The forehand is generally considered to be the signature shot of most players. But there are also true backhand specialists in the field who never miss a chance. Patrick Mouratoglou has now chosen the best backhand of all time.
by Isabella Walser-Bürgler
last edited: December 11, 2025, 12:04 p.m
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The magic of the one-handed sword
From an aesthetic point of view, the one-handed backhand is one of the most beautiful things tennis has ever produced. Players like Roger Federer and Richard Gasquet gave the shot their own elegance, Justine Henin brought it to perfection in women’s tennis and young talents like Musetti and Shapovalov keep it alive with a modern interpretation. Particularly noteworthy: Austria’s shooting star Lilli Tagger is one of the few WTA players to play a one-handed backhand.
The dominance of the two-handed sword
The faster and more physical the tour became, the more important stability under pressure became. Not all one-handers can withstand this pressure. To make matters worse, today’s balls and court speeds slightly favor the two-handed backhand type. The technique allows you to take fast, high-bouncing balls aggressively and remain stable even on flat balls. So it’s no wonder that almost all ATP and WTA professionals now use two hands.
Djokovic as the backhand GOAT
Even if opinions differ as to who has the best backhand on the tour, at least star coach Patrick Mouratoglou has made up his mind. According to him, Novak Djokovic has “probably the best backhand of all time”. In an Instagram analysis, he particularly praises two things: Djokovic’s constant advance into the ball (the so-called “magnet move” principle) and his highly efficient transfer of the body’s center of gravity, which makes the swing so compact. With Djokovic, the entire chain – feet, hips, upper body, arms – works together perfectly, which allows him to hit the backhand cleanly again and again at top speed.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQqxbBBDAsX/?utm_source=ig_embed
The backhand as a weapon against Nadal
Djokovic’s two-handed backhand was crucial in neutralizing Rafael Nadal’s legendary forehand. While Roger Federer often had to pull the high topspin ball overhead, Djokovic took it early on the rise and thus took Nadal valuable time in the rally. The result: a positive head-to-head against both Nadal (31-29) and Federer (27-23). Whether the two-handed backhand is elegant or not, in the end it is the impact that counts.
