"In modern tennis, it doesn't help you" - Lorenzo Musetti gets candid about using a one-handed backhand in today's game

Although it is one of the most artistic shots in tennis, the one-handed backhand has become a rarity on the ATP tour. Italian tennis star Lorenzo Musetti, being a user of the beautiful shot himself, recently opened up on the drawbacks of using a one-handed backhand in the modern game.

Musetti played some of his best tennis at last week's Monte-Carlo Masters, where he defeated the likes of former champion Stefanos Tsitsipas and Australian ace Alex de Minaur to reach the final on the clay ATP Masters 1000 event. However, the Italian was unable to battle past former World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, winning the first set before succumbing to an ailment as the Spaniard prevailed in a three-set victory.

There are currently no players in the ATP top 10 who employ a one-handed backhand. Tennis greats like Roger Federer, Richard Gasquet and Stan Wawrinka popularized the shot, but few have successfully used it on tour ever since.

Musetti was forced to withdraw from the ongoing Barcelona Open due to an injury sustained in the Monte-Carlo final. However, the World No.11 took some time to enlighten fans on his opinion of the one-handed backhand and it's place in today's game.

"I think my game is a little different from other people's because I have a one-handed backhand and because I like to vary things a lot, especially on clay," said Musetti. "Today, the serve and the first stroke are essential. But that's not how I play. And I think people prefer a somewhat "vintage" game like mine, even if I don't think we'll see a return to, let's say, more "technical" tennis in the near future. I'm a fan of the one-handed backhand, but you have to be realistic: in modern tennis, it doesn't help you."