I think most of the Asian guys are better/stronger off the backhand wing. Good examples are Nishikori, Nakashima, Nishioka and Kwon. Djokovic also seems to prefer the backhand to the forehand if I'm judging correctly. Gasquet is another typical one with that beautiful backhand along with that awful forehand. I think there are many more players who prefer backhand to forehand. Let's take a break off the Aussie Open and discuss this wonderful topic!
Players whose backhand is better/stronger than their forehand
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Amiba the Genius
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this is from Nov. 18 Who Has the Best Shots in Men’s Tennis? (Published 2018)
they voted
double handed backhand
Djokovic
Nishikori
Zverev
single handed backhand
Wawrinka
Gasquet
Federer
they voted
double handed backhand
Djokovic
Nishikori
Zverev
single handed backhand
Wawrinka
Gasquet
Federer
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Roger Federer has left the chat.
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Not Federer, but Kuerten yes.
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I choked on my smoothie
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Mikael Ymer
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Was just reading this post and wondering when Stnaimal would be mentioned, and then he was, he was the first who came to my mind!!
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I'd say Gasquet, Gulbis, Medvedev, Paire, and Zverev. These are probably players where you'd rather hit to their forehand than their backhand.
I'd say Murray, Niishikori, and Wawrinka are pretty balanced, but relative to the rest of the tour, three backhands stand out.
I'd say Murray, Niishikori, and Wawrinka are pretty balanced, but relative to the rest of the tour, three backhands stand out.
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Nalbandian, Sexy, Drugassi, Benneclown, could definitely argue for Davy or Safin (somebody who watched him more correct me on him). Stan used to be, but the improvements to his FH made him the man.
You could argue for both Fred in latter part of their careers (with the switch to bigger racket 2014-onwards, even before 2017 improvements Fred's BH was the more attacking weapon) and Nadal (2015-18, maybe 20, not sure, then his BH got worse again).
Definitely not Monfils or Thiem.
You could argue for both Fred in latter part of their careers (with the switch to bigger racket 2014-onwards, even before 2017 improvements Fred's BH was the more attacking weapon) and Nadal (2015-18, maybe 20, not sure, then his BH got worse again).
Definitely not Monfils or Thiem.
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It would have to be a garbage forehand to have a backhand be better than it, even player like Murray or Medvedev run around thei backhands to hit forehands.
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I think you got it covered, the the two stand-outs are Murray and djok.
And it's interesting to me these are both guys are stronger returners than servers
Big server/FH usually goes together.
Also, women are the opposite of men; most have better Bhs.
And it's interesting to me these are both guys are stronger returners than servers
Big server/FH usually goes together.
Also, women are the opposite of men; most have better Bhs.
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Paire and Gasquet came to my mind immediately
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But all those players except Gasquet would rather hit a forehand. Even Gasquet sometimes runs around to hit a forehand (though he sometimes also does the reverse). The only player who consistently runs around forehands to hit backhands is Paire. I think Musetti is the only other player who MIGHT genuinely rather hit a backhand.
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Djokovic and Wawrinka aren't even close, both have one of the most underrated FHs in tennis 
As you said, almost all players are runnig around their BH at some point because the FH is more powerful (= eaiser to finish the point) and you can also handle extremely high or low balls better but that doesn't mean that their FH is actually the better shot overall, just better in certain circumstances. Players like Paire and Gulbis are spraying FH on a regular basis, and it's not because they take so much more risk on the FH and hit siginificantly more FH winners.
Yeah that's true but about the 2nd part...
As you said, almost all players are runnig around their BH at some point because the FH is more powerful (= eaiser to finish the point) and you can also handle extremely high or low balls better but that doesn't mean that their FH is actually the better shot overall, just better in certain circumstances. Players like Paire and Gulbis are spraying FH on a regular basis, and it's not because they take so much more risk on the FH and hit siginificantly more FH winners.
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Yes, I think it's more that certain shots like you mention are a lot easier with the forehand rather the fh being always better. Murray, Djokovic, and many other very fast moving players will only run around to hit the forehand in these very specific situations, where you have someone like Berretini who is alway trying to run around and hit a forehand even though he's not the fastest guy on tour.Djokovic and Wawrinka aren't even close, both have one of the most underrated FHs in tennis
Yeah that's true but about the 2nd part...
As you said, almost all players are runnig around their BH at some point because the FH is more powerful (= eaiser to finish the point) and you can also handle extremely high or low balls better but that doesn't mean that their FH is actually the better shot overall, just better in certain circumstances. Players like Paire and Gulbis are spraying FH on a regular basis, and it's not because they take so much more risk on the FH and hit siginificantly more FH winners.
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