var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(234,310,637194,”http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css”)}catch(ex){}}()After a few decades of doubled backhands, it seems the single is becoming more fashionable again – it’s the Rogi effect. Among the veteran holdouts in the past decade have been Federer, Hass, Ljubicic, Fernando Gonzalez, Feliciano Lopez. A good singlet backhand is a thing of beauty. The full follow-through opens up the chest in a way the double version doesn’t. The textbook backhand creates a classic silhouette with much more arc, making a player look more fluid and flexible. I have both these backhands, and I can tell you a follow-through with one hand feels fabulous, a bit like flying. A two-handed follow-through feels very restricted. Great for control, but I’ve never liked its feel or look.
I think the most notable youngster who has a single is Grigor Dimitrov, a 17-yr old Bulgarian (coached by Peter Lundgren, who used to be with Rogi) who has already taken Nadal and Gilles Simon to 3 sets and beaten Berdych. He joined the men’s tour after taking the Wimbledon boys’ title last year and the Orange Bowl in 2006. The photo shows him with the 2008 US Open boy’s cup. Junior champions are usually not as successful on the men’s tour, and I don’t pay much attention to players just because they’re young – they need to do something very special with the ball and produce.
I saw Dimitrov play for the first time and pressure Gillesy in a big way. That made me notice. I didn’t know anything about Grigo. Gillesy was looking a bit stressed, tired, he’s growing a beard (to look older?), and hitting his backhand without bending his knees, like someone swatting flies (I think Alexander Volkov did that too). Grigo had the match in his hands, playing a fluid, beautiful, all-court, free-swinging, patient game – until the last few minutes, when he tightened up, made some errors, and gave back a crucial break. Gillesy squeaked through (his big break came only last year, so he hasn’t been a name for very long, he’s in his early 20s, and now this teen almost cut him down. Gillesy is smart & sunny, but he looks less fresh these days. No time to rest on his laurels in a dog-eat-dog world).
I started reading about Grigo. No way is he a Bolletieri robot. Peter Lundgren says he’s better than Rogi was at the same age. Pato Alvarez, who used to coach Andy Murray, says he’s the best 17-yr old he’s ever coached. A lot to live up to. These are guys who know. Grigo is a lanky, clean-cut, good-looking kid (‘OMG and he’s KYOOT’, says one observer) with long limbs. Yes, he choked against Gillesy, but he didn’t throw a tantrum or his racquet – he just looked disappointed – like kid Sampras. What he later did off-court, I don’t know. But he doesn’t play like 17, more like a top 25-yr old. Deep groundies, varied spins & angles, big serve, decent volleys, dinks & drops. Scary good. Add better footwork and more experience, and he will be even scarier. He’s already got fansites and people are calling him the next Rogi. Pressure. Grigo’s father was his first coach. Now I’m curious about HIM. Usually a kid with so many shots takes longer to grow into his game. This kid already knows what to do with his guns, and he could become a very big deal indeed. The Bulgarians are salivating already.
I sat up when I first saw Justine play; I knew nothing about her at first, either. It was the beauty of her strokes that caught my eye. It was like discovering a rare gemstone. Now it’s Grigo time. Make sure you tune in when he plays.
