The underarm serve is arguably the most controversial shot in tennis.
Earlier this month, Nuno Borges hit an underarm serve on match point against Tomas Martin Etcheverry in Barcelona.
In the aftermath of the incident, many argued the underarm serve should be banned from tennis.
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WTA stars Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys have now weighed in on the debate.
Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys don’t think underarm serves should be banned
During the latest episode of ‘The Player’s Box Podcast‘, Pegula, Keys, and Jennifer Brady discussed the underarm serve controversy.
“I saw a lot of people talking about this, but I don’t really care,” said Pegula.
“Who cares? Do it.
“I really legitimately do not care at all.”
“He was standing 20 feet away from the baseline. Why wouldn’t he underarm serve?” added Brady.
“I don’t understand the conversation of banning it,” said Keys.
“What do you mean, ban it?
“People are like, it’s so unsportsmanlike, it should be banned, it should not be a shot. Who cares?
“We can’t be that soft collectively as a sport!”
Brady and Keys argued that the underarm serve is a more difficult technique than people realise.
“Honestly, it’s actually really hard to hit a good underarm serve!” said Brady.
“I would probably miss an underarm serve, which is why I never attempt it,” added Keys.
Pegula, Keys, and Brady certainly see no reason for the underarm serve to be banned!
Who actually wants to ban underarm serves?
As is so often the case, it seems like it’s a vocal minority calling for underarm serves to be banned.
Reacting to a post on X, several tennis fans complained about the tactic.
“Obviously, there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with it. It’s allowed. But tennis is a beautiful sport. This isn’t beautiful. It’s cheap and ugly. A drop shot, on the other hand, requires great skill. This doesn’t. And none of the great players are doing it,” one fan said.
“No, [it’s] pathetic,” said another.
But while some fans argue that the underarm serve is unsportsmanlike, most players, past and present, seem to be fine with it.
Former world number one Andy Roddick recently shared his thoughts on underarm serves.
“I’m about to get heated,” he said.
“What’s unsportsmanlike? It’s within the rules.
“We are the hardest sport in the world, and do you know when we look soft as baby s—?
“Is when we cry 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.
“Get out of here!
“There is nothing wrong with it. If you get caught not paying attention, that’s on you.
“It’s awesome.”
Most tennis fans agree with Roddick, and the chances are that the underarm serve will remain a legal technique.