For the first time in ATP Rankings history, no male in the top 10 has a one handed backhand

[Aussie Darcy]

Apologies if there's already a thread or if it's a bit lame but I just saw this and thought it was cool.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/alex-de-minaurs-careerhigh-rank-rise-sparks-historic-51year-tennis-first/news-story/755224fb5fdca74647c47025a5a4c0b1

For the first time in the history of the ATP Rankings, no top 10 player has a 1 handed backhand. Tsitsipas has one but he's fallen out of the top 10 being replaced by De Minaur.

The current top 10 on the ATP rankings sees Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Hubert Hurkacz, De Minaur and Taylor Fritz, who all utilise a two-handed backhand.

In the top 25 there's only 2 men with a 1HBH and that's Tsitsipas and Dimitrov.

Is this the end of the 1 handed backhand?

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Most two handers still volley and slice with one hand, so it will never go away. Instructors haven't taught kids the one hander for 30 years so its no surprise.

 

[ADuck]

I wonder how a 2HBH would look on Fed.

 

[lazyfootwork]

The future is two handed bh for neutral and defensive shots and a one hander for approaches and offensive attacking

 

[Chopin]

It'll be back. It's crazy to me that no one would teach the one-hander anymore, but people want immediate results and as Sampras talked about it, he ended up losing a lot as a junior when he switched to a one hander. I know people criticize Sampras's backhand, but at the end of the day, Pete's variety was instrumental in his domination of the game--the guy was an all-court player.

I read a NYT article around the time of the US open, and it quoted a top US coach saying that his advice to parents/juniors who wanted to be competitive was to ditch the one hander. Federer and Wawrinka's careers pretty much discount that coach's advice. Can you imagine some of these two-handed bashers against Federer? No way they would deal with his variety. They'd be completely befuddled, and it would be a Federer masterclass. Of course you can have a decent slice as a two-hander, but it's never quite the same as a player with a one hander, not to mention the racquet-head speed and reach advantages. Of course, the two-handers has big advantages in certain areas. Both have pros and cons, but to me, the issue is largely about the one-handed not being taught and developed.

 

[T&M Returns]

It'll be back. It's crazy to me that no one would teach the one-hander anymore, but people want immediate results and as Sampras talked about it, he ended up losing a lot as a junior when he switched to a one hander. I know people criticize Sampras's backhand, but at the end of the day, Pete's variety was instrumental in his domination of the game--the guy was an all-court player.

I read a NYT article around the time of the US open, and it quoted a top US coach saying that his advice to parents/juniors who wanted to be competitive was to ditch the one hander. Federer and Wawrinka's careers pretty much discount that coach's advice. Can you imagine some of these two-handed bashers against Federer? No way they would deal with his variety. They'd be completely befuddled, and it would be a Federer masterclass. Of course you can have a decent slice as a two-hander, but it's never quite the same as a player with a one hander, not to mention the racquet-head speed and reach advantages. Of course, the two-handers has big advantages in certain areas. Both have pros and cons, but to me, the issue is largely about the one-handed not being taught and developed.

All this talk and this is the bottom line (as someone who has a pretty good one hander). The two hander is simply a better shot. Federer himself said he wouldn't teach his kids a one hander. The muscle groups involved in producing a two hander are simply so much stronger, it's basically become a left handed forehand. It probably won't ever entirely die out, but there is a reason it's become increasingly rare.

'I Would Teach My Kids double-handed Backhand'- Federer - EssentiallySports

Roger Federer has one of the most beautiful single handed backhands in the sport. Only a handful of others can produce the kind of magic

www.essentiallysports.com

 

[Chopin]

All this talk and this is the bottom line (as someone who has a pretty good one hander). The two hander is simply a better shot. Federer himself said he wouldn't teach his kids a one hander. The muscle groups involved in producing a two hander are simply so much stronger, it's basically become a left handed forehand. It probably won't ever entirely die out, but there is a reason it's become increasingly rare.

'I Would Teach My Kids double-handed Backhand'- Federer - EssentiallySports

Roger Federer has one of the most beautiful single handed backhands in the sport. Only a handful of others can produce the kind of magic

www.essentiallysports.com

Well, your bottom line is wrong. It's a different shot, not better. Easier to learn? Yes. Better? No. Let's see what happens in the next 10-20 years.

 

[insideguy]

RIP one handed backhand RIP.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I wonder how a 2HBH would look on Fed.

 

[Chopin]

 

[Nate7-5]

THAT MEANS ITS TIME TO START THE NEW TOP 14 RECORD

 

[jm1980]

I wonder how a 2HBH would look on Fed.

 

[JFK_32]

And already back

 

[Chopin]

But...Sinner...the new unbeatable style!...how could he lose to a player with a one-handed backhand!? How could that player win the title!? It's not possible!

***

Line call aside, it's very clear that the one-hander is here to stay.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

And already back

Dimi already did it

 

[KantenKlaar]

There will always be a one handed backhand.

 

[roysid]

There will always be a one handed backhand.

The 1 hander is there to stay. For some players it's a big advantage to have a game adapting to 1 HBH