Picture this: a rising tennis star, armed with one of the game's most graceful shots, boldly advising young beginners to steer clear of it altogether. That's the surprising stance from World No. 9 Lorenzo Musetti, who's shaking up the tennis world with his take on the classic one-handed backhand.
At just 23 years old, the Italian sensation is making waves on the men's tour, blending artistry with serious firepower. He's climbed to a career-best ranking of No. 6 this year, thanks to a stellar breakthrough season that included his first Masters 1000 final in Monte Carlo and a thrilling semifinal run at the French Open. And get this – he's gearing up for his debut at the prestigious ATP Finals in Turin. Musetti's style clearly works wonders for him, allowing him to hang with the elite and rack up impressive wins, including two ATP titles under his belt.
But here's where it gets controversial: while old-school tennis fans – those purists who swoon over the elegance of a one-handed backhand, reminiscent of legends like Roger Federer – can't get enough of Musetti's version, he himself wouldn't wish it on a newbie. In fact, if his own son wanted to pick up a racket, Musetti says he'd push for the two-handed backhand every time. Why? Because, as he puts it, 'modern tennis is really tough.' For beginners, that means the game's blistering speed, thunderous serves, and relentless baseline rallies demand a stroke that's reliable and packed with power right from the start. A one-handed backhand can be beautiful, but it often requires years of fine-tuning to handle the high-octane demands of today's ATP and WTA circuits – think of how players like Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic dominate with their double-handed stability.
Musetti shared this insight during a press conference in Athens, emphasizing his point: 'I wouldn't recommend a one-handed backhand to a child starting out because modern tennis is really tough... When it comes to my son, I would want him to have a two-handed backhand.' And remarkably, he's the last man standing in the top 10 with that single-handed flair – a rarity in an era where the two-hander rules for its consistency and punch.
Adding to the buzz, Musetti recently went toe-to-toe with the unbeatable Novak Djokovic in the Athens final. It was a nail-biter: after dropping the first set 4-6, Musetti fought back to take the second 6-3, only for Djokovic to seal it 7-5 in a grueling three-hour epic. The 24-time Grand Slam champ was full of praise afterward, calling it 'an incredible battle... physically demanding. It could have gone either way, so huge congrats to Lorenzo for that amazing performance. I'm just proud to have pulled through.' That loss stung, especially since beating Djokovic was Musetti's ticket to snagging the final ATP Finals spot over Felix Auger-Aliassime. But in a twist of fate, Djokovic pulled out of Turin at the net, paving the way for Musetti to make his dream debut anyway.
And this is the part most people miss: while Musetti's advice might protect kids from early frustration – imagine a young player struggling against powerful groundstrokes without that extra hand for leverage – it also sparks debate about preserving tennis's artistic side. Is the one-handed backhand a dying art in pro tennis, or does it still have a place for those with the talent and patience to master it? What do you think – should aspiring juniors go for the safe two-hander, or chase the elegance of one hand despite the risks? Drop your thoughts in the comments; I'd love to hear if you're team one-handed or if Musetti's got it right for the modern game!
