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Can A One-Hander Prevail in the Men’s Semis?
53 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
We saw what happened when a women’s one-handed backhand player tried to break into the two-handed ranks when Carla Suarez Navarro lost love and love to Serena in the women’s quarters. Today we have two first-time slam semifinalists in Richard Gasquet and Stan Wawrinka taking on the two favorites in the Open, Nadal and Djokovic. I would so love to see a one-handed beat one of these two-handed menaces. I’m banking on Wawrinka overpowering Djoko with the one-hander, but also a potent serve that is raining down aces.
Gasquet’s quest to beat Nadal is a far more arduous task. The Frenchman is 0-10 against the Spaniard and he hasn’t seemed to have beaten him since they were 13 years old and playing in the most prestigious European junior tournament. Both Gasquet and Wawrinka are now coached by wunderkind coaches in Ricardo Piatti, who never piloted Ivan Ljubicic to a slam semis, and Magnus Normann, the Swede who lost in the French finals to Kuerten, respectively.
So here’s a call-out to the one-handers. Let’s make hay today and knock off the favorites with your stylish backhands.
Gasquet and Wawrinka · The One Handers
53 comments
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« Previous 1 2EddietheEagle · September 9, 2013 at 8:28 am
It is a good sign but the stroke is more prone to error and as long as court surfaces favour the double hander we are unlikely to see any reverse in the long term trend away from the traditional single handed backhand, much to the general detriment of the game that your website has already amply highlighted.
At the times those superfast wood surfaces were played many players used a continental grip on both sides.
Dan Markowitz · September 9, 2013 at 10:27 am
Just like Johnny Mac. Actually, listening to a pro teach my son recently, he said for the two-fisted backhand player, the only time you change your grip is when you hit the forehand. Otherwise, the right hand for a righty is always in the Continental grip, backhand, serve, volley.
Harold · September 9, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Do not bet, but I looked at the betting line for today’s Men’s Final
Djok +125…You bet 100 on Djok, you get back 125 if he wins
Nadal -155. You put up 155 to win 100 if Nadal wins.