1st player to win a Slam w 2 Handed Backhand?

4sound · 09-02-2011, 01:10 PM

I saw on tennis channel, the first person to play in a Slam final with a 2 handed backhand was Cliff Drysdale.

Does anyone know who the 1st player to actually win a slam with a 2 handed backhand (Man and Woman)? I want to say Borg and Evert but not sure.

Moose Malloy · 09-02-2011, 01:25 PM

Connors, '74 AO. Borg won '74 FO. And Connors won W & US that year.

It must have really blown the tennis world's mind having a 2 handed sweep of the majors in '74, after a hundred years of 1 handers winning every major.

Evert win '74 FO & W.

probably 90% of all players on both tours in '74 were using 1 handed backhands.

BTURNER · 09-02-2011, 01:45 PM

Actually the first person to play a major singles final using a two hander is Jan Lehane who reached the final of the Australian in 1961-63 loosing to Court each of those years. I think she may have been the first to win one if you count mixed doubles not sure on that score though.

pc1 · 09-02-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4sound

I saw on tennis channel, the first person to play in a Slam final with a 2 handed backhand was Cliff Drysdale.

Does anyone know who the 1st player to actually win a slam with a 2 handed backhand (Man and Woman)? I want to say Borg and Evert but not sure.

My first guess would be John Bromwich, the great Australian player but I'm not sure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bromwich

soyizgood · 09-02-2011, 02:29 PM

Bromwich would likely be the first. There was another Aussie with a 2HBH at that time, McGrath.

pc1 · 09-02-2011, 04:28 PM

It's funny when you think about two hands versus one hand on the backhand. In the past two hands were considered weak because of the lack of reach and problems on low balls. Nowadays with almost every player using two hands on the backhand the one hander may be considered the weaker of the two styles, especially on the high backhand. At least the trend is the two hander now. Maybe someday one hand on the backhand will come back into fashion.

urban · 09-03-2011, 01:05 AM

Beverly Baker-Fleitz won a lot in the 50s, with two hands, but she was ambidextrous.

Carlo Giovanni Colussi · 09-08-2011, 04:19 AM

I won't really return to this site in the coming days because I have no time but I couldn't prevent myself from watching a little this TW Website.
However it is likely that in some weeks-months I will come back

In the meantime I write this short post :

if my memory is right the first "two-handed backhand" player who won a Slam tourney
was
Vivian Erzerum Bede McGrath who took the 1937 Australian amateur crown

(this tournament was a very depleted event because all the pros (Vines, Nüsslein, Perry, Tilden, ...) were forbidden to enter and many top amateurs didn't came (Budge, Cramm, Austin, Henkel, Riggs, ...)

pc1 · 09-08-2011, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlo Giovanni Colussi

I won't really return to this site in the coming days because I have no time but I couldn't prevent myself from watching a little this TW Website.
However it is likely that in some weeks-months I will come back

In the meantime I write this short post :

if my memory is right the first "two-handed backhand" player who won a Slam tourney
was
Vivian Erzerum Bede McGrath who took the 1937 Australian amateur crown

(this tournament was a very depleted event because all the pros (Vines, Nüsslein, Perry, Tilden, ...) were forbidden to enter and many top amateurs didn't came (Budge, Cramm, Austin, Henkel, Riggs, ...)

It may be depleted but it still is a major so I believe you are correct.

Datacipher · 09-08-2011, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pc1

My first guess would be John Bromwich, the great Australian player but I'm not sure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bromwich

You beat me to the punch PC.

Note, I"d also say Segura was a 2 hander since he hit a 2 handed backhand (but release one hand), AND his forehand was essentially a 2 handed backhand also! Of course Segura went pro pretty early so....

Datacipher · 09-08-2011, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pc1

It may be depleted but it still is a major so I believe you are correct.

Oh yes! Didnt he play Bromwich one year?? That would be a 2 hander final!

pc1 · 09-08-2011, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datacipher

You beat me to the punch PC.

Note, I"d also say Segura was a 2 hander since he hit a 2 handed backhand (but release one hand), AND his forehand was essentially a 2 handed backhand also! Of course Segura went pro pretty early so....

What would be interesting if we did a frame by frame comparison of Segura's two handed righty forehand with Jimmy Connors' lefty backhand?

Carlo Giovanni Colussi · 09-08-2011, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datacipher

Oh yes! Didnt he play Bromwich one year?? That would be a 2 hander final!

Yes it's in 1937
that McGrath beat Bromwich 6-3 1-6 6-0 2-6 6-1

ClarkC · 09-08-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pc1

It's funny when you think about two hands versus one hand on the backhand. In the past two hands were considered weak because of the lack of reach and problems on low balls. Nowadays with almost every player using two hands on the backhand the one hander may be considered the weaker of the two styles, especially on the high backhand. At least the trend is the two hander now. Maybe someday one hand on the backhand will come back into fashion.

