Build-a-Player: The makeup for the best current ATP player

2 of 4

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 02: Dominic Thiem of Austria plays a backhand in his men’s singles final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia on day fourteen of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images) /

Category 2: Backhand

1. Dominic Thiem

The everlasting one-handed versus two-handed backhand debate stretches across everything in men’s tennis. It was the key to Dominic Thiem’s US Open victory over Alexander Zverev and was a shining example of why he has the most lethal backhands on the ATP Tour.

It as incredibly close to call between Thiem and Novak Djokovic’s two-hander but the edge goes to Thiem due to his ability to generate both power and spin while still being able to place the ball where he wants. This is especially noticeable on his down-the-line backhand It’s the best shot he has in his arsenal and for good reason. Thiem’s ability to take a long crosscourt rally and abruptly end the point with crushing shot down-the-line is nothing more than a textbook play in his book.

While the one-handed backhand does have some disadvantages on the return of serve (due to the inability to return with a shortened swing as you would with a two-hander), Thiem’s power puts him right back in the mix.

2. Novak Djokovic

Efficiency is one of the main keys to success in tennis, especially when the given player doesn’t possess a huge amount of power. Novak Djokovic is a prime example of this. His backhand meshes perfectly with the rest of his game, exactly the way Nadal’s forehand does with the rest of his respective style of play.

Djokovic’s grinder style and extreme athleticism are what give his backhand the edge over almost all of his competitors. It’s ultra-effective and only gets better while he’s on the run. On defense, he shortens his backswing and drives his shoulders through for an abbreviated swing that allows him to quickly regain stability and get back into the point for the next shot.

While Stan Wawrinka’s backhand may be more of an offensive threat, Djokovic is much more of a threat to the return of serve and on defense.

3. Richard Gasquet

Richard Gasquet gets lost in the fold in terms of best backhands on tour mostly due to the fact that he isn’t one of the world’s best players and his shot isn’t overly flashy by any means. Make no mistake about it, though, the veteran’s backhand is extremely solid. He’s one of the most consistent players on that side and can still generate a good amount of power alongside his accuracy.

Gasquet has the most visually-stunning backhand in men’s tennis. Although it’s not the most dangerous weapon on tour, it’s a guarantee that his opponents would much rather just stick to his forehand.

Home/ATP