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The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Tennis-Dimitrov single-handedly flying flag at Wimbledon for old-school backhand
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 5, 2025 Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in action during his third round match against Austria's Sebastian Ofner REUTERS/Isabel Infantes LONDON (Reuters) -For tennis purists the sight of a single-handed backhand pinging off the centre of a racket is a joy to behold but it is becoming rare and Grigor Dimitrov, one of the best exponents of the shot, believes it could soon vanish. The 34-year-old former world number three describes hitting a one-handed backhand as like hitting the jackpot and the shot has helped him to career earnings of more than $30 million. He used it to great effect on Saturday as he beat Austria's Sebastian Ofner 6-3 6-4 7-6(0) in front of an appreciative Court Three crowd, reaching the last 16 of Wimbledon for the fifth time with his 100th Grand Slam match win. But with eight-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, Richard Gasquet and Dominic Thiem all retired and Stan Wawrinka in the twilight of his career, the single-handed backhand club has a shrinking membership. Of the current top 20, only Italian Lorenzo Musetti does not have a double-fisted backhand, the stroke that most juniors these days are taught to hit. It is even rarer in the women's where a double-hander now seems almost obligatory, although the slice is still played single-handed. "The backhand with one hand is the same thing over and over again. Once you hit it, it feels like jackpot," Bulgarian Dimitrov, the only man left in the singles with a one-handed backhand, told reporters. "Listen, I think over the course of the next years we will see it less and less. That's just how it is. The tennis has sped up so much. Everybody is hitting harder, stronger, off both wings. There's not enough time." Putting two hands on the racket to drive a backhand enables players to be more stable through the shot and deal with higher balls and for many it is a simpler, more repeatable action. Dimitrov, who will face top-seeded Italian Jannik Sinner next, said he would never change. "I'm always forever going to be a one-handed guy, whatever I say. I'm so biased that it's probably the worst question to ask me," he told reporters. "You can still capitalize on that. Of course, there are many strengths, especially on a grass court. "I would say being able to hit a decent slice on grass court sets you up right away with the next shot. "Everyone keeps saying it's a lost art of it. But it's not really that lost because if you manage to navigate that, let's say, wing for a one-hander, you'll be able to get a hold of it. "Do you have to work way more with your body? Yes." Swedish great Bjorn Borg was a trailblazer of the double-handed backhand as he won 11 Grand Slam titles in the 1970s and early 80s while American Jimmy Connors made it his trademark, but in those it was a rarity in men's tennis. Now it has come full circle. When Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas dropped out of the ATP's top 10 to leave it devoid of single-handed backhands, Swiss maestro Federer described it as a painful moment. "That's a dagger right there," he said in March. "I felt that one. That one was personal. I didn't like that." (Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon)
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Dimitrov single-handedly flying flag at Wimbledon for old-school backhand
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 5, 2025 Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in action during his third round match against Austria's Sebastian Ofner REUTERS/Isabel Infantes LONDON - For tennis purists the sight of a single-handed backhand pinging off the centre of a racket is a joy to behold but it is becoming rare and Grigor Dimitrov, one of the best exponents of the shot, believes it could soon vanish. The 34-year-old former world number three describes hitting a one-handed backhand as like hitting the jackpot and the shot has helped him to career earnings of more than $30 million. He used it to great effect on Saturday as he beat Austria's Sebastian Ofner 6-3 6-4 7-6(0) in front of an appreciative Court Three crowd, reaching the last 16 of Wimbledon for the fifth time with his 100th Grand Slam match win. But with eight-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, Richard Gasquet and Dominic Thiem all retired and Stan Wawrinka in the twilight of his career, the single-handed backhand club has a shrinking membership. Of the current top 20, only Italian Lorenzo Musetti does not have a double-fisted backhand, the stroke that most juniors these days are taught to hit. It is even rarer in the women's where a double-hander now seems almost obligatory, although the slice is still played single-handed. "The backhand with one hand is the same thing over and over again. Once you hit it, it feels like jackpot," Bulgarian Dimitrov, the only man left in the singles with a one-handed backhand, told reporters. "Listen, I think over the course of the next years we will see it less and less. That's just how it is. The tennis has sped up so much. Everybody is hitting harder, stronger, off both wings. There's not enough time." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Singapore Credit reports among personal data of 190,000 breached, put for sale on Dark Web; IT vendor fined Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Rock climbing fan suddenly could not jump, get up from squats Putting two hands on the racket to drive a backhand enables players to be more stable through the shot and deal with higher balls and for many it is a simpler, more repeatable action. Dimitrov, who will face top-seeded Italian Jannik Sinner next, said he would never change. "I'm always forever going to be a one-handed guy, whatever I say. I'm so biased that it's probably the worst question to ask me," he told reporters. "You can still capitalize on that. Of course, there are many strengths, especially on a grass court. "I would say being able to hit a decent slice on grass court sets you up right away with the next shot. "Everyone keeps saying it's a lost art of it. But it's not really that lost because if you manage to navigate that, let's say, wing for a one-hander, you'll be able to get a hold of it. "Do you have to work way more with your body? Yes." Swedish great Bjorn Borg was a trailblazer of the double-handed backhand as he won 11 Grand Slam titles in the 1970s and early 80s while American Jimmy Connors made it his trademark, but in those it was a rarity in men's tennis. Now it has come full circle. When Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas dropped out of the ATP's top 10 to leave it devoid of single-handed backhands, Swiss maestro Federer described it as a painful moment. "That's a dagger right there," he said in March. "I felt that one. That one was personal. I didn't like that." REUTERS
