What makes an athlete do things a certain way is still a mystery. 2023 Australian Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas was recently reminded of his iconic backhand after his phenomenal win at the Paris Masters. Tsitsipas beat Russia’s Karen Khachanov in straight sets of 6-3 6-4 to qualify for the semifinals. Post his win, the media swarmed the Greek star, asking multiple questions which brought out his admiration for legends like Roger Federer and Pete Sampras.

However, his response to one question in particular became the highlight as he addressed his next match with Grigor Dimitrov. Tsitsipas spoke in great detail about his aesthetically pleasing single-handed backhand and how he achieved this phenomenal feat.

Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals the origin of his classic shot

In the interview, the discussion turned to the elegance of the one-handed backhand. This set the stage for a fascinating revelation by Tsitsipas. The interviewer, contemplating tomorrow’s matchup featuring Tsitsipas and Dimitrov, couldn’t help but wonder about the origin of Stefanos’ single-handed backhand. They probed whether his choice was influenced by character, aesthetics, passion, or an embrace of the classic. And also why not choose the more pragmatic two-handed backhand?

Tsitsipas responded with a glimpse into his tennis journey, offering insight into the reasoning behind his one-handed backhand choice. He mentioned: “To me, one-handed backhand always felt like the classic shot. I saw it on TV. I thought, that’s the classic shot.”

The Greek star drew inspiration from iconic players like Sampras, stating: “That’s how tennis was firstly played, and that’s the classic shot that Sampras, one of my favorite players, played that shot.” He also acknowledged Roger Federer‘s influence, recalling: “I remember him later when I was about six years old.” His decision to stick with the one-handed backhand was cemented at a young age. In his words: “The next day I switched to a single-handed backhand once and for all.”

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Stefanos also humorously reflected on the moment when he contemplated switching to a double-handed backhand. He playfully challenged the imagination, leaving us to wonder.

The playful side of Tsitsipas

In addition to the insights into his playing style, Tsitsipas’ sense of humor shone through as well. He playfully contemplated an alternate reality where he might have adopted a double-handed backhand. His statement, “I don’t think a double-handed backhand would look too good on me,” was a lighthearted reminder of the uniqueness that defines his game.

The interview with Stefanos Tsitsipas not only uncovered the roots of his classic one-handed backhand, but also shed light on the enduring beauty and influence of this shot in the modern era of tennis. Do you think more players will choose to master the iconic shot inspired by the Greek star or will the shot slowly fade away from modern tennis?

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