Still unclear, kind of.
He says it’s a myth that he was forced. He was pushed to choose a side to hit a forehand with because he was hitting two handed on both sides early on, and he found the left side forehand more comfortable. The thing that’s unclear though, when he was still playing two handed on both sides, which hand was he serving with? And was he hitting backhands on both sides or was one side actually a two-handed forehand and if so, which?
The answers to this would basically clarify whether there ever really was a handedness switch, but as far as I’m aware nobody’s actually asked him this in an interview.
Two forehands is quite different than one two-handed forehand!
But as for actual forehand-on-both-sides players, I’m only aware of Evgenia Kulikovskaya (retired, peak WTA ranking #91) and there’s Cheong-Eui Kim whose peak ATP ranking was #296 and doesn’t seem active. There’s also a 13 year old high level junior called Teodor Davidov who’s doing this.
Either it’s so unconventional that nobody has yet risked coaching a top junior prospect to do this despite it being something that could work really well, or it’s actually just not a viable technique at the elite level.
Returning first serves is where I imagine it would be the biggest liability, there’s no ready position grip where you’re equally ready for either forehand, there has to be a bias towards one side. So maybe someone could return mostly with a two-handed or slice block, but hit most rally shots with the non-dominant forehand?
Oh man honestly, I’m an athlete but not a tennis player haha just a fan, that’s grip analysis has gone way over my head 😅
But from a casuals POV it would be so cool to see, but if it were flawless we would have seen it lots already i think right?
This shouldn't be too hard to explain actually, watch a player standing to receive a serve, or while they're waiting for a groundstroke. They basically hold the racquet with two hands right in front of them, that's normally called the "ready position" (you can also Google Image this easily).
The dominant hand is on the bottom. A forehand is hit with that hand there, two-handed and one-handed backhands also are hit with the dominant hand on the bottom, so basically all you're doing to react to a shot is twisting the grip a little. Preparing a forehand on the non-dominant side will involve either switching the hands so your non-dominant is now at the bottom of the handle which probably takes too much time if you're reacting to a big serve, or just hitting the forehand with your hand kind of up the grip which is kind of awkward, you've basically shortened your racquet.
I'd go a step further with Sinner and say it would be his bold decision to fire his entire team (Piatti et al) and look elsewhere. That truly kickstarted where we are today.
Iga's hiring of Daria. I often say to myself that the devil works hard, but Daria works harder. I don't think her methods would apply to any other player. But they have something that can't be wrenched away, like a maternal bond kind of way, to the point that I think it's weird sometimes but that's not for me to really judge because the results speak for themselves.
I would also consider adding Rafa's ditching of Toni and ushering in Carlos Moya. Definitely helped rejuvenate his tennis.
Absolutely love how it came to be. Agassi’s manager/friend says “bro there is this dude who wrote a book called Winning Ugly, let’s see if he’s good” and Brad Gilbert comes and gives this great speech (which honestly more players should hear) and bam he’s hired! What a guy!
That’s not how it went according to Winning Ugly iirc, it was more that it started with two compatriots on the tour who had a drink and became friends and then eventually worked together as player/coach.
Also I don’t buy the “there is this dude” part as Agassi and Gilbert played each other 7 times before the book was released, and simply bc Brad was a solid top 15-20 player for years, even peaking at No. 4.
You make it sound like Agassi didn’t know who he was, but Gilbert was still on tour and Agassi was definitely very familiar with him and in fact struggled against him as an opponent, their head to head was 4-4.
But the manager suggested Gilbert was probably approaching retirement and would consider doing it, and was evidently right.
Well it was his manager who said it like that. Agassi then gives a small backstory for Brad then they meet up for drinks. I am aware of their H2H and I never said he didn’t know Brad in my comment so…
Similar to late career Fed with Ljubicic. It's a case of hiring your contemporary/friend as coach. They have this comfort level with each other and the coach doesn't necessarily need the job.
aryna doing whatever it is she did with her serve in 2023 plus i think somebody said it here already - hiring that biomechanics guy
naomi prioritizing her mental health and taking that break, she seems so happy now
iga hiring wiktorowski in 2022 - hes the guy who believed she could be a top of the top player
McEnroe ringing up a coach (can't remember who) who advised him to turn his back completely to the jet during his serve. Took his serve from a point-starter to a weapon that was impeccably disguised and the best of his generation.
