For the first time in the history of the Grand Slams, which dates back 150 years, no one-handed backhand player managed to reach the semifinals of a tournament. This situation had never occurred before in more than a century and a half of professional tennis history.
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the last player remaining in the tournament with this type of backhand, being considered the only one who could still reach the semifinal stage. The Greek tennis player represented the hope that this tennis tradition would not completely disappear in this edition of the US Open.
The one-handed backhand was for decades one of the most iconic shots in tennis, used by great champions throughout history. However, the evolution of the sport and training techniques has increasingly favored the two-handed backhand, considered more stable and consistent.
This historic absence marks a moment of transition in professional tennis, raising questions about the future of this classic shot and about the direction the sport is taking in terms of the technical development of players.
