@nytimes

Even seasoned watchers of the U.S. Open, may be surprised to know that there is no limit on how many times a tennis player may toss the ball when initiating their serve. Yet, players swing at nearly every toss they make, the good and the mediocre, even though it is such a critical element in determining who wins each point. The toss is that graceful lift of the ball into the hitting zone. It is the always crucial, sometimes overlooked, barely decipherable ingredient in the game’s most important shot. Frances Tiafoe, 24, a rising American who’s ranked 24th on the men’s tour, allowed The Times to examine his toss at a park in the Wimbledon section of London. See more from @bigfoe1998 and read what we learned about this component of elite serving at the link in our bio. Video by @noahswthroop and @ekrhyne