US Open Defeat

Stefanos Tsitsipas got into a row with Daniel Altmaier after their routine post-match handshake at the net. The former World No.3 was displeased with the German star’s underarm serving tactics he employed in the fourth set, which eventually turned the match in his favor and helped him win the tie.

Tsitsipas thought he had the momentum on his side after playing a splendid second set where he won six of the seven games. The Greek showed signs of his former self, leveling the score 1-1. He did well to continue with the same intensity, breaking Altmaier once in the third set to set up a comeback win.

But in the fourth set, Altmaier altered his tactics. The World No.56 deployed the unusual underarm serve twice, which infuriated Tsitsipas and helped him gain the momentum in the match. He broke the World No.28 twice to level the tie 2-2 and force the match to a deciding set in New York.

Both players went all out for the fifth set and Tsitsipas earned a match point in the fifth game and needed just one point to earn a place in the third round of the US Open, but he let Altmaier save the point. The German star won the thrilling contest 7-6(5), 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in four hours and twenty-six minutes.

Tsitsipas and Altmaier shook hands with each other at the net, but the former held on to the latter’s hand, criticizing him for serving underarm in the fourth set and implying that he deliberately aimed to hit the German with the ball. Altmaier reacted by ignoring his complaints and then went over to shake hands with the umpire before turning to the crowd.

Fans on social media reacted to Tsitsipas’ complaints against Altmaier, blasting the Greek for not accepting his defeat. A fan wrote on X:

Did I hear that right? ‘Next time don’t wonder why I hit you.’ If Tsitsipas meant underarm serves justify drilling opponents… that’s bottom-tier sportsmanship.

Did I hear that right? “Next time don’t wonder why I hit you.”
If Tsitsipas meant underarm serves justify drilling opponents… that’s bottom-tier sportsmanship.

— Johan Swe 🇸🇪 (@LindenJohan) August 29, 2025

Here are other fans’ reactions:

What a sore loser and overall loser this Tsitsipas is

Can’t wait to see what philosophical wisdom he’ll have on X tomorrow…

— NMH (@nosmh_x) August 29, 2025

Stef trying to take away from his moment, brutal loser

— Double Fault 🎾 (@DoubleFaultPod) August 29, 2025

So unnecessary!! We have a new Atp version of Ostapenko with Tsitsipas. Altmaier played an amazing game. Saved a match point with confidence! Well deserved!! And i loved the way Dan pushed himself away from him!

— Gökhan Malik Şahin (@goksahin) August 29, 2025

This is the Tsitsipas we all know.

— Fergie Time (@Ft10mu) August 29, 2025

Its sad to see Tsitsipas losing
Such a great played he is

— promothg (@quizmasterPG) August 29, 2025

What a loser

— WinkingSkeever89 (@michael_gironda) August 29, 2025

Tsitsipas should learn how to be a good loser

— pulpo (@tenista_termo) August 29, 2025

The biggest douchebag in tennis history. Couldn’t even let his opponent enjoy his win. Genuinely so glad this clown lost and Altmaier didn’t even give him the privilege and the end sticking out his hand

— Two Cows Filing Their Income Taxes Together (@TwoTaxes) August 29, 2025

Oh gosh, so sad to witness Tsitsipas becoming so pathetic. I used to like him so much !

— Sookie 🎾 (@fanieehs) August 29, 2025

Tsitsipas has now failed to win two consecutive matches since the Barcelona Open. He has also not gotten to the semi-finals of a tournament since winning the Dubai Tennis Championships in March, which was his first ATP 500 title of his career. Also, this is the first time since 2016 that he will not play a third-round Grand Slam match in a season.

Daniel Altmaier says he’s relieved to reach the third round of the US Open

On the contrary, Daniel Altmaier was the excited player on the court after the second round tie against Stefanos Tsitsipas. It was the first time in his career that he had made it to the third round of the US Open. He made his main draw debut at the tournament in 2022 but was unable to win a match. He followed it up with a second round run in 2023.

Last year, he failed to win a match, but this year, he pressed hard in the fifth set, saving four break points to reach the third round. He revealed during an on-court interview that he feels a big relief reaching the stage of the tournament:

It’s difficult to describe right away, you know, how you feel. A big relief, honestly, I just tried to be in the match. Tennis is like a sport, you have someone in your head all the time, talking so it was more of a battle against myself. My body, ‘Ah, you’re struggling physically!’, then there was the heart saying, ‘No, no, I’m going to push through!’ That was a constant battle in the head.

Altmaier will face No.8 seed Alex de Minaur in the third round. The latter is the favorite to win the clash and he’s also tipped to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament following Jack Draper’s withdrawal. Also, de Minaur leads the German star 1-0 in their head-to-head record and won their only meeting at the Rotterdam Open in February.

Also Read: Jannik Sinner Shares Glimpse Into His Champion Mindset at US Open: “I Am Not Defending… I Am Always Chasing”