Twitter expresses amusement and awe at Nick Kyrgios' underarm tweener serve at Australian Open 2022

Kyrgios treated fans to a between-the-legs underarm serve at the Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios was at his entertaining best at the 2022 Australian Open, coasting to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over qualifier Liam Broady in his first-round match on Tuesday. The mercurial Australian delighted the crowd at the John Cain Arena with his antics, with Broady surprisingly joining in the fun as well.

As early as the second game of the opening set, Kyrgios pulled off an underarm serve. To spice things up a bit, the World No. 114 improvised by hitting the ball from between his legs.

Understandably, the incident immediately went viral on social media. The clip of the serve was shared by the official Twitter handle of the Australian Open, praising the show put on by the 26-year-old.

"Your front row seat to the @NickKyrgios show," the video was captioned on Twitter.

Your front row seat to the @NickKyrgios show 🤩

🎥: @wwos • @espn • @Eurosport • @wowowtennis

#AO2022 • #AusOpen https://t.co/SBK0xzEsS9

"Nick Kyrgios with a sensational between-the-legs serve," Oddspedia's Twitter account wrote.

Nick Kyrgios with a sensational between-the-legs serve 🤯

#AusOpen

https://t.co/H5T4cM0aKu

"Kyrgios first set included an under arm between the legs serve. Bananas. Man, if only this guy cared more," one fan tweeted.

Nick Kyrgios first set included an under arm between the legs serve. Bananas.

Man, if only this guy cared more. https://t.co/RmXjMWhV62

"The Nick Kyrgios underarm serve is evolving!" one user tweeted.

The Nick Kyrgios underarm serve is evolving! 😅

🎥 #AusOpen

https://t.co/dGYid2RHW3

"It's show time, it's Nick Kyrgios time at the Melbourne Arena, people are smiling," another user tweeted.

It's show time, it's Nick Kyrgios time at the Melbourne Arena, people are smiling. twitter.com/justtennis_/st…

"Kyrgios being Kyrgios... Ever the entertainer. 40-0 up in his first service game and then he does an underarm serve between his legs," sports journalist Michael Hincks wrote.

Kyrgios being Kyrgios... Ever the entertainer. 40-0 up in his first service game and then he does an underarm serve between his legs

#AusOpen https://t.co/OioNdOUhco

"Kyrgios through the legs serve. Again - a tweener serve. A through the legs serve.Year 13 for me. Never seen that one. And it was an unreturned serve! Wild stuff. Love the NK show honestly. (The fun version of Nick)," another fan wrote.

Kyrgios through the legs serve.

Again - a tweener serve. A through the legs serve.

Year 13 for me. Never seen that one.

And it was an unreturned serve!

Wild stuff. Love the NK show honestly. (The fun version of Nick)

"Spinning serve through his legs. 1st service game of tournament. Unreal skill and great entertainment," sports reporter Matt Turner tweeted.

Spinning serve through his legs.
1st service game of tournament.

Unreal skill and great entertainment.
#AusOpen #Kyrgios twitter.com/wwos/status/14…

Interestingly, the Australian had hit a 220 kmph ace on the previous point. That was brought up as proof of the variety he possesses.

"Early break. Revving up the crowd. 220km/h ace. Between the legs underarm serve. And we're only two games in. Welcome back to Melbourne, Nick Kyrgios," one user wrote.

🎾 Early break
🎾 Revving up the crowd
🎾 220km/h ace
🎾 Between the legs underarm serve

And we're only two games in.

Welcome back to Melbourne, Nick Kyrgios. https://t.co/0JwFZICUF6

"Nick Kyrgios: Serves a 220k/ph body serve. Also Nick Kyrgios: Underarm serve tweener through legs, wins point. Never seen that before," another user wrote.

Nick Kyrgios: Serves a 220k/ph body serve.

Also Nick Kyrgios: Underarm serve tweener through legs, wins point.

Never seen that before.

"Oh stop it! Kyrgios follows up a 220km/h ACE with a cheeky underhand serve! It's only the second game!!" one account tweeted.

Oh stop it! 😳

Kyrgios follows up a 220km/h ACE with a cheeky underhand serve! It's only the second game!!

#AusOpen - Live on Channel 9 and 9Now https://t.co/EXX2JGoi5N

The underarm serve was not the only moment of magic produced by Kyrgios in the encounter. The Australian produced another tweener early in the second set, and although Broady managed to return it, Kyrgios won the point with a passing shot.

The Australian Open shared the video, calling it "box office entertainment" for fans.

"Hey Siri, define: box office entertainment," the video was captioned on Twitter.

Hey Siri, define 'box office entertainment' ⚡️

🎥: @wwos • @espn • @Eurosport • @wowowtennis

@NickKyrgios • #AO2022 • #AusOpen https://t.co/CwFSAvJOZR

While the majority of tennis fans on social media found Kyrgios' antics entertaining, there was also a minority that considered his actions rude and disrespectful to the game. Tennis commentator David Law was among those who felt that his behavior crossed the line between entertainment and mockery.

"Never thought I’d say this, but feeling a bit over this from Nick Kyrgios," Law tweeted. "Maybe because the line between entertaining everyone and mocking your opponent is so fine, even if unintentional."

Never thought I’d say this, but feeling a bit over this from Nick Kyrgios.

Maybe because the line between entertaining everyone and mocking your opponent is so fine, even if unintentional.

However, it did not seem like Kyrgios had any intention of disrespecting his opponent. The Australian genuinely looked like he was having fun on the court, which he later confirmed on Twitter.

"I hope this makes people happy," Kyrgios tweeted.

I hope this makes people happy twitter.com/australianopen…

Nick Kyrgios celebrated his victory with a celebration inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo

Kyrgios imitated Cristiano Ronaldo's "SIUU" celebration after his victory

Nick Kyrgios capped off the night with the famous "siuuuu" celebration popularized by footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo employed his celebration as a way of saying the word "Si" in Spanish, (which means 'yes" in English), indicative of success after scoring a goal.

🗣 "𝐒𝐔𝐈𝐈𝐈𝐈𝐈𝐈𝐈!"

Nick Kyrgios pulls out the Cristiano Ronaldo celebration in Melbourne 🐐

#AusOpen | @NickKyrgios | @Cristiano https://t.co/FmVCWd9zM1

Since then the celebration has been performed by athletes across many sporting disciplines, including Indian cricketer Mohammed Siraj. Kyrgios also performed the celebration after his victory against Broady, further delighting fans at Melbourne Park, who kept yelling the word between points during several different matches.

Tennis star Nick Kyrgios after winning his match did the Cristiano Ronaldo "SIU" celebration.😂❤️ https://t.co/gUz5sdjijA

To top it all off, Kyrgios amused the fans by taking a sip of beer offered to him by one of his fans.

Nick Kyrgios’ first round match at the Australian Open:

Underarm tweener serve 😳
Hit the Ronaldo SIUU ⚽️
Drank a fan’s beer 🍺

Absolute box office. https://t.co/s7iAzPJljC

Kyrgios will take on World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in the second round on Thursday.