Top 5 forehands in tennis at present
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.