One-Handed Backhand Reaches Grand Slam Semi-Final for First Time Since 1877

For the first time in 149 years, no male tennis player using a one-handed backhand reached a Grand Slam semi-final this season. The milestone marks a significant decline of a technique once favored by legends such as Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, and Gustavo Kuerten. The two-handed backhand has steadily replaced the one-hander due to its greater practicality in modern play. Shifts in coaching philosophy and the increasing pace of the professional game are cited as key factors behind the technique's disappearance at the elite level.