IT’S NO LONGER ABOUT THE FOREHAND
The whip-cracked forehand — inside out, crosscourt or down the line — has been the biggest of big shots on the tennis courts around the world. But with changing times, the importance of the big serve/massive forehand double-act may be on the wane. With the French Open round the corner, here’s a look at shots some top tennis stars feel are their mega-weapon:
ALL FOR FOREHAND
Australia’s Samantha Stosur says she will depend on the old serve-forehand routine at Rolland Garros.
“They’re my weapons anyway, and with my spin it helps, using my kick serve to set up the point and then finishing it with my forehand.”
THIEM’S ALL FOR ANGLES
Dominic Thiem believes along with forehand, the sharp angles he can get off that, will be key weapons at French Open.
“Short angle crosscourt, because it’s the shot which moves the opponent the most and gets him most tired,” the top-10 ace said. “Probably in the long two weeks of the French Open it’s the most important shot.”
ONE POTENT WEAPON NEEDED
Retired American star James Blake, who once hit the fastest recorded forehand (210kph), says a player needs to have at least one legitimate mega-weapon.
“The big forehand can always be a benefit, but I think the main thing is having at least one legitimate weapon. The game goes in cycles sometimes. The best two players (Andy Murray & Novak Djokovic) in the game the last two years have been the best at neutralizing weapons.”
FITNESS FIRST FOR GASQUET
A better candidate for key weapon in today’s sporting arena might be physical fitness, says Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
“To run around a clay court, best of five, you need to win seven matches, you need to be ready for that. All shots are very important to win against guys like Rafa, Djokovic, Murray, it’s not just one shot, everything needs to be 100 percent,” said Gasquet.