Greatest 2HBH of All-Time

[SusanDK]

Jachim Nystrom and Anders Jarryd´s are worth being in this list.

Better than Solomon´s or Dibbs´and, in the case of Jarryd, a top ten 2HB on the retrun of serve.

+1

I saw Jarryd play in a legends event two weeks ago - actually beating Mats Wilander 14-12 in the 3rd 'gentlemen's tiebreak' game, and winning in 2 over Magnus Larsson. He also beat Mikael Pernfors and played a very close match against Karol Kucera who is 13 years younger (Jarryd's now 50 and Kucera is 37).

He was striking the ball very well - love his 2HBH, and he also mixed it up with the one-handed slice, plus covered the court well with some approaches and good net play. He's still very fit and was moving well. While never the strong part of his game, he did hit a few surprisingly good serves, even aceing Wilander to get to match point. I was sitting right behind Mats at the time and it was a crisp serve to the deuce court the spun out wide to Wilander's forehand, that Mats lunged for and groaned, but couldn't get his racquet on.

 

[pc1]

+1

I saw Jarryd play in a legends event two weeks ago - actually beating Mats Wilander 14-12 in the 3rd 'gentlemen's tiebreak' game, and winning in 2 over Magnus Larsson. He also beat Mikael Pernfors and played a very close match against Karol Kucera who is 13 years younger (Jarryd's now 50 and Kucera is 37).

He was striking the ball very well - love his 2HBH, and he also mixed it up with the one-handed slice, plus covered the court well with some approaches and good net play. He's still very fit and was moving well. While never the strong part of his game, he did hit a few surprisingly good serves, even aceing Wilander to get to match point. I was sitting right behind Mats at the time and it was a crisp serve to the deuce court the spun out wide to Wilander's forehand, that Mats lunged for and groaned, but couldn't get his racquet on.

I saw Jarryd play Tim Wilkison at the US Open in 1985 and it literally was the bloodiest match I've ever seen. Jarryd the first eleven games on his way to beating Wilkison in straight sets. The reason I said it was bloody was that Wilkison was driving for the passing shots and bleeding. There was a decent amount of blood flow spilled in that match. People were in pain watching it.

One thing you could say about Wilkison, he put 100% effort into his matches.

I believe Wilkison was asked who his toughest opponent was and I think he said Jarryd. Watching that match I understand why.

 

[SusanDK]

That's very interesting and ironic, pc1. I say ironic because the event I attended two weeks ago was an annual event that is held in Sweden every year, with legends of tennis playing. Of course, most are Swedish, but for example, this year they had Karol Kucera in the draw. Guess who played last year? Tim Wilkison!

I did not attend last year, unfortunately, but I read reports of the event and it was stated that Wilkison stole the hearts of the public. He apparently didn't win many matches, but his effort and energy and personality were so engaging that the crowd loved him.

I was hoping he'd be back this year, but he wasn't. He still refers to himself by his nickname, Dr. Dirt.

Edited to add: Jarryd was playing very well in that '85 US Open. I believe he reached the quarterfinals and won the first set convincingly against Wilander, but then seemed to become sick in the heat and humidity, and after losing the 2nd and maybe 3rd set (or close to being blown away in the 3rd set), approached the net and first apologized to Mats before telling the chair umpire that he had to retire. It was very hot and it seemed he may have had some kind of heat exhaustion.

 

[kiki]

Jarryd´s game matched pretty well with Wilander´s, so it was not surprising he beat Wilander once in a while.I don´t know their face to face but I´d say it is closer than their records might suggest.

 

[SusanDK]

Jarryd won the matches on carpet, and Wilander took the matches on clay. On hard courts, they played very close, but Mats still had the edge. But yes, it was closer than one would expect considering Wilander's better singles record overall.

I remember that Jarryd once said that he and the other Swedes could usually easily beat Mats in practice, so it gave them all a boost when he won RG in 1982. Of course, Wilander was known for playing better when it counted.

 

[kiki]

Can anyone suggest more names to add to this list?

Is Gene Mayer in that list?.He had one of the best TH forehands ever, but I think his BH was not just as good.

Gildemeister can be another option...

 

[kiki]

Jarryd won the matches on carpet, and Wilander took the matches on clay. On hard courts, they played very close, but Mats still had the edge. But yes, it was closer than one would expect considering Wilander's better singles record overall.

I remember that Jarryd once said that he and the other Swedes could usually easily beat Mats in practice, so it gave them all a boost when he won RG in 1982. Of course, Wilander was known for playing better when it counted.

... and Nystrom,Jarryd,Wilander and Edberg were all very close.Sometimes, it may have effects on the outcome of a match.Plus they knew each other´s game so well .

 

[Borg Number One]

Jack Leigh �Stars and Stripes
Tokyo, April 17, 1982: Bjorn Borg returns a volley during his 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win over Vince Van Patten in the semifinals of the Suntory Cup tennis tournament. Borg, who eventually beat Guillermo Vilas in the finals, also made news off the court, announcing that he would boycott Wimbledon because of a requirement that he play in a qualifier due to recent inactivity. In 1983, the five-time Wimbledon champ retired from tennis at age 26.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Amazing picture, amazing story! I can't imagine the weeny mentality of the dopes running the Wimbledon championships at that time.

 

[Borg Number One]

Amazing picture, amazing story! I can't imagine the weeny mentality of the dopes running the Wimbledon championships at that time.

