There are a number of complicated shots in tennis, and one of the most attractive of them is the forehand. It may seem easy when you’re watching on TV but in reality, executing it will full perfection requires lots and lots of practice and spot-on timing.
The forehand is perhaps the second most important weapon in any player's arsenal, after the serve. Players like Steffi Graf and Pete Sampras used their forehands to march into the record books, and their success set the blueprint for a number of players to follow.
Many current players have come to rely on their consistent and deadly forehands, some more than the others. Here are five of the best forehands in men's tennis currently.
#5. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
The Frenchman came into the limelight at the 2008 Australian Open when he beat the likes of Andy Murray, Richard Gasquet and Rafael Nadal to reach the final, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets. During the tournament, his serve was seen as a huge weapon and so was his forehand.
Known for his offensive baseline style of play, Tsonga’s forehand is one of the key reasons why he has become one of the most destructive players in modern times. Nowadays, his forehands are hit with a little less power than they used to be hit 8-9 years ago, but it still is his most consistent shot after his serve and has frequently won him some big matches against the likes of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
Tsonga's forehand compensates a lot for his weak backhand.
#4. Andy Murray
Known for his all-court versatile play, you may not consider Murray’s forehand to be one of his finest shots at first but his forehand is probably one of the most essential shots which enables him to wear down his opponents before switching to offensive mode.
In the past couple of years, Murray has established himself as the player he is by playing a much more offensive game thanks to his forehand. His powerful forehand which generates a heavy topspin coupled with his powerful two-handed backhand makes him a nightmare for every player.
#3. Novak Djokovic
The Serb is one of the greatest players to have ever played the sport but has not been in the best of form since completing the Career Grand Slam; he was knocked out in the third round at Wimbledon and most recently endured his worst Grand Slam performance since the 2008 Wimbledon by losing in the second round of the Australian Open.
However, given the Serb’s strong mentality, he is bound to come back strong in the remainder of the hardcourt season.
Known for his aggressive baseline play, Djokovic's forehand hasn’t been given enough recognition compared to his backhand and groundstrokes. However, it has been one his most reliable shots which has helped him register victories, especially in crunch situations.
One of Djokovic’s biggest attributes is his return of serve, and his forehand return makes him a very versatile player on the court. He can win points by going on the offensive with his hooked crosscourt forehand, and can also establish himself as a brilliant defender at the same time. His down-the-line forehand is perhaps the best in the world right now, and it's no surprise that he has won so many Majors this decade.
#2. Roger Federer
While discussing Roger Federer’s game, it’s hard to tell which shot of his is his best – all of them are hit with perfect execution and perfect timing, which has made him the all-time great that he is today. But Federer’s forehand has easily been one of the best of all time, and the variety he possesses in the forehand wing is seemingly endless.
Even in his mid-30s, Federer’s forehand is as impressive as it used to be when he was at his invincible best during the mid-2000s. He can generate tremendous amount of topspin and also flatten it out when required, and even his defensive squash shots have helped him get out of trouble plenty of times.
Given his brilliant resurgence at the Australian Open, Federer may well continue to fascinate the fans with his forehand for the next 2-3 years at least.
#1. Rafael Nadal
The King of Clay is considered to be one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen, and perhaps the greatest claycourt player of all time. Nadal’s game is based on powerful groundstrokes, brilliant footwork and tireless court coverage.
Nadal’s forehand has been the biggest weapon in his arsenal, and the amount of topspin he produces both defensively and offensively is simply unparalleled. His forehand, complemented ably by his footwork, has been one of the integral reasons why he is so close to Federer's record tally of Slam titles.
Even during the Australian Open, Nadal’s forehand was seen at its very best and bothered Federer considerably during the final. Given the kind of form Nadal is in, he looks set to dominate the clay-court season with his forehand.
