Tsitsipas Laments Decline of One-Handed Backhand After US

Stefanos Tsitsipas believes the one-handed backhand is fading into obscurity, a shift he says has stripped tennis of its stylistic variety. The Greek star reflected on the shot's decline after his US Open run ended with a fourth-round defeat to Ben Shelton.

Tsitsipas lost to the American 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. His exit meant no player with a one-handed backhand remained in the tournament draw. In his post-match press conference, Tsitsipas called the shot's dwindling presence a factual observation, not only a feeling.

A Statistical Decline

Tsitsipas cited a dramatic historical shift. He claimed that in the 1950s, around 97% or 98% of players used a one-handed backhand. Today, he estimates that figure has plummeted to just 2% or 3%. The former Australian Open champion described the one-hander as a traditional, classic shot whose potential disappearance is a shame.

"It's not me having feelings. I think it's a fact. I'm stating the obvious," Tsitsipas said. "If you compare to the 1950s or 1960s, you see a massive decline."

He was pragmatic about the consequences. Tsitsipas questioned if anything could be done to preserve the shot but stated its loss would not be catastrophic for the sport. "Is it the end of the world if no one plays a one-handed backhand? No. Tennis still goes on the way it is," he concluded.

Loss of Variety and Personalities

For Tsitsipas, the fading one-handed backhand symbolizes a broader issue. He argues that modern tennis has narrowed to a single predominant style, reducing the distinct personalities that once defined the game. He pointed to the disappearance of serve-and-volley specialists, unique counter-punchers, and defenders.

"I feel like tennis used to be played with so many different variations of style, and that variation of style has narrowed to one particular style these days where everyone is kind of playing the same," Tsitsipas acknowledged. He noted that slower court speeds have contributed to this homogenization, with most players now revolving around a similar baseline-centric game.

Praise for Shelton's Game

Tsitsipas's reflections followed his loss to the left-handed Ben Shelton, who advances to face Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. The Greek player praised Shelton's unpredictable and spin-heavy game, which he found difficult to handle.

"Well, he has a lot of spins and slices. He's difficult to predict. That was something that was very difficult to deal with today," Tsitsipas said. He credited Shelton's smart use of his left-handed serve and noted the American's clear improvement since their last meeting.

Despite the defeat, Tsitsipas had a positive tournament. He recorded wins over Arthur Fils, Lloyd Harris, and Jiri Lehecka to reach the last 16. He aims to take momentum from this run to finish the season strongly and build for 2027. His immediate focus, however, remains on the stylistic evolution he observes, where the distinctive one-handed backhand has become a rarity.