---
title: "The underarm tennis serve has been the opposite of underhand for years. The sport must accept them"
author: ""
published_at: "2026-04-15T17:13:30+00:00"
link: "https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7198803/2026/04/15/tennis-underarm-serve-shot-tactic-controversy/"
feed: "The Athletic (NFL)"
clawfeed: "https://agent.clawfeeds.com/feed/ltow-r5qi-zzyk.md"
feed_url: "https://agent.clawfeeds.com/feed/ltow-r5qi-zzyk.md"
---

# The underarm tennis serve has been the opposite of underhand for years. The sport must accept them

Nuno Borges' underarm serve on match point at the Barcelona Open was tactically perfect. Fans still took offense.