Dominic Thiem is one of the few players that are still using a one-handed backhand that is a shot that is very helpful for him especially when he plays on clay.
The Austrian is one of the top favorites to win the French Open. However, he didn’t have a perfect start in Paris where he reached the second round after conceding a set to the world no.131 Tommy Paul before winning 6-4 4-6 7-6 (5) 6-2.
About the future of the one-handed backhand. THIEM
Soon after his successful 1st round match, Thiem was asked about the future of the one-handed backhand by a journalist that was convinced that there is no future to this shot, but Dominic answered
“I think in Austria is only my brother with the one-handed backhand. I think he’s the only guy. All the others are two-handed.
It’s a tough shot. Some things are tougher, but if you have a good one you also have a lot of advantages. Like most of the players with the one-handed backhand, they have a good slice.
Of course you have a better reach. If you have a good one like you see with Stefanos [Tsitsipas] or with Denis Shapovalov, they are two amazing young players, which are, I don’t know, 19, 20, who have probably 15 years in front of them with a really good one-handed backhand. Stefanos is on the very top already, top 10. Shapovalov will be there probably, as well.
So I disagree. It’s not going to be extinct.”
How can you disagree with that?
| THIEM AND TSITSIPAS |
| Embed from Getty Images |
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