Nick Kyrgios best among current players, but Roger Federer is the "master" of the tweener: Serena Williams' ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou
Nick Kyrgios and Roger Federer found multiple mentions in Patrick Mouratoglou's list of players with the best trick shots, especially for the tweener.
When it comes to trick shots, it's difficult not to think about Kyrgios, who is well-known for surprising his opponents with his underarm serve. However, Serena Williams' former coach Mouratoglou also named the 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer, who is believed to be the most elegant tennis player ever, in a couple of categories of trick shots.
The French coach recently posted a video on social media in which he picked the players who are the best at shots like the tweener, underarm serve, backspin drop shot, dunk overhead, non-looking counter-drop shot, and fake drop shot.
For the tweener, Mouratoglou chose Kyrgios among the current players but added that Federer was the master of it.
"Kyrgios, but the master is Roger Federer," he said.
By winning the 1989 French Open at the age of 17, Michael Chang became the youngest man in history to win a Grand Slam singles title. Mouratoglou credited the American for inventing the underarm serve and once again named Kyrgios as the current best.
"The creator of the underarm serve is Michael Chang, but the current best, Nick Kyrgios."
Another category where the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up found his name was the best fake drop shot.
"Nick Kyrgios, pretending to hit a drop shot and playing it fast and deep."
The 52-year-old Frenchman picked his countryman Benoit Paire for the best backspin drop shot and included a clip of the 33-year-old playing the shot. Mouratoglou said that while Pete Sampras had the best dunk overhead ever, Gael Monfils was the best among the current players. Finally, the famed tennis coach chose Federer for the best no-look counter-drop shot.
"I'm not out there to try to be this ‘showy guy’ who is doing trick shots" - Ben Shelton looks up to Rafael Nadal, not Nick Kyrgios or Gael Monfils
During a recent interview, American rising star Ben Shelton remarked that he wasn't interested in performing trick shots like Nick Kyrgios and Gael Monfils. Instead, the 20-year-old draws inspiration from 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
"Nick Kyrgios or Gael Monfils are not references for me in this respect," Shelton said. "I don't think I am trying to be a showman. I'm just trying to compete at the highest level, whatever that may be. I'm not out there to try to be this ‘showy guy’ who is doing trick shots."
"I'm really focused on my tennis and trying to compete at the highest level. So I would say the guy in that aspect that I looked up to was Rafael Nadal. Even though we have different ways of expressing ourselves on court," he added.
Shelton crashed out of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in the second round, losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to compatriot Taylor Fritz.