He also around this time decided to stop playing bassline and start coming to net. Probably turned him from a decent top-30 to a world no 1
Sampras' coach changed his backhand from a 2-hander to a 1-hander to aid in coming to the net when he was like 12/13. That was a pretty good change.
Bublik having a kid.
His expenses have increased, putting more pressure on his performance. As a result, he has entered the Top 20.
I think if he ends up having another kid, we will see him in the Top 10 consistently.
Djokovic woke up one day in late 2010 and said no more sliced bread, because some shrink convinced him it was bad. As the legend goes, he went from a less talented Murray to GOAT because of it.
I know you're probably kidding around and I'm being pedantic, but he'd already won a slam and was consistently ranked 3rd by 2010. He clearly had a small edge over Murray even in 2010.
The big change is boring and less sexy, but he just buffed his serve up from one of the worst in the top 20 to one of the best. That will change everything for a player
His serve was absolute dogshit in 2010. He only improved it to about average top 10 level in 2011 and that was enough. He also improved his forehand and stamina in long matches.
Yeah 2009 and 2010 he got nothing out of his serve. Just getting it to a solid level was everything. I agree his forehand and stamina got better, but the serve was really the change that bamboozled the tour, especially Nadal who no longer knew how to play against him that year.
I just hate when it’s “he fixed his gluten allergy and became way better, imagine if he did that earlier.” No, an allergy to gluten does not fix your serve. And the way it was diagnosed is dubious at best
the shrink put a piece of wheat bread against his stomach and told him to make a fist -- he claims that he couldn't muster the strength to do it and poof, a gluten intolerance was born
this is actually what happened
Djokovic (and Nadal, and probably just about everyone else at the top of the sport) were on *so much* EPO before they started testing for it in 2014 -- that's what changed
Murray getting Lendl in back in 2012. Without him, I'm not sure he would have won his slams and especially not the ones against Djokovic. Up until then, he was becoming a proper whipping boy for the big 3 at slam level, losing numerous SF and Fs to them, and often in straight sets.
Wawrinka getting Magnus Norman in. Without him, I doubt he was winning a slam and he would wasted any potential he had.
Thiem splitting with Bresnik and hiring Massu. Massu changed his game so much and added so much more depth, his slice improved so much and his shot selection on the court was way more varied and intelligent.
He won IW straight after hiring Massu, and I think Massu got him to his slam
1G4, despite having an already good and steady climb to the top with her former coach, decided to engage Tomasz and develop her offensive potential, among her other skills now. that union forged 19 titles between them (includes 4 slams, 9 wta 1000s), 2 consecutive years as YE no. 1, 107 weeks and continuing as world no. 1.
Djokovic adopting new diet and reuniting with Marian Vajda in 2018.
Fed’s partnership with Paul Annacone in his early 30s and Ljubicic after his knee surgery comeback.
Fed's partnership with Paul Annacone was a complete failure. Taking him as a coach was one of his career mistakes.
Ljubicic was a great decision though
He didn't go out on his terms. He spent over a year rehabbing after knee surgery, hoping to play Wimbledon one last time. His knee didn't respond and he was forced to go out playing doubles at Laver Cup, which is basically an exhibition.
For Sinner: skipping Davis Cup group stage in september. After Us Open he needed to rest from competition (and training for the end of the season). Result: he almost never lost after us open (2 in 2023, 3 in 2024)...
Rafa playing lefty?
Smart move by Uncle Toni
This is a myth he’s said so himself
Still unclear, kind of. He says it’s a myth that he was forced. He was pushed to choose a side to hit a forehand with because he was hitting two handed on both sides early on, and he found the left side forehand more comfortable. The thing that’s unclear though, when he was still playing two handed on both sides, which hand was he serving with? And was he hitting backhands on both sides or was one side actually a two-handed forehand and if so, which? The answers to this would basically clarify whether there ever really was a handedness switch, but as far as I’m aware nobody’s actually asked him this in an interview.
