Professional tennis player Grigor Dimitrov, a longstanding member of the top 10 in his career like Stefanos Tsitsipas, shared his perspective on the one-handed backhand, echoing Tsitsipas’ sentiments on its complexity and beauty.
Dimitrov emphasized the difficulty of the one-handed backhand, highlighting its multifaceted nature, stating, “Listen, it’s one of the toughest shots in tennis, however you look at it. I think the beauty of the one hand is just there’s so much to it in order to hit the ball right with one hand. It starts with the timing, looking at the ball, you know, the swing, the height. Oh, there’s a ton.”
Despite the challenges, Dimitrov expressed his commitment to preserving the one-handed backhand, rallying support for fellow players who utilize this technique, affirming, “For now we’re holding the fort, let’s just put it that way. For sure I’m counting on every guy that’s still out there with one hand to keep on pushing and playing for that. Of course I will probably be the biggest supporter of that shot.”
Acknowledging the evolving nature of the sport, Dimitrov recognized the shift towards two-handed backhands in younger generations but expressed his desire to see more players embrace the one-handed style, remarking, “Now, when it comes to a different generation, yeah, we’re going to see less and less. The game has changed so much, it has evolved, of course, and I think from generation to generation the players traditionally have changed a lot.”
Dimitrov’s passion for the one-handed backhand stems from its elegance and pure beauty, as he explained, “I would love to see more people with one hand. Just how it is for me. To be able to hit a slice, backhand with one hand, I mean, it’s just a pure beauty. I think every time you try to hit that shot and you make it, the feeling is, I mean, simply stunning for me.”
As the tennis landscape continues to evolve, Dimitrov’s advocacy for the one-handed backhand serves as a reminder of the diversity and artistry within the sport, preserving a cherished technique amidst changing trends and preferences.
Dimitrov in Indian Wells, ranking, and results in 2024
At the moment ranked no.13, Dimitrov has a 15-3 record in 2024. Dimitrov is currently competing in Indian Wells where he ousted the world no.88 Alexandre Muller 7-5 6-2 and the world no.21 Adrian Mannarino 6-3 6-3.
Grigor Dimitrov will face the world no.4 Daniil Medvedev in the 4th round. Their current head to head is 7-3 for Medvedev.
The Bulgarian conquered 1 title in 2024 in Brisbane. The Bulgarian was the finalist in Marseille (Open 13 Provence).
Dimitrov won 9 titles in his career: 4 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 3 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Dimitrov is scheduled to compete next in Miami (Miami Open). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 18th of March.
Grigor Dimitrov |
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