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A new page of tennis history. For better or worse, it depends on your point of view. But a historic change occurred a month ago, which testifies to how tennis is evolving in a very specific direction.
Since the ATP rankings were showed up for the first time, there has been no player with a one-handed backhand in the Top-10. Today, just like a few weeks ago, no tennis player with this shot is among the top 10 players on the planet.
A shot on which the history of tennis has been built since its inception. The one-handed backhand has been supplanted (permanently it seems) by the two-handed backhand.
Two-handed backhand born in the 1930s, but rarely used among both amateurs and professionals. At least until the 70s. The real revolution then came with Bjorn Borg, who founded his career and his successes precisely on his peculiar two-handed backhand. From there the first studies on how to best perform this shot were born.
Athenian Artistry 🎨
Stefanos Tsitsipas with the @BMWUSA Play Of The Day 🎾 pic.twitter.com/JvUlSqQPFz
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 11, 2024
Not just Borg in fact. His rival Jimmy Connors also habitually used a two-handed backhand, and Connors himself will be the first ATP No.1 with a…