Maybe players used to face a lot of low balls, and now they face a lot of high balls. That might have to change before the one hander makes a resurgence, and I am not sure it will change in the foreseeable future.

PennAlum · 09-09-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pc1

It's funny when you think about two hands versus one hand on the backhand. In the past two hands were considered weak because of the lack of reach and problems on low balls. Nowadays with almost every player using two hands on the backhand the one hander may be considered the weaker of the two styles, especially on the high backhand. At least the trend is the two hander now. Maybe someday one hand on the backhand will come back into fashion.

Very interesting point, pc1. Along with the move away from grass in the U.S. and Aussie slams and the advent of topspin into the game by Borg the tennis ball bounced higher. Poly strings further enhanced the spin and higher bounces giving 2 handers a distinct advantage over one-handed backhands in today's game. Gasquet is the only outlier. Players now are more athletic and speedy so reach is less a consideration.

diggler · 09-10-2011, 06:23 AM

That John Bromwich article said he had a 2 handed forehand, not 2 handed backhand.

pc1 · 09-10-2011, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diggler

That John Bromwich article said he had a 2 handed forehand, not 2 handed backhand.

He used to have a two handed forehand but he give it up and played just with a two handed backhand from what I understand.

Check this video out of him playing Don Budge.
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=50413

Lefty two handed backhand (or would you call it a two handed forehand?), lefty forehand and he serves right handed.

Manus Domini · 09-10-2011, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlo Giovanni Colussi

I won't really return to this site in the coming days because I have no time but I couldn't prevent myself from watching a little this TW Website.
However it is likely that in some weeks-months I will come back

In the meantime I write this short post :

if my memory is right the first "two-handed backhand" player who won a Slam tourney
was
Vivian Erzerum Bede McGrath who took the 1937 Australian amateur crown

I was just gonna say that

diggler · 09-10-2011, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pc1

He used to have a two handed forehand but he give it up and played just with a two handed backhand from what I understand.

Check this video out of him playing Don Budge.
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=50413

Lefty two handed backhand (or would you call it a two handed forehand?), lefty forehand and he serves right handed.

nice find...

Q&M son · 11-27-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlo Giovanni Colussi

I won't really return to this site in the coming days because I have no time but I couldn't prevent myself from watching a little this TW Website.
However it is likely that in some weeks-months I will come back

Nice news. Greetings my friend. Lucio

09-02-2011, 01:10 PM	#1
4sound Semi-Pro Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco Fog Posts: 401	1st player to win a Slam w 2 Handed Backhand? I saw on tennis channel, the first person to play in a Slam final with a 2 handed backhand was Cliff Drysdale. Does anyone know who the 1st player to actually win a slam with a 2 handed backhand (Man and Woman)? I want to say Borg and Evert but not sure. __________________ USPTA P1, 5x Head TGK 237.2, Technifibre NRG2 16, 55LBS Gamma 2pt 6004 with Wise.

09-02-2011, 01:25 PM	#2
Moose Malloy Legend Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 7,470	Connors, '74 AO. Borg won '74 FO. And Connors won W & US that year. It must have really blown the tennis world's mind having a 2 handed sweep of the majors in '74, after a hundred years of 1 handers winning every major. Evert win '74 FO & W. probably 90% of all players on both tours in '74 were using 1 handed backhands. Last edited by Moose Malloy : 09-02-2011 at 01:28 PM.

09-02-2011, 02:29 PM	#5
soyizgood Legend Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 9,645	Bromwich would likely be the first. There was another Aussie with a 2HBH at that time, McGrath. __________________ "The two-hander is just a more secure ball." - Navratilova Dunlop 4D 300/M-Fil 400/Aerogel 300. Babolat PS. 2HBH/Cheap Players club's CEO

09-02-2011, 04:28 PM	#6
pc1 Legend Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7,146	It's funny when you think about two hands versus one hand on the backhand. In the past two hands were considered weak because of the lack of reach and problems on low balls. Nowadays with almost every player using two hands on the backhand the one hander may be considered the weaker of the two styles, especially on the high backhand. At least the trend is the two hander now. Maybe someday one hand on the backhand will come back into fashion. Last edited by pc1 : 09-02-2011 at 05:10 PM.

09-08-2011, 04:19 AM	#8
Carlo Giovanni Colussi Semi-Pro Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 527	This is not my true return I won't really return to this site in the coming days because I have no time but I couldn't prevent myself from watching a little this TW Website. However it is likely that in some weeks-months I will come back In the meantime I write this short post : if my memory is right the first "two-handed backhand" player who won a Slam tourney was Vivian Erzerum Bede McGrath who took the 1937 Australian amateur crown (this tournament was a very depleted event because all the pros (Vines, Nüsslein, Perry, Tilden, ...) were forbidden to enter and many top amateurs didn't came (Budge, Cramm, Austin, Henkel, Riggs, ...) Last edited by Carlo Giovanni Colussi : 09-08-2011 at 04:26 AM.