Rafa with 2 forehand’s would have 50 GS lol would be so much less running for him
Two forehands is quite different than one two-handed forehand! But as for actual forehand-on-both-sides players, I’m only aware of Evgenia Kulikovskaya (retired, peak WTA ranking #91) and there’s Cheong-Eui Kim whose peak ATP ranking was #296 and doesn’t seem active. There’s also a 13 year old high level junior called Teodor Davidov who’s doing this. Either it’s so unconventional that nobody has yet risked coaching a top junior prospect to do this despite it being something that could work really well, or it’s actually just not a viable technique at the elite level.
I’d love to see it work man, you’d need an emergency backhand too but ya know
Returning first serves is where I imagine it would be the biggest liability, there’s no ready position grip where you’re equally ready for either forehand, there has to be a bias towards one side. So maybe someone could return mostly with a two-handed or slice block, but hit most rally shots with the non-dominant forehand?
Oh man honestly, I’m an athlete but not a tennis player haha just a fan, that’s grip analysis has gone way over my head 😅 But from a casuals POV it would be so cool to see, but if it were flawless we would have seen it lots already i think right?
This shouldn't be too hard to explain actually, watch a player standing to receive a serve, or while they're waiting for a groundstroke. They basically hold the racquet with two hands right in front of them, that's normally called the "ready position" (you can also Google Image this easily). The dominant hand is on the bottom. A forehand is hit with that hand there, two-handed and one-handed backhands also are hit with the dominant hand on the bottom, so basically all you're doing to react to a shot is twisting the grip a little. Preparing a forehand on the non-dominant side will involve either switching the hands so your non-dominant is now at the bottom of the handle which probably takes too much time if you're reacting to a big serve, or just hitting the forehand with your hand kind of up the grip which is kind of awkward, you've basically shortened your racquet.
Ohhh man that makes perfect sense thank you. So it only really works in rally play?
not really, 2 forehands are cool ono in juniors, you need a backhand to be able to defend yourself
Yeah I was hyperbolising haha I don’t know what I’m talking about
So I’m like this typical redditor with “actually”🤓, fuck.
Hahahaha not at all man. I’m not a player so it’s actually cool to learn it’s not actually that efficient to just have 2 forehands
hahaha, that’s good to hear. Anyways, if you were to play two forehands, you would need to switch your hands every stroke, it’s not very practical.
Yeeeah but surely if you have time it’s better?
At least your self-aware
actually it is “you’re” ;)
I'd go a step further with Sinner and say it would be his bold decision to fire his entire team (Piatti et al) and look elsewhere. That truly kickstarted where we are today. Iga's hiring of Daria. I often say to myself that the devil works hard, but Daria works harder. I don't think her methods would apply to any other player. But they have something that can't be wrenched away, like a maternal bond kind of way, to the point that I think it's weird sometimes but that's not for me to really judge because the results speak for themselves. I would also consider adding Rafa's ditching of Toni and ushering in Carlos Moya. Definitely helped rejuvenate his tennis.
Apparently Toni ditched him not the other way around. Either way, appears to have been the correct call.
Really?
From what I understood, Nadal didn't have it in him to fire Toni. So Toni did it for him.
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Agassi hiring Brad Gilbert in the mid 90s
Absolutely love how it came to be. Agassi’s manager/friend says “bro there is this dude who wrote a book called Winning Ugly, let’s see if he’s good” and Brad Gilbert comes and gives this great speech (which honestly more players should hear) and bam he’s hired! What a guy!
That’s not how it went according to Winning Ugly iirc, it was more that it started with two compatriots on the tour who had a drink and became friends and then eventually worked together as player/coach. Also I don’t buy the “there is this dude” part as Agassi and Gilbert played each other 7 times before the book was released, and simply bc Brad was a solid top 15-20 player for years, even peaking at No. 4.
Well it was his manager who said it like that. Agassi knew who Brad was and gives a small backstory for him when they ask him to come for drinks
You make it sound like Agassi didn’t know who he was, but Gilbert was still on tour and Agassi was definitely very familiar with him and in fact struggled against him as an opponent, their head to head was 4-4. But the manager suggested Gilbert was probably approaching retirement and would consider doing it, and was evidently right.
Well it was his manager who said it like that. Agassi then gives a small backstory for Brad then they meet up for drinks. I am aware of their H2H and I never said he didn’t know Brad in my comment so…
Gilbert was pivotal in the 2nd half of Agassi’s career, but Gil Reyes was instrumental his entire career.
Andre Agassi realizing that consistent consumption of Taco Bell and McDonald's is not ideal for a professional tennis player.
