WATCH: Grigor Dimitrov, Denis Shapovalov, Stefanos Tsitsipas & others make hilarious attempt at switching over from one-hand technique in new ATP skit
Grigor Dimitrov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Denis Shapovalov took part in a hilarious skit designed by ATP in which they and other one-handed backhand specialists attempt to switch to two hands. The skit comes amid debate over the relevance of a one-handed backhand in modern-day tennis.
The video shows Dimitrov and other one-handed backhand specialists attempting to "change" their lifestyle and use both hands as the one-handed backhand is now "dead." It features all the major one-handed backhand experts on the ATP Tour trying to do routine activities with two hands instead of one.
"As you might have heard already: the single-handed backhand is dead! I'm as sad as anybody. I loved that thing. It's poetry in motion. But when it's dead, it's dead. I just wanted to let you know that me and a few of the other boys have been working very hard on a few changes," Dimitrov says in the beginning of the video.
The skit goes on to show Tsitsipas trying to brush his teeth with both hands on the toothbrush; Shapovalov struggling to open a door with the same; Stan Wawrinka failing darts; Dominic Thiem messing up his painting; Christopher Eubanks and Dan Evans finding it hard to eat and drink; and Lorenzo Musetti struggling to sign autographs.
The video ends with Dimitrov calling arguably the greatest one-handed backhand player of all time, Roger Federer, to admit that trying to do everything with two hands will "never" work.
Grigor Dimitrov is currently the only one-handed backhand player in top 10 of the tennis rankings
The tennis world has seen a severe decline in the number of players deploying the one-handed backhand on both the ATP and WTA Tour over the last ten years. Currently, Grigor Dimitrov is the only one-handed back specialist in the top 10 tennis rankings, occupying the World No. 10 spot on the ATP Rankings.
The Bulgarian's presence is even more significant considering that for six weeks between February and March 2024, no player with a one-handed backhand was in the world's Top 10 for the first time in the 50-year history of the ATP Rankings.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 11), Lorenzo Musetti (No. 16), and Giovani Mpetshi Perricard (No. 48) are the only other one-handed backhand players in the top 50 of the ATP Rankings. On the women's side, Diane Parry (No. 59), Tatjana Maria (No. 67), and Viktorija Golubic (No. 76) are the highest-ranked one-handed backhand players in WTA Rankings.