NBA legend praises Roger Federer's single-handed backhand

Roger Federer has become the highest paid sportsman on the planet according to the traditional ranking compiled by the American magazine "Forbes", for the first time in his infinite career and having played not a lot in the last few months. With 106.3 million dollars collected in 2019, the 38-year-old Swiss tennis player improved his income in 2018, thanks to his sponsors who brought him the year last $ 100 million, in addition to the six million earned in the ATP circuit.

NBA legend praises the Swiss Maestro

NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki is a fan of Roger Federer's single-handed backhand, and plays with a one-hander himself. "Roger to me is of course one of the best," Nowitzki said. "Stan Wawrinka has a laser of a one-hander, and he’s super-fun to watch with his power game. Dominic Thiem is coming up and his one-hander is beautiful and powerful. That’s just to name a few. There are so many great one-handers in the game.” Nowitzki, a 7-time NBA All-Star winner, further said that he loved playing tennis while growing up. But unlike Roger Federer, Nowitzki's weapon of choice at first was a double-handed backhand. "I grew up playing a double-handed backhand, and then once I stopped playing when I was about 14, 15, I kind of went away and put all my eggs into the basketball basket and took 10, 11 years off and never really played (tennis after that),” Nowitzki added. "Once I got to my mid-20s, in the summer I started playing again and then my double-handed backhand was completely gone! I didn’t even know how to hold it anymore. Then I actually switched to a one-hander" - he concluded. The Swiss Maestro employs the slice, occasionally using it to lure his opponent to the net and deliver a passing shot. Federer can also fire topspin winners and possesses a 'flick' backhand with which he can generate pace with his wrist; this is usually used to pass the opponent at the net.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2XNEeTV