Tsitsipas Opens Up About Decision To Use One-Handed Backhand After US Open Opener

| by Evita Mueller

Stefanos Tsitsipas navigated a matchup with Milos Raonic about as well as you can hope at the 2023 US Open, winning in straight sets.

Facing a carefree Raonic at the US Open would have been challenging for anybody, especially Tsitsipas, who can struggle with great servers. He did his best in this one and successfully returned Raonic's powerful serve in the straight-sets victory.

Following the match, Tsitsipas expressed satisfaction with the way he handled the match noting that his backhand did a good amount of work in this one, particularly when it comes to changing directions which was crucial.

I found ways to return as many balls as I could today, get started with rallies. I was really feeling my backhand change of direction really well. I was just able to navigate the ball from left to right with ease, which helped a lot.

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The reporters at the press conference got curious about his one-handed backhand, which is a rarity in modern tennis. Most players play a two-handed backhand. Tsitsipas committed to it at the age of 8, sharing the story of how it happened.

I switched and I committed to a single-handed backhand at the age of eight. I remember the phase that I was in between deciding which one am I going to follow. I remember showing up at practice on Monday, playing the entire practice with a double-handed backhand. Then next day on Tuesday, I just decided, You know what, I want to play single-handed backhand. That kept going for weeks and weeks.

I remember my second coach at the time, I remember that moment very well, he kind of made fun of me. He said, Stef, are you ever going to decide what you follow? Kind of joked that day. I took it seriously, so I said, Single-handed backhand it is. I'm just committing to that. I'm going all the way, not looking back. It stuck since then. It's my signature shot today. It kind of defines me.

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