Stan Wawrinka’s serve starts with the toss

SportLocation Tennis Desk · 15 Oct 2026

Stan Wawrinka’s raised tossing arm gives the serve its direction before the racket comes over the top.

Stan Wawrinka’s serve begins with a clear upward cue: his tossing arm rises as the racket draws back, giving the movement a shape before the swing has even begun.

That’s the detail that makes this sequence readable. The ball toss and racket preparation happen together, then the motion gathers into an overhead swing. Wawrinka leans into it and carries the racket through, finishing forward with one leg trailing behind.

A serve is a linked action, not just the instant the racket comes over the top. Here, the toss provides the lead-in; the follow-through shows the movement continuing beyond contact. The sequence makes that connection visible without needing to break the serve into a checklist of positions.