The Baseline Top 8: Best-ever on-court celebrations

There’s a lot of work involved—both on and off the court—when it comes to getting a win on the ATP and WTA tours. Afterward, a mini-celebration of sorts is in order.

Here’s a look at eight of the post-match maneuvers that act as a relief point for the players while offering some entertainment to the fans.

1

“The Worm”

You never know what Radek Stepanek is going to do on the court as he's been known to get under the skin of many a player. Imagine how those players felt who lost to him a few years ago when he broke out a move from the break dancing handbook post-victory?

2

“The Dance”

It was the sensation that swept through many a nation: The “Petko-Dance,” Andrea Petkovic’s post-match victory shimmy, set the tennis world abuzz for a while. It almost got more notice than the wins she was steadily notching on her way to the top 10. The German star eventually hung up her on-court dancing shoes.

3

“The Salute”

It hasn’t been on display as much the past couple of years as he’s fought with form, but Mikhail Youzhny’s post-victory salute is one of the game’s more memorable celebrations. The gesture is a poignant tribute to his late father,  who gave up his career in the Soviet military to steer Youzhny’s path early on.

4

“The Scissor Kick”

Petr Korda, the 1998 Australian Open champ, had all the shots in his arsenal—and a few celebrations, too. He broke out with a cartwheel after winning his only Slam, but perhaps his most famous victory move was the scissor kick. (No linespeople or opponents were ever hurt by any flying limbs.)

5

“The Leap”

Whether it’s the first round of an ATP World Tour 250-level event or the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, if Jo-Wilfried Tsonga wins, you know where he’s going next: up in the air. A consistent top-15 player for the better part of a decade, that winning feeling never gets old for the Frenchman.

6

“The Wave”

Simplicity mixed with elegance, Serena Williams' post-match wave has an almost-regal feel to it: appropriate for the queen of the court. It’s so graceful that  you  might even overlook the fact she probably just got through pounding about 30 winners past her opponent.

7

“The Chest Bump”

You know it's coming: It's been happening at clutch times throughout the match, so why not in victory? Mike and Bob Bryan's chest bump has become their signature move, reflecting their exuberance for the game.

“The Kisses”

Many a tennis fan from the 1980s to the mid-2000s saw Andre Agassi grow from a teenager to an elder statesman of the game, offering him unbridled support over the years. Agassi didn’t let all that cheering go without acknowledgment, blowing kisses to the crowd after his match wins in a love affair for the ages between player and fans.