Two of the ATP Tour’s top players have selected the best one-handed backhand of all time.
One of the most spectacular and eye-catching shots in tennis is seeing a player strike the ball and control a rally with a one-handed backhand.
However, it is a shot that seems to be disappearing from the game, with more and more players opting for a two-handed backhand.
Though this seems to be the trend, the one-handed backhand will have a special place in tennis and two ATP Tour players from the current game shared those they think played it better than anybody else.
Grigor Dimitrov and Daniil Medvedev name their favourite one-handed backhand of all time
There are many players who produced blistering one-handed backhands over the years.
During a roundtable discussion with Lacoste, Grigor Dimitrov, who plays a one-handed backhand himself, named the player he thinks played the shot the best.
“For me I like things to look good! But I love Stan’s backhand, no doubt,” the Bulgarian said.
“But also I can take the challenge of Dominic. I remember when he won at Indian Wells, the way he was hitting his backhand!”
Following on from Dimitrov’s comments about Dominic Thiem’s backhand, 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev shared his opinion.
“Dominic was the toughest one handed backhand I played,” he added. “Because he could slice very well but then go down the line.”
The group also discussed the future of the one-handed backhand, which has become less common in the game, and the discussion’s host and former World number four James Blake is worried.
“I think in 10 or 15 years I don’t know there’s going to be [any],” the American said, while Medvedev commented: “I think it’s tough now. I think there is always going to be some, but there is going to be less and less.”
Grigor Dimitrov explains how Roger Federer’s backhand looked ‘totally different’ late in his career
Also part of the Lacoste roundtable discussion was 2009 US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro.
He mentioned the one-handed backhand of 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, who significantly improved this shot later in his career.
This is something Dimitrov touched on, and explained how Federer’s one-handed backhand changed over the last several years of his career.
“For me Roger would improve the last three years, the way he improved his backhand, I think multiple things played a role in my opinion,” Dimitrov added.
“The change up of Rafa always getting him with that lefty, changing the racket, changing the strings, changing the frame, so there is so many variables that went into it. And even then he was taking the ball so much on the rise.
“It looked totally different. That is why when someone asks me how can I say this one? I love one quality of each one of them!”
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