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Dimitrov single-handedly flying flag at Wimbledon for old-school backhand
LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) - For tennis purists the sight of a single-handed backhand pinging off the centre of a racket is a joy to behold but it is becoming rare and Grigor Dimitrov, one of the best exponents of the shot, believes it could soon vanish. The 34-year-old former world number three describes hitting a one-handed backhand as like hitting the jackpot and the shot has helped him to career earnings of more than $30 million. He used it to great effect on Saturday as he beat Austria's Sebastian Ofner 6-3 6-4 7-6(0) in front of an appreciative Court Three crowd, reaching the last 16 of Wimbledon for the fifth time with his 100th Grand Slam match win. But with eight-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, Richard Gasquet and Dominic Thiem all retired and Stan Wawrinka in the twilight of his career, the single-handed backhand club has a shrinking membership. Of the current top 20, only Italian Lorenzo Musetti does not have a double-fisted backhand, the stroke that most juniors these days are taught to hit. It is even rarer in the women's where a double-hander now seems almost obligatory, although the slice is still played single-handed. "The backhand with one hand is the same thing over and over again. Once you hit it, it feels like jackpot," Bulgarian Dimitrov, the only man left in the singles with a one-handed backhand, told reporters. "Listen, I think over the course of the next years we will see it less and less. That's just how it is. The tennis has sped up so much. Everybody is hitting harder, stronger, off both wings. There's not enough time." Putting two hands on the racket to drive a backhand enables players to be more stable through the shot and deal with higher balls and for many it is a simpler, more repeatable action. Dimitrov, who will face top-seeded Italian Jannik Sinner next, said he would never change. "I'm always forever going to be a one-handed guy, whatever I say. I'm so biased that it's probably the worst question to ask me," he told reporters. "You can still capitalize on that. Of course, there are many strengths, especially on a grass court. "I would say being able to hit a decent slice on grass court sets you up right away with the next shot. "Everyone keeps saying it's a lost art of it. But it's not really that lost because if you manage to navigate that, let's say, wing for a one-hander, you'll be able to get a hold of it. "Do you have to work way more with your body? Yes." Swedish great Bjorn Borg was a trailblazer of the double-handed backhand as he won 11 Grand Slam titles in the 1970s and early 80s while American Jimmy Connors made it his trademark, but in those it was a rarity in men's tennis. Now it has come full circle. When Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas dropped out of the ATP's top 10 to leave it devoid of single-handed backhands, Swiss maestro Federer described it as a painful moment. "That's a dagger right there," he said in March. "I felt that one. That one was personal. I didn't like that."
CNA
2 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Dimitrov single-handedly flying flag at Wimbledon for old-school backhand
LONDON :For tennis purists the sight of a single-handed backhand pinging off the centre of a racket is a joy to behold but it is becoming rare and Grigor Dimitrov, one of the best exponents of the shot, believes it could soon vanish. The 34-year-old former world number three describes hitting a one-handed backhand as like hitting the jackpot and the shot has helped him to career earnings of more than $30 million. He used it to great effect on Saturday as he beat Austria's Sebastian Ofner 6-3 6-4 7-6(0) in front of an appreciative Court Three crowd, reaching the last 16 of Wimbledon for the fifth time with his 100th Grand Slam match win. But with eight-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, Richard Gasquet and Dominic Thiem all retired and Stan Wawrinka in the twilight of his career, the single-handed backhand club has a shrinking membership. Of the current top 20, only Italian Lorenzo Musetti does not have a double-fisted backhand, the stroke that most juniors these days are taught to hit. It is even rarer in the women's where a double-hander now seems almost obligatory, although the slice is still played single-handed. "The backhand with one hand is the same thing over and over again. Once you hit it, it feels like jackpot," Bulgarian Dimitrov, the only man left in the singles with a one-handed backhand, told reporters. "Listen, I think over the course of the next years we will see it less and less. That's just how it is. The tennis has sped up so much. Everybody is hitting harder, stronger, off both wings. There's not enough time." Putting two hands on the racket to drive a backhand enables players to be more stable through the shot and deal with higher balls and for many it is a simpler, more repeatable action. Dimitrov, who will face top-seeded Italian Jannik Sinner next, said he would never change. "I'm always forever going to be a one-handed guy, whatever I say. I'm so biased that it's probably the worst question to ask me," he told reporters. "You can still capitalize on that. Of course, there are many strengths, especially on a grass court. "I would say being able to hit a decent slice on grass court sets you up right away with the next shot. "Everyone keeps saying it's a lost art of it. But it's not really that lost because if you manage to navigate that, let's say, wing for a one-hander, you'll be able to get a hold of it. "Do you have to work way more with your body? Yes." Swedish great Bjorn Borg was a trailblazer of the double-handed backhand as he won 11 Grand Slam titles in the 1970s and early 80s while American Jimmy Connors made it his trademark, but in those it was a rarity in men's tennis. Now it has come full circle. When Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas dropped out of the ATP's top 10 to leave it devoid of single-handed backhands, Swiss maestro Federer described it as a painful moment.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Sinner savages Martinez to reach Wimbledon last 16
World number one Jannik Sinner bulldozed into the last 16 at Wimbledon, crushing Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-1 6-3 6-1 in a ruthless Centre Court demolition job on Saturday. Martinez looked to be struggling with a shoulder problem, with the trainer twice called on court, but Sinner showed no mercy to complete his third consecutive straight-sets victory at the All England Club. The 23-year-old has dropped 17 games in his three matches at an average of less than two per set, in an ominous warning to his rivals for the title. The top seed, bidding to become Italy's first Wimbledon champion, has yet to lose his serve and will next face either Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov or Austria's Sebastian Ofner.
