Tennis
Best Backhands in Tennis History: Analyzing the Greatest
The choice of technique in tennis could be the difference between trailing a path to success or mediocrity, talent and all considered though. The best players in the history of tennis have utilized the backhand as one of their preferred techniques and mastered it more than others. We take a look into the ten best backhands in tennis history. Of course, our list is subjective, but bears similarities with others in the world of tennis.
Roger Federer of Switzerland//Getty Images
Top 10 Best Backhands in Tennis
Our top 10 best backhands in history has a mixture of the various generations, past and present to some extent.
90-year-old Ken Rosewall is the oldest to feature on our list with one of the best tennis players of any generation, Roger Federer also present.
Certain metrics were applied. Briefly, we considered power, accuracy and impact among some of our criteria.
Novak Djokovic
At the top of our list is none other than Novak Djokovic, who is known for using a double-backhand technique, one said to be the best in history.
Djokovic won numerous accolades using the technique, with a precision that is unmatched till date, hence he makes it to number one.
Roger Federer
Roger Federer employed the single-handed backhand, which was crucial to his overall success, and he did so when it was on the decline.
Unlike the double-hand backhand technique, which affords a tennis player more power in their shots, the single-hand backhand is more of a finesse approach, which Federer employed well with an educated topspin.
Stan Wawrinka
Another Swiss makes it on our list in Stan Warinka, who utilizes the one-handed backhand technique and is able to generate some power and spin in doing so.
Wawrinka’s one-handed backhand is supported by his stronger right-hand and has won three Grand Slam titles, all won in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Richard Gasquet
Gasquet makes it in most top five lists of the best back-handers and it comes as no surprise that he features as such in our list.
The Frenchman, despite not having a Grand Slam to his name, is known for having an elegant one-handed backhand with a topspin like no other.
Justin Henin
The pride of Belgian tennis and famously bestowed, “The Little hand That Could”, by the late Bud Collins, Justine Henin is one of two females to make it on our list.
Henin is known to have employed a lot of power and precision despite those outcomes being quite difficult to achieve with a one-handed backhand technique.
Following her parents moving the family when she was just two years old to a house close to Rochefort Tennis Club, Henin instantly fell in love with tennis and was inspired by the backhand slices of Steffi Graf and Stefan Edberg, whom she styled her play on.
Gustavo Kuerten
The Brazilian three-time Roland Garros champion and former world no.1 during his playing days, Gustavo Kuerton, like most tennis players who made it on our list utilized the one-hand technique.
He was known to have an exceptional topspin, attacking the baseline with some aggression and had a solid serve as well.
Ken Rosewall
The oldest to make it on our list at 90-years-old, Ken Rosewall is one of the forebears subsequent generations used as a reference for the backhand technique.
He employed the slice when using the technique and dominated the amateur ranks and the Open Era during his prime.
Rosewall V Roche//Getty Images
David Nalbandian
David Nalbandian breaks the string of tennis players who used the one-handed technique in our list as he employed the double-handed technique like Novak Djokovic.
This afforded him crucial wins against Roger Federer and other top tennis players during his playing days.
Kei Nishikori
Another double-handed backhand technique user, Kei Nishikori is very effective on the return and long rallies, and is one of the most successful Japanese tennis players in history.
The furthest he made it in Grand Slam events was the US Open in 2014, but has fourteen career titles to his name.
Critical Consensus: Top 10 Best Backhands
| Rank | Player | FD Tennis Rank | Tennis.com Rank | Notable Achievements |
| 1 | Novak Djokovic | 1 | NR | Best double-handed backhand in history; unmatched consistency and precision; instrumental in his Grand Slam victories. |
| 2 | Roger Federer | NR | 1 | Most elegant single-handed backhand; crucial in his 20 Grand Slam titles; excels at cross-court angles and topspin |
| 3 | Stan Wawrinka | 3 | 3 | Known for power and spin; iconic backhand winners during his three Grand Slam victories, especially at Roland Garros |
| 4 | Richard Gasquet | 2 | 5 | Most graceful one-hander of his era; exceptional topspin and disguise |
| 5 | Justin Henin | NR | 2 | “The Little Backhand That Could”; unmatched among female players for power and versatility; dominated from the baseline with her one-hander |
| 6 | Gustavo Kuerten | NR | 6 | Three-time Roland Garros champion |
| 7 | Ken Rosewall | NR | 4 | Renowned for his backhand slice; dominated the amateur and early Open Era with his tactical approach |
| 8 | David Nalbandian | 4 | NR | Versatile double-handed backhand; key in his wins against Federer and other top players during his peak years |
| 9 | Kei Nishikori | 5 | NR | Compact and efficient two-hander; highly effective on the return and in long rallies |
| 10 | Carla Suarez Navarro | NR | 8 | Best one-hander among active female players; praised for her smooth stroke and ability to generate winners from deep court positions |
SportsBoom MetaScale: Best Backhands in Tennis
| Rank | Player | Consistency (30%) | Power (25%) | Versatility (20%) | Aesthetic Appeal (15%) | Impact (10%) | MetaScale Score |
| 1 | Novak Djokovic
| 30 | 22 | 19 | 10 | 10 | 91 |
| 2 | Roger Federer
| 27 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 9 | 89 |
| 3 | Stan Wawrinka | 26 | 24 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 86 |
| 4 | Richard Gasquet | 25 | 21 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 81 |
| 5 | Justin Henin | 28 | 19 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 82 |
| 6 | Gustavo Kuerten | 23 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 75 |
| 7 | Ken Rosewall | 22 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 72 |
| 8 | David Nalbandian | 24 | 19 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 73 |
| 9 | Kei Nishikori | 25 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 73 |
| 10 | Carla Suarez Navarro | 23 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 68 |
SportsBoom Suggests
At SportsBoom.com we recognize that the backhand technique is not one of the easiest to pull off, and as far the times dictate, more and more modern players are moving away from it, and those that still do, are a few in a dying art.
Roger Federer would make it to number one in most lists, but just misses out to one of his greatest rivals, Novak Djokovic, who in our opinion has pulled off the technique like no other player.
Of course, more females could be represented, but the two who did, simply standout, especially Justine Henin, who was immortalized by the late Bud Collins.
Conclusion
Tennis remains one of the most sophisticated sports in the world, and utilizing any technique and being successful whilst at it is worthy of acclamation.
All the players who made it on our list are deserving and have achieved greatness in their respective careers. As the years go by and many greats emerge, lists of this nature will change, but for now, this is what we present to you at SportsBoom.
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jimmy holds a Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies. He’s a passionate sports enthusiast with broad knowledge across various disciplines.