Spoiler:
Wins, titles and rankings may form the basis of life on the ATP Tour, but numbers only tell half the story. The ATP Tour witnesses pure moments of genius week-in, week-out, as the best in the world continue to push boundaries with their shotmaking.
A revolution in tennis equipment has played its own role in bringing so many moments of magic to courts around the globe. The move from wooden racquets to steel, aluminium and eventually graphite has allowed players to hit with greater power, but also given them more control.
Yet a racquet can only do so much. As fitness levels and athleticism have evolved, so has the ability of the world’s top players to regularly produce the unthinkable. From the no-look passing shot to the diving volley, the jumping one-handed backhand to the tweener, history shows that innovation will continue to lie at the heart of how the greatest play the game.
With the ATP celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, ATPTour.com looks back at some of the moments of genius that have kept tennis constantly moving forwards.
Edberg’s Unreal Angle
Frankfurt, 1990
While there are volleyers, there will be passing shots… but perhaps not many better than Stefan Edberg’s incredible forehand during the championship match at the 1990 ATP World Tour Finals, (now known as the Nitto ATP Finals). Turning defence into attack in a split second, the Swede raced out wide before finding an angled winner from deep. Agassi, one of the greatest retrievers of all time, didn’t even bother to move.
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Sampras’ Bullet Backhand…With A Twist
Hanover, 1999
Pete Sampras was in no man’s land as Gustavo Kuerten dropped a silky backhand lob near the baseline at the 1999 Nitto ATP Finals in Hanover, but the American gave chase before crushing a flat backhand winner down the line mid-turn. A magical moment of athleticism from the American, whose exertions left him sitting on an advertising board to admire his own handiwork.
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Federer’s Leaping Smash Leaves Roddick Speechless
Basel, 2002
The point is never quite over when Roger Federer is on the other side of the net. The Swiss great responded to an Andy Roddick overhead in Basel with a remarkable curling smash from way behind the baseline to leave his opponent in disbelief… and prompting the American to jokingly throw his racquet across the net in resignation.
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Marathon Man Hewitt Outlasts Federer
Indian Wells, 2005
Two greats pushing each other to the brink in Tennis Paradise, Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer played out a lung-busting 45-shot rally in the California desert in an exchange that had both players moving forward, back, and all around. A whipped Federer forehand appeared to have clinched the point for the Swiss, but the ever-persistent Hewitt conjured a volley on the stretch to bring an enraptured crowd to its feet.
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Tweener Time For Nadal
Madrid, 2010
After a well-crafted Novak Djokovic lob had Rafael Nadal scampering to the back of the court in Madrid during one of the countless pulsating rallies that have been played out between two modern legends, the Spaniard appeared out of options. Cue an audacious tweener lob that left Djokovic a mere spectator and sent a passionate Caja Magica crowd into raptures.
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Current time01:10
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Roddick Dives For The Title
Memphis, 2011
Andy Roddick saved his best until last in the 2011 championship match in Memphis. The American fired a remarkable diving forehand winner past Milos Raonic on championship point to clinch his third Memphis crown, a shot he would later describe as "The best shot I’ve ever hit in my life, considering the circumstance."
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Current time00:53
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Elastic Novak Forges Forehand Out Of Nothing
London, 2013
A five-time champion at the Nitto ATP Finals, Djokovic has regularly brought his top level to the season finale. The Serbian’s run to the title in 2013 was no exception, as evidenced by an outrageous forehand on the stretch just as Stan Wawrinka appeared to have struck a clean winner in London.
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00:00
Current time00:39
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No-Look Cuevas Lets Instinct Take Over
Madrid, 2017
A perfect demonstration of the modern player’s ability to hit winners from anywhere. Pablo Cuevas had just sprinted to the net to chase down a deft Alexander Zverev drop shot, but the Uruguayan still had the energy to track the German’s subsequent lob and arrow a sublime no-look passing shot past his bemused opponent.
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Current time00:47
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Kyrgios’ Miami Magic
Miami, 2019
Something special, even by the standards of the ultimate showman Nick Kyrgios. The Australian had already tested Borna Coric’s reactions by playing a volley while looking the other way during the pair’s 2019 clash in Miami. There was nothing the Croatian could do about what came next in the rally, however, as an angled tweener winner fired from deep in the tramlines had Hard Rock Stadium on its feet.
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Current time00:45
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Monfils' Spinning Forehand
Madrid, 2019
Dealing with a lob, the Gael Monfils way. Marton Fuscovics seemed to have backed the Frenchman into a corner with a perfectly placed lob during the pair’s 2019 clash in Madrid, but a sublime moment of pure athleticism, coordination and skill saw the Frenchman crush a forehand winner on the turn. A unique hot shot from a unique talent.
A revolution in tennis equipment has played its own role in bringing so many moments of magic to courts around the globe. The move from wooden racquets to steel, aluminium and eventually graphite has allowed players to hit with greater power, but also given them more control.
Yet a racquet can only do so much. As fitness levels and athleticism have evolved, so has the ability of the world’s top players to regularly produce the unthinkable. From the no-look passing shot to the diving volley, the jumping one-handed backhand to the tweener, history shows that innovation will continue to lie at the heart of how the greatest play the game.
With the ATP celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, ATPTour.com looks back at some of the moments of genius that have kept tennis constantly moving forwards.
Edberg’s Unreal Angle
Frankfurt, 1990
While there are volleyers, there will be passing shots… but perhaps not many better than Stefan Edberg’s incredible forehand during the championship match at the 1990 ATP World Tour Finals, (now known as the Nitto ATP Finals). Turning defence into attack in a split second, the Swede raced out wide before finding an angled winner from deep. Agassi, one of the greatest retrievers of all time, didn’t even bother to move.
PlayPlay
Seