Let’s continue the conversation on Brian’s Part 2 article on the evolution of the two-handed backhand.
It’s fascinating to see how willing Alcaraz is to tinker with his swing during the season. At the Monte Carlo Open, he was asked about his technical changes, and here’s what he said:
When was the last time you remember a top-three player making significant technical changes in the middle of a season? I can think of Michael Stich in 1996, when Sven Groenefeld changed his forehand in just two weeks—and Stich went on to make a run to the Roland Garros final (more on that in a forthcoming article).
It’s fascinating to see how willing Alcaraz is to tinker with his swing during the season. At the Monte Carlo Open, he was asked about his technical changes, and here’s what he said:
“Well, I think tennis players—or just myself—I try to change just a few things. I’m seeing a lot of players whose backhands I really like. So I try to see how I can do it, or how I can copy that.
“The reason behind it was just that I started to change the movement a little bit, the technique—starting a little lower. I felt like I could play with more topspin, and the shot was safer for me. So I started that, I loved it, and I kept it.” (Source here).
“The reason behind it was just that I started to change the movement a little bit, the technique—starting a little lower. I felt like I could play with more topspin, and the shot was safer for me. So I started that, I loved it, and I kept it.” (Source here).
When was the last time you remember a top-three player making significant technical changes in the middle of a season? I can think of Michael Stich in 1996, when Sven Groenefeld changed his forehand in just two weeks—and Stich went on to make a run to the Roland Garros final (more on that in a forthcoming article).
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