I agree 100% LH. They couldn't let Bjorn Borg play in the main draw at Wimbledon after all the work he had done for years and after he had helped transform the tennis tour? Just look at his workload of matches (official and unofficial matches through 1981). They should have given him a wild card into the main draw in 1982. On point, the guy had a great backhand, but I'd probably put the Connors backhand at the very top of this list as I've mentioned.

 

[pc1]

I agree 100% LH. They couldn't let Bjorn Borg play in the main draw at Wimbledon after all the work he had done for years and after he had helped transform the tennis tour? Just look at his workload of matches (official and unofficial matches through 1981). They should have given him a wild card into the main draw in 1982. On point, the guy had a great backhand, but I'd probably put the Connors backhand at the very top of this list as I've mentioned.

Borg's backhand is clearly on the short list of the greatest two handed backhands ever. I would say it's also on the short list of the greatest backhands ever because of its great consistency, power, passing shots and also its variety. Borg could hit defensive or offensive lobs with it, topspin, slice, variations in pace, angles etc. Borg's backhand was also excellent off the return. Despite all this I would still put the great Connors backhand ahead of Borg's which just shows what a great shot the Connors backhand was.

 

[6-2/6-4/6-0]

Conners tops the list for me.

I was happy to see Chang added to the discussion on the second page as well. To me he had fantastic mechanics and his incredible foot-speed and mobility set up his 2hb beautifully.

Borg hit a fantastic 2-hander. His backhand pass was devastating - pace, placement and spin to dip it low. What a shot.

Honestly, I've never paid too much attention to 2-handed backhands, but I was fairly impressed with the videos of Nalbandian. He's certainly one I'd have on my list.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Borg's backhand is clearly on the short list of the greatest two handed backhands ever. I would say it's also on the short list of the greatest backhands ever because of its great consistency, power, passing shots and also its variety. Borg could hit defensive or offensive lobs with it, topspin, slice, variations in pace, angles etc. Borg's backhand was also excellent off the return. Despite all this I would still put the great Connors backhand ahead of Borg's which just shows what a great shot the Connors backhand was.

Overall, I haven't seen a better 2hb than Agassi's. I would rank the top 3: Agassi, Connors, Borg.

 

[BTURNER]

Overall, I haven't seen a better 2hb than Agassi's. I would rank the top 3: Agassi, Connors, Borg.

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One chief distinction. Connors and Borg hit their slices and volleys with two hands as well whenever possible. Agassi cheated a la Wilander. Except for his swinging volley and desperatation shots, his underspin shots and volleys were onehanders. connors had more variety with two hands than any player man or woman I ever saw. That is why I give him the edge.

 

[pc1]

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One chief distinction. Connors and Borg hit their slices and volleys with two hands as well whenever possible. Agassi cheated a la Wilander. Except for his swinging volley and desperatation shots, his underspin shots and volleys were onehanders. connors had more variety with two hands than any player man or woman I ever saw. That is why I give him the edge.

I would give Connors the edge over Agassi also and variety is one of the reasons as you wrote. Better changes of pace, lobs and I also think the Connors backhand was smoother when Connors made the transition from the baseline to attacking position at the net. Connors could also hit better passing shots on the backhand on the run than Agassi.

Overall, I haven't seen a better 2hb than Agassi's. I would rank the top 3: Agassi, Connors, Borg.

You can't go wrong with any of these great backhands. I give Connors the edge but Agassi's backhand is one of the great backhands ever.

 

[Zimbo]

Good points all. Safin's game was a an enigma. When he was on, he was one of the greatest who ever played. And when he was off, he wasn't. But, his BH was pretty much always on. Conversely, Wilander's biggest strength was the reliability of his level of play all around, including his backhand. But, Safin's power in addition to the relative reliability of his BH arguably makes it better than Wilander's. JMO!

Nalbandian's BH has to be measured with his overall success and consistency in mind. It's still a great shot. But, I can't put it above Agassi's or Borg's BH.

With this logic you can say Safin's is better then Borg's also. Matter of fact, with this logic, its better then Connor's and Agassi's also.

 

[hoodjem]

Edited to add: Jarryd was playing very well in that '85 US Open. I believe he reached the quarterfinals and won the first set convincingly against Wilander, but then seemed to become sick in the heat and humidity, and after losing the 2nd and maybe 3rd set (or close to being blown away in the 3rd set), approached the net and first apologized to Mats before telling the chair umpire that he had to retire. It was very hot and it seemed he may have had some kind of heat exhaustion.

Jarryd won the first set 6-2 against Wilander, lost the second set 2-6, and retired in the third set with the score 5-0 against him.

 

[Limpinhitter]

With this logic you can say Safin's is better then Borg's also. Matter of fact, with this logic, its better then Connor's and Agassi's also.

Please stop using the word "then" when you mean "than."

 

[Zimbo]

Please stop using the word "then" when you mean "than."

Yes sir. Thanks for the correction teacher

 

[hoodjem]

Bumped.

 

[skaj]

men, men and more men.

Evert
Seles
Hingis
Sanchez
Davenport
Austin
Williams

Sanchez Vicario's and Austin's were nothing special, especially compare to the other women's from the list. Try Sharapova, Li, Jankovic.

 

[skaj]

Nalbandian's, it had it all.

 

[RS]

Agassi then Murray 2nd