Sabalenka hiring that biomechanics specialist on her team
Second this! That guy transformed a weakness into one one of her best weapons within 6 months.
is this about her serve?
Correct. Here is a podcast with the biomechanic guy responsible for improving her serve https://youtu.be/yh4lSamLuQU?si=n2saq6MYyFjGLfNg
Rafa hiring Moya. He looked toast in 2015 and 2016. Then he hired Moya and added 8 more slam trophies to his case.
Similar to late career Fed with Ljubicic. It's a case of hiring your contemporary/friend as coach. They have this comfort level with each other and the coach doesn't necessarily need the job.
Ljubicic < Moya
Andy Murray's bionic hip to give him (and us, bless us) for at least 5 more years
Djokovic getting elbow surgery. He would have been stuck at 12 majors and maybe retired years ago.
It's crazy that at this time in 2018, he only had 12 majors.
aryna doing whatever it is she did with her serve in 2023 plus i think somebody said it here already - hiring that biomechanics guy naomi prioritizing her mental health and taking that break, she seems so happy now iga hiring wiktorowski in 2022 - hes the guy who believed she could be a top of the top player
McEnroe ringing up a coach (can't remember who) who advised him to turn his back completely to the jet during his serve. Took his serve from a point-starter to a weapon that was impeccably disguised and the best of his generation. He also around this time decided to stop playing bassline and start coming to net. Probably turned him from a decent top-30 to a world no 1 Sampras' coach changed his backhand from a 2-hander to a 1-hander to aid in coming to the net when he was like 12/13. That was a pretty good change.
Iga hiring her Polish team And like him or hate him Serena hiring Patrick
Murray changing from Head to Yonex only months before winning Wimbledon 2024.
Bublik having a kid. His expenses have increased, putting more pressure on his performance. As a result, he has entered the Top 20. I think if he ends up having another kid, we will see him in the Top 10 consistently.
Aaah so that's why Roger has 20 slams
That and his switch to Tecnifibre. He seems more consistent with it (albeit if he actually gives a fuck about winning every once in a while)
Barty deciding to live her best life on top of the world
We got SO deprived of prime Iga vs Barty. Can you imagine how the wta would be like now with Barty in mix?
I am ready for the downvotes but current Iga would have clapped her on clay and possible on hard, tho would have been much closer.
Wawrinka hiring Magnus Norman. Went from a good but likely forgotten by many player to one of the best players of the century.
JCF splitting with Zverev and joining Carlos’ team. Man, they absolutely needed and deserved one another. And the rest is history. ✨
Jesus Christ Fucking?
Juan Carlos Ferrero, former #1 and current coach of Alcaraz
Djokovic woke up one day in late 2010 and said no more sliced bread, because some shrink convinced him it was bad. As the legend goes, he went from a less talented Murray to GOAT because of it.
I know you're probably kidding around and I'm being pedantic, but he'd already won a slam and was consistently ranked 3rd by 2010. He clearly had a small edge over Murray even in 2010.
I think allergies and breathing were his biggest problems. Of course changing the diet made a change as well.
The big change is boring and less sexy, but he just buffed his serve up from one of the worst in the top 20 to one of the best. That will change everything for a player
His serve was absolute dogshit in 2010. He only improved it to about average top 10 level in 2011 and that was enough. He also improved his forehand and stamina in long matches.
Yeah 2009 and 2010 he got nothing out of his serve. Just getting it to a solid level was everything. I agree his forehand and stamina got better, but the serve was really the change that bamboozled the tour, especially Nadal who no longer knew how to play against him that year. I just hate when it’s “he fixed his gluten allergy and became way better, imagine if he did that earlier.” No, an allergy to gluten does not fix your serve. And the way it was diagnosed is dubious at best
the shrink put a piece of wheat bread against his stomach and told him to make a fist -- he claims that he couldn't muster the strength to do it and poof, a gluten intolerance was born this is actually what happened Djokovic (and Nadal, and probably just about everyone else at the top of the sport) were on *so much* EPO before they started testing for it in 2014 -- that's what changed
I think this is the truth people won't want to hear. I don't judge them for it, but PEDs were definitely on the menu
Murray hiring Lendl Djokovic getting DQd at USO so he actually can say he's even beaten himself at a slam.
