The year of the messy handshake: Collins, Townsend, Ostapenko and more
The heated exchanges, miscommunications, sarcastic bows, and viral insults that defined this year’s tennis drama.
In 2025, some of the most unforgettable tennis moments didn’t happen during rallies, match points, or trophy lifts—they happened at the net.
Post-match handshakes aren’t technically required in tennis, but tradition keeps them alive, and when emotions boil over, that final gesture becomes the most dramatic part of the day.
From icy glares to sarcastic bows, this season delivered an entire highlight reel of handshake chaos.
Mamma mia! Fils and Tsitsipas ignite post-match drama in Rome
Arthur Fils’ comeback win over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia was fiery on the scoreboard and even spicier at the handshake. After Fils rallied 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, the two launched into a heated exchange that required chair umpire Greg Allensworth to step in and separate them.
The argument stemmed from a misunderstanding when Tsitsipas tagged Fils with a passing shot and apologized—an apology Fils simply didn’t see. While the moment looked tense, the Frenchman brushed it off afterward.
“All good,” he said in a post-match press conference. “We’re just talking about the match. No worries.”
“Nobody likes you”: Sakkari and Putintseva clash in Bad Homburg
Tennis fans know that if Yulia Putintseva is on court, drama is never far behind—and her meeting at the Bad Homburg Open with Maria Sakkari delivered exactly that. Sakkari’s hard-fought 7-5, 7-6(6) win was her third Top 30 victory of a difficult season, but celebrations didn’t last long.
Putintseva slapped Sakkari’s hand, avoided eye contact, and marched toward her chair. Sakkari, then ranked No. 86, wasn’t letting it slide. A sarcastic bow from Putintseva escalated things, leading Sakkari to cross the net to continue the conversation.
“Just be, like, a human being,” Sakkari said at one point. Moments later, on-court mics picked up the now-viral line: “Nobody likes you.”
Read More: 'Nobody likes you': Maria Sakkari and Yulia Putintseva get heated in Bad Homburg
Dedura celebrates first ATP win like he just won a Grand Slam
Diego Dedura took “making the most of the moment” to a new level at the BMW Open by Bitpanda in Munich. The 17-year-old German secured his first ATP victory after Denis Shapovalov retired injured—but Dedura celebrated as if he’d won a major. He roared with the crowd, and then carved a giant cross into the clay with his feet, and lay on top of it, arms spread wide.
Dedura explained that the unusual celebration was rooted in gratitude and his Christian faith. He’d lost in qualifying and only entered the main draw because Gael Monfils withdrew, becoming the first player born in 2008 or later to win an ATP match.
Shapovalov didn’t seem thrilled. A week later in Madrid, cameras caught him jokingly mimicking Dedura’s “crucifixion” celebration on a nearby court, laughing with his team as the teen played just yards away.
Read More: WATCH: Denis Shapovalov is still not over Diego Dedura’s over-the-top celebration
“New year, same me”: Collins’ icy handshake with Swiatek goes viral
If any player mastered the art of the viral handshake in 2025, it was Danielle Collins. Her frosty United Cup exchange with Iga Swiatek was seen around the world, and her social media reaction only added more spice.
Tension between the two dates back to the 2024 Olympic Games, when Collins retired injured against Swiatek and accused the world No. 1 of being insincere at the net. Although Collins later walked back her comments, the energy between them remained unmistakably cold.
At the United Cup, Collins avoided eye contact with Swiatek and appeared to roll her eyes, a moment cameras caught from multiple angles. Hours later, she posted a screenshot with the caption: “Didn’t know if you guys noticed this but… New year, same me.” She then doubled down, making the image her Instagram profile photo.
Townsend and Ostapenko deliver the year’s biggest handshake drama
The most viral handshake saga of 2025 belonged to Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko's US Open clash.
Upset over a lucky netcord that Townsend didn’t acknowledge during her 7-5, 6-1 victory, Ostapenko told her opponent she had “no class and no education,” drawing loud boos from Court 11. She also complained about Townsend’s warm-up routine and continued the argument at her chair.
Read More: “No class, no education”: Jelena Ostapenko lashes out at Taylor Townsend after US Open loss
Townsend later explained, “She told me I have no education, no class, and to see what happens if we play each other outside of the US.” But she also turned the moment into a statement: “It’s bigger than me… It’s about being bold and being able to show up as yourself.”
Ostapenko denied any racist intent and initially refused to apologize, but after widespread backlash, she eventually issued a formal apology on Instagram.