Tennis star re-ignites ugly controversy with 'disrespectful' act

Marton Fucsovics has taken a leaf out of Nick Kyrgios’ book and produced an underarm serve at the Hamburg Open.

In action against Dominic Thiem on Wednesday, the Hungarian spotted Thiem standing way behind the baseline to return so decided to employ the controversial tactic.

Fucsovics popped an underarm serve just over the net, leaving Thiem no chance to prevent the ace.

Thiem seemed a little perturbed by the act, prompting Fucsovics to actually apologise.

It re-ignited the ugly debate around underarm serving on social media, with some saying they liked, but others slamming.

While completely legal, many feel like an underarm serve is a disrespectful act towards your opponent.

The controversial act has come back in fashion of late, with Kyrgios turning to it regularly of late - most notably against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.

Young Russian Alexander Bublik also used it last week in Newport.

Kyrgios in ugly spat with rival over underarm serve

The underarm serve was at the centre of a spiteful stoush between Kyrgios and Mikhail Kukushkin on social media recently.

The ATP’s official Instagram account ignited the drama on Friday with a pic of Kyrgios serving underarm, asking followers what they thought.

Kukushkin, the World No.45 from Kazakhstan, replied with a big thumbs down.

And of course that didn’t sit well with Kyrgios.

“Don’t worry dude, I didn’t need to use it when I was chopping you up in Dubai,” he said, referring to his 6-3 6-3 win over Kukushkin in 2016.

So the Kazak replied: “That was my answer regarding underarm serve, not to you. No need to be rude to other people with no reason.”

Kyrgios shot back: “Not sure reminding you of a tennis match is rude.

“I was just giving you my opinion on our match and the use of the underarm serve.”