Tommy Haas, the tournament director of Indian Wells, expresses his excitement for the upcoming tournament, featuring the return of top stars like Novak Jokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Naomi Osaka, as well as newcomers. Haas highlights the presence of Angelique Kerber and Carlos Alcaraz, and discusses the fast and gritty courts of Indian Wells, which can lead to long rallies. Haas also shares his belief in the importance of finding a quality ball for the tournament, despite some players’ complaints about the ball and court conditions.
Haas then discusses the absence of one-handed backhands in the top 10 men’s tennis rankings, expressing sadness over this trend and recalling the history of one-handed backhands in tennis. He encourages young players to learn this style and shares his preference for the two-handed backhand, while acknowledging the advantages of both styles. The conversation also includes a comparison of one-handed and two-handed backhands and Haas’ thoughts on how players like Sascha Zverev and Dominic Thiem can improve their one-handed backhands.