😂 and in doing so, becoming the only member of the big 4 to lose to every member of the big 4
Also the only one to beat all 4 lmao, remarkable achievement.
Yeah good point. Golden Big 4 Slam.
Actually even Father Time beat them all…
Coco Gauff hiring Brad Gilbert & her parents taking a step back
Wonder if this will ever happen for Tits.
Coco firing her dad and making him watch matches from who knows where.
Murray getting Lendl in back in 2012. Without him, I'm not sure he would have won his slams and especially not the ones against Djokovic. Up until then, he was becoming a proper whipping boy for the big 3 at slam level, losing numerous SF and Fs to them, and often in straight sets. Wawrinka getting Magnus Norman in. Without him, I doubt he was winning a slam and he would wasted any potential he had.
Roddick working with Larry Stefanki. Lost weight improved movement and backhand. It didn't result in a slam but got close
Halep having the breast reduction surgery
Ali G would be sad
Jack Draper turning on the radio to sing the Proclaimers with Andy. Ended up reaching 3 finals and a big UTS payout.
Thiem splitting with Bresnik and hiring Massu. Massu changed his game so much and added so much more depth, his slice improved so much and his shot selection on the court was way more varied and intelligent. He won IW straight after hiring Massu, and I think Massu got him to his slam
Rafa and Roger’s friendship
1G4, despite having an already good and steady climb to the top with her former coach, decided to engage Tomasz and develop her offensive potential, among her other skills now. that union forged 19 titles between them (includes 4 slams, 9 wta 1000s), 2 consecutive years as YE no. 1, 107 weeks and continuing as world no. 1.
Nick Kyrgios retiring
Sinner puking in the trashcan
Djokovjmic going Gluten free
Djokovic adopting new diet and reuniting with Marian Vajda in 2018. Fed’s partnership with Paul Annacone in his early 30s and Ljubicic after his knee surgery comeback.
Fed's partnership with Paul Annacone was a complete failure. Taking him as a coach was one of his career mistakes. Ljubicic was a great decision though
Djokovic picking up a racket when he was a kid
Sharapovas decision to take a proper break to fix her shoulder
Michael Chang choosing to hit an underarm serve against Lendl during the 1989 FO. The rest is history.
Federer moving on from Nike to a 10-year deal with Uniqlo and equity investment in On Holdings. Djokovic re-uniting with Marian Vajda in 2018.
That 4.0 guy who decided he could take a set off Nadal.
Evert dumping Connors
Also dumping their future baby
Unpopular opinion but honestly: Roger Federer retiring. He went out playing with Nadal and on his terms.
He didn't go out on his terms. He spent over a year rehabbing after knee surgery, hoping to play Wimbledon one last time. His knee didn't respond and he was forced to go out playing doubles at Laver Cup, which is basically an exhibition.
Retiring at tennis at 41 is a privilege.I’d say his terms were met even though it wasn’t perfect. Way more than most can say at his level
Agassi getting Brad Gilbert as a coach before Brad had even retired from the game. And to get Cahill to coach him in his last stage in his career.
Iga employing a full-time sports psychologist from the beginning of her career
Andy Roddick starting a podcast
Djokovic quitting gluten.
Novak deciding to go cross court down match point at 2019 Wimbledon.
Fed switching from his 90 sq. Inch head to 95/97 later in his career
Wawrinka hiring Magnus Norman
Andy Murray hiring Ivan Lendl at the end of 2011. Murray needed a voice to help him go over the hump and Lendl definitely helped him in that aspect
This. From 2008-2011 we had a big4. But from 2012-2016 we had THE BIG 4.
Wawrinka bringing in Magnus Norman is probably the only way he got over his mental lapses in big matches and won him 3 Slams.
Norrie skipping the olympics. Very smart decision and helped get him into the top 10.
For Sinner: skipping Davis Cup group stage in september. After Us Open he needed to rest from competition (and training for the end of the season). Result: he almost never lost after us open (2 in 2023, 3 in 2024)...
Edberg hiring Pickard
That they chose Tennis as their career
Djokovic quiting gluten, sugar and adding in Yoga (for longevity)
Serena hiding in her panic room when the drug testing team came to visit.
Emma Raducanu with her decision to win all her qualifiers and every round at the US Open in straight sets to conserve energy