But Thiem recently revealed that he didn’t always have a one-handed backhand.

In a conversation with Tennis Channel, the defending US Open champion mentioned that he started playing tennis with a two-hander. Thiem switched to the single-hander at the age of 11, upon the advice of ex-coach Gunter Bresnik.

The Austrian explained that, like most kids, he initially chose the shot which felt most natural to him - and that was the two-handed backhand. He also recalled that he had to put in a lot of effort to learn and master the one-hander after making the switch.

Dominic Thiem went on to assert that the single-hander still does not come as naturally to him as most people think.

Dominic Thiem was then asked to name the advantages that a single-handed backhand brings to a player’s game. The Austrian, who turned 28 on Friday, highlighted that the one-handed backhand helps while slicing the ball as well as in giving the player better reach when striking volleys.

But much to the surprise of the panelists on Tennis Channel, Dominic Thiem went on to claim he wouldn’t advise any youngster to opt for the single-handed backhand. Thiem explained that the two-handed backhand has a lot more advantages in today’s game, which involves more power-hitting than finesse.

Dominic Thiem says a one-handed backhand would suit Ashleigh Barty, admits he loves Stan Wawrinka’s one-hander the most

Former World No. 1 Lindsay Davenport was one of the panelists on Tennis Channel during the discussion. And she threw her weight behind Dominic Thiem’s opinions regarding the one-handed backhand.

But the three-time Slam champion pointed out that Ashleigh Barty is a successful case study for a player who has mastered the two-handed drive as well as the one-handed sliced backhand.

Dominic Thiem, on his part, asserted that the one-handed backhand would work well as a part of Ashleigh Barty’s game.

Thiem was then asked to comment on one of his poses while striking the one-handed backhand.

He admitted that it looked “beautiful”, but insisted that there are more aesthetic one-handers than his. Thiem then named Stan Wawrinka’s backhand as his favorite.

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