- 2010 US Open SF vs. Federer: 2 massive forehand winners to save match points
- 2011 US Open SF vs. Federer: forehand return winner down match point
- 2012 Australian Open F vs. Nadal: forehand winner championship point to close an epic
- 2018 Wimbledon SF vs. Nadal: forehand passing shot winner down break point 7-7 in the 5th
- 2019 Wimbledon F vs. Federer: forehand passing shot winner down championship point
- 2024 Olympics F vs. Alcaraz: the running forehand winner in the 2nd set tiebreak
Djokovic has struck the most iconic forehands in tennis history
- Thread starter geromino
- Start date
Tennfan123
Legend
The hyperbole is real
GRASScaraz
Professional
This one is also up there
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Djokovic actually does more damage with his forehand, he has more winners with it in general, it is just his backhand is so legendary that his insane forehand often doesn't get the recognition it deserves. It is without question one of the greatest forehands of all time, you don't win 72 big titles without such a weapon....Federer and Nadal rank higher with their forehands, but Djokovic is right up there with the best.
Tennis_Monk
Hall of Fame
Yes. One can say that he know how to hit a forehand
RaulRamirez
Legend
Agreed. I would say that one reason that it's just a bit underrated is that Novak is so balanced from both wings that he doesn't run around it to hit a forehand as often. Agassi also comes to mind in that respect...perhaps, even more potent, but without the speed and length of Novak.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
This is also true, due to his highly reliable BH, he doesn't always need to pull off those shots that Federer and Nadal do. Federer and Nadal are known for their impressive inside out forehands, which look spectacular when they pull it off. Djokovic does it also, but no where near the same amount.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
I see you're bored today lol
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
None
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Venus Williams
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
100% Djokovic. Nadal's strokes are so ugly.
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
Nice. I'm winning!
NatF
Bionic Poster
First time for everything
RS
Bionic Poster
Peak Hewitt vs Peak Djokovic 20 matches at USO?First time for everything
BauerAlmeida
Hall of Fame
Biotic
Hall of Fame
Easy there, you're gonna make fedfans go at you with those monster FHs vs Spadea and Rusedski.
I remember one Frenchman, besides Gasquet, would choose the BH! It might be Benoit Paire!
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
You have to be more specific, lol. He hit 3 forehand winners in that 2nd set tiebreak and one big "inside in" in the corner to set up an easy overhead.
inflation_era
Professional
Best FH and overhead of all time.
RaulRamirez
Legend
It's very close, of course. Let me do the "math". I know that tennis is not the sum of parts, as there are many intangibles as well. But roughly speaking, Novak and Rafa are of the same caliber, so let's look at everything outside of their groundies.
Novak merits the edge on both serve and ROS.
At net, including overhead, I'll go with Rafa.
Court coverage is roughly equal. Rafa slightly more sheer speed, Novak with a little more length and elasticity.
Both are incredibly mentally tough, with similar intangibles.
So, maybe the slightest ovrtall baseline edge to Rafa, as he had roughly the same success with a lesser serve and ROS.
It was easy to say: Nadal on clay, Djokovic otherwise!
It was apparent that Djokovic took down the best Nadal! 2010-11 was the period Nadal reached his peak!
zakopinjo
Semi-Pro
RaulRamirez
Legend
Too direct and simple, but probably so.
Rafa4LifeEver
G.O.A.T.
Delusional
JoJoHackshow
Rookie
Plus slice and volleying!
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Nadal forehand is probably best of all time. Its ugly to me. But its much better. Ungodly power.
gamelovergold
Rookie
The runing forehand in 2 set tiebreak . What a shot that was . And the last shot to win gold was also beauty to watch.
No doubt, if someone like Nik from intuitive tennis that plays and understands tennis at the higher level better than anyone on GPPD says Novak has the Goat forehand added to his Goat status then it must be true.
Better_Call_Raul
Hall of Fame
Easily the shot of the year and and near the very top on the list of the best shot of all time.
It is impossible to hit thru Alcaraz. But Djoker was on a mission. Raised his level to pass the speediest player in the world with an angled winner.
All to bring home the coveted Olympic Gold that had tragically eluded our elderly Djoker for 20 years. All on the heels of knee surgery.
It simply brought tears to everyone's eyes.
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Winner Sinner
Professional
People are unaware that when analyzing a given player's best baseline fundamentals, it is not done on the basis of which one generates the most winners, but on which one is the most reliable.
Even Zverev, who has an eloquent imbalance between forehand and backhand in favor of the backhand, in turn generates more winners with the forehand.
That's not how it's analyzed.
Djokovic is complete on both sides, but if I am forced to play an important point on one of the two diagonals then I choose that of his forehand because it is more foul in relation to the backhand.
The same thing goes for Sinner.
Having a solid backhand allows you to maneuver the exchange much better and at the most appropriate moment when the inertia is on your side allows you to open up the field to close with the forehand.
The forehand in baseline exchanges is the ultimate weapon while the backhand holds the maneuvering power.
Even Zverev, who has an eloquent imbalance between forehand and backhand in favor of the backhand, in turn generates more winners with the forehand.
That's not how it's analyzed.
Djokovic is complete on both sides, but if I am forced to play an important point on one of the two diagonals then I choose that of his forehand because it is more foul in relation to the backhand.
The same thing goes for Sinner.
Having a solid backhand allows you to maneuver the exchange much better and at the most appropriate moment when the inertia is on your side allows you to open up the field to close with the forehand.
The forehand in baseline exchanges is the ultimate weapon while the backhand holds the maneuvering power.
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
I consider myself a pretty big tennis fan, obviously, but I can only picture like half of these FHs listed in the OP. So calling them all "iconic" is a bit much.
djokovic the conqueror
Professional
The best and most reliable forehand of all time. It many not be the most powerful or have the most spin but it works indoors, outdoors and on every surface and court speed.
Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
I think we can go a bit further. Djokovic also has the very best FH volley of all time
Born_to_slice
Legend
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Biotic
Hall of Fame
Didn't even dare to peek on Fed's MPs?
RS
Bionic Poster
Just play
The Blond Blur
G.O.A.T.
Djokovic has struck the most iconic forehands in tennis history:
Born_to_slice
Legend
GoatNo1
Hall of Fame
BH for remember is sliding passing shot on MP at WTF12 final
RS
Bionic Poster
Yeah Hewitt would keep trying.Just asking questions.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
That was one of the greatest CP ever played.
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