In today’s tennis, where powerful, hard shots dominate, the one-handed backhand – perhaps the most beautiful stroke ever – is becoming increasingly rare. For the first time, there is not a single one-hander in the global top ten. “When I see Federer and Stan Wawrinka: wow! But I still prefer a double-handed backhand, there is no doubt about that.”
As a young boy, Sjeng Schalken spent hours hitting balls against a wall, days in a row. He often pretends to be Mats Wilander, as if he is in a Grand Slam final and then imitates the double-handed backhand of the Swedish top tennis player. Because yes, only then is the picture truly complete. But once on the tennis court, as himself, the two-handed backhand is quickly exchanged for a single-handed one.
“When I played myself, when I was serious on the court, I never hit double-handed. I always felt much freer with a one-handed backhand,” said Sjeng Schalken, the man who perhaps mastered the stroke best in Dutch tennis history. “Well, don’t forget Martin Verkerk (former finalist at Roland Garros, ed.), he also had a very nice one,” counters the Weert resident.
Symbol for classic tennis
The one-handed backhand is now scarce in the global tennis elite. The stroke that symbolizes classic tennis is in danger of collapse. For the first time in the history of the ATP world rankings, no player in the top ten uses a one-handed backhand. There are only eleven in the top hundred. The highest ranked is the Greek Stéfanos Tsitsipás in twelve place.
For women it is even harder to find one-handers ; only three in the first hundred, with the highest ranked at 47th place, the German Tatjana Maria. The heyday of the Belgian Justin Henin and Amélie Mauresmo (France) have been behind us for several years.
The tide has completely turned since the very first ATP ranking in August 1973. At the time, nine out of ten of the world’s best tennis players hit a single-handed backhand. The American Jimmy Connors was the exception at the time. Over the years, this has continued to shift, with Björn Borg as one of the best-known instigators of the change.
Graceful style
When Schalken achieved its highest ranking, eleventh in April 2003, three single-handed players were still in the top ten. In his early years on the tour, Pete Sampras (USA) dominated, later Roger Federer succeeded him with his graceful style as the biggest poster boy of the classical stroke. The Swiss predicted in 2017: double-handed will have the upper hand in the future. He was right.
“Still, I don’t think the one-handed backhand will ever completely disappear. But it is true that in today’s tennis there is less and less room for beautiful, long strokes, such as an authentic backhand. It is increasingly pushed instead of hit with a nice curl. The speed of the ball is taken over,” says Schalken, winner of nine ATP titles.
Contemporary tennis is largely based on strength. The blows are getting harder, balls taken faster. “One-handed you now lack strength and control. Especially on clay, with high, heavy topspin balls that reach shoulder height. In terms of appearance, I would like a single-hander – when I see Federer and Stan Wawrinka: wow! – but in terms of functionality I prefer a double-handed backhand, there is no doubt about that,” says former tennis player Ramon Lacroix.
Easier to learn
He belonged to the Dutch top in the 1990s, later played football for MVV and now has a tennis school in Beek. “Sometimes there are children who want to try a single-handed one. Not often. I let them do their thing. They will find out for themselves whether it suits them. But the vast majority hit double-handed. That is also much easier to learn.”
A good one-handed backhand is difficult to execute, Schalken admits. In particular, it requires faster footwork. “You should (for right-handed players, ed.) step in with the right opposite, over your left leg, with the tip of the shoe pointing to the side. You can see the back of someone with a good backhand. You carry the racket backwards with the left side – not too much with the right side, because then you will suffer from shoulder problems – and you have to let go at the right time.”
And then comes the best part: the wave. “You get the most strength from your back. You hit the ball further from the body than with a double-handed backhand and slightly in front of you, which gives you top speed. The swing is a lot bigger, with the body opening up. And important: less is more . The racket head must remain as still as possible, like a wall.”
A one-handed backhand works best on grass. On clay, with heavy topspin balls, least. Of the four Grand Slams in a year, one triumphed most often one hander at Wimbledon. The grass tournament – officially ‘The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Championship of the World’ – is the epitome of tradition and classic tennis.
More variety
Schalken was in the quarter-finals in London three times. “A one-handed backhand is nicer. It gives someone their own style. Players can add more variation to their game and often have a better slice and volley. The reach is also bigger and it is often more difficult to play against them, because they can more easily camouflage what they plan to do. They can hit straight out of nowhere.”
He is convinced that the one-handed backhand will come back on its own, although he will never gain the upper hand again. “They are often wave movements. It’s a trend now, double-handed.”
An example, à la Roger Federer, is often needed to bring about a revival. In that respect, the enthusiast is currently not fortunate with Tsitsipás as the highest ranked, Schalken believes. “He is just not an advertisement for a one-handed backhand. He has a great forehand, but the backhand is his Achilles heel. That depends on his technique, which he can still sharpen up a bit.”