Top 5 ATP in the open era for combined best forehand and backhand

zill

zill

Legend
We all know players with really good forehands like Federer, Del Potro or really good backhands like Djokovic, Gasquet.

But name top 5 players in the open era with best combined forehand and backhand

For me Its Nadal, Djokovic, Agassi, Wawrinka and Nalbandian.

Who are yours?
 
Lendl.

His topspin BH was wicked and accurate. After 1985, he developed an excellent slice BH as well. Sometimes he would pass net rushers with his underrated slice. MP at the 1987 USO against Wilander is one such example.
 
AnOctorokForDinner said:
Fed's peak slice is quite possibly the goatest; everyone hated it, Novak would too since even old Fed declined slice has bothered him often. Nadal was the one with this uncanny ability to eat up slices that was an underrated part of the match-up.
Click to expand...

Amazing slice, I love it, but not as amazing as Rosewall's.
 
zill said:
We all know players with really good forehands like Federer, Del Potro or really good backhands like Djokovic, Gasquet.

But name top 5 players in the open era with best combined forehand and backhand

For me Its Nadal, Djokovic, Agassi, Wawrinka and Nalbandian.

Who are yours?
Click to expand...
Agassi, Federer, Nadal, Lendl, Djokovic (in no particular order), honourable mention Borg
 
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AnOctorokForDinner said:
Fed's peak slice is quite possibly the goatest; everyone hated it, Novak would too since even old Fed declined slice has bothered him often. Nadal was the one with this uncanny ability to eat up slices that was an underrated part of the match-up.
Click to expand...

Ye Fedr’s slice is possibly the GOAT shot
 
AnOctorokForDinner said:
I'm not rating wood and post-wood together, different techniques. Rosewall is evidently the classic slice GOAT, everyone marvelled at his slice and he's one of the greatest so there it is.
Click to expand...

Glad you made that clear. GoAT is "all-time" though, but still. Sampras was another with a great slice, more recently Dolgopolov (if we don't consider wooden rackets).
 
skaj said:
Glad you made that clear. GoAT is "all-time" though, but still. Sampras was another with a great slice, more recently Dolgopolov (if we don't consider wooden rackets).
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I recall Sampras making a 'slice dropshot' winner in AO 95 QF. Very rare and telling of a great skill. Pete didn't quite have Federer's all-roundness on the slice, but it was a very fine shot for sure.
 
AnOctorokForDinner said:
I recall Sampras making a 'slice dropshot' winner in AO 95 QF. Very rare and telling of a great skill. Pete didn't quite have Federer's all-roundness on the slice, but it was a very fine shot for sure.
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Yes. The GOAT slice backhands I would rank like this:

1. Rosewall
2. Laver
3. Federer
4. Edberg
5. Sampras

of the ones I've seen and can think of.
 
Agassi, Borg, Djokovic would be my top 3 probably. I'd definitely have Agassi at #1 as well.
 
KG1965 said:
HC:
Djokovic, Connors, Federer, Lendl, Agassi.

Indoor (carpet or hc):
Lendl, Federer, Connors, Djokovic, Borg.

Grass:
Federer, Borg, Djokovic, Agassi, Nadal

Clay (red and har tru):
Nadal, Borg, Djokovic, Lendl, Connors.
Click to expand...
Yes, thanks for including Lendl, he seems to have been forgotten. His forehand was unquestionably one of the greatest ever, and also when he emerged as a great player people talked about his great backhand down the line passing shot against great volleyers. Later his slice backhand (particularly his low slice return against net rushers was a great shot)
 
Djokovic, Agassi, Sinner are absolute top for me. Both forehand and backhands are super strong, reliable and natural.

For the next 2, i will include Nadal and Wawrinka. Nadal has very powerful backhand but that didnt look natural action and certainly much weaker than GOAT forehand.
Wawrinka developed a solid forehand which he used to setup points for his killer backhand to finish off. While it was very solid fh, it was not ATG level.

Borg , Lendl i havent seen much to judge. Alcaraz is very forehand heavy player. Federer had GOAT forehand and a much weaker backhand.
 
Djokovic, Agassi, Safin.

I really don't want to put Nadal in (his BH is not great let's have it right - but it's decent and his forehand is very, very good) but I think he gets in. But his baseline game is only 10/10 because of his movement. Djokovic's shotmaking ability is far superior

I'm going with JMDP. People here rave about connors or borg and will give excuses, I have no doubts that if they all had the same equipment and medicine JMDP would be crushing them in rallies.
 
Donkus_Reborn said:
Djokovic, Agassi, Safin.

I really don't want to put Nadal in (his BH is not great let's have it right - but it's decent and his forehand is very, very good) but I think he gets in. But his baseline game is only 10/10 because of his movement. Djokovic's shotmaking ability is far superior

I'm going with JMDP. People here rave about connors or borg and will give excuses, I have no doubts that if they all had the same equipment and medicine JMDP would be crushing them in rallies.
Click to expand...
Lol
 
timnz said:
Yes, thanks for including Lendl, he seems to have been forgotten. His forehand was unquestionably one of the greatest ever, and also when he emerged as a great player people talked about his great backhand down the line passing shot against great volleyers. Later his slice backhand (particularly his low slice return against net rushers was a great shot)
Click to expand...
Lendl was one of the greatest I've seen.
Its fh in the top 5, I'm sure.
The list I wrote is old and should be revised. But Lendl in indoor and hc is definitely top 5... thanks fh and bh.
 
Donkus_Reborn said:
Djokovic, Agassi, Safin.

I really don't want to put Nadal in (his BH is not great let's have it right - but it's decent and his forehand is very, very good) but I think he gets in. But his baseline game is only 10/10 because of his movement. Djokovic's shotmaking ability is far superior

I'm going with JMDP. People here rave about connors or borg and will give excuses, I have no doubts that if they all had the same equipment and medicine JMDP would be crushing them in rallies.
Click to expand...
Rafa BH was quite good, or don't you think everybody will start doing same to Rafa what Rafa was doing to them. FH to rafa bh.

People tried to exploit Rafa FH on fast HC and grass not his BH
 
KG1965 said:
HC:
Djokovic, Connors, Federer, Lendl, Agassi.

Indoor (carpet or hc):
Lendl, Federer, Connors, Djokovic, Borg.

Grass:
Federer, Borg, Djokovic, Agassi, Nadal

Clay (red and har tru):
Nadal, Borg, Djokovic, Lendl, Connors.
Click to expand...
Clay-Muster?not?
 
NAS said:
Rafa BH was quite good, or don't you think everybody will start doing same to Rafa what Rafa was doing to them. FH to rafa bh.

People tried to exploit Rafa FH on fast HC and grass not his BH
Click to expand...

His BH was decent, nothing special, but it wasn't a weakness in the slightest. People seem to think I'm saying it's a terrible shot. It's just not a top 10 backhand of all time. Some players in this list have two wings in the top 10 of all time.
 
In no particular order, I'd say: Djoker, Lendl, Agassi, Borg, Nadal, and Sinner.

I've watched some of Sinner's matches after watching other's on this list. He consistently hits very hard cross court from both wings to deep in the corners. And I'd say he does this better and more consistently than anybody that I've ever seen. Now granted, the others on the list move better(except Agassi and maybe Lendl). And some serve better. But this kid is only 23. He will only get fitter and serve better. And this is assuming that his WTF this year was a fluke(only he and Lendl went 5-0 in that tourney without dropping a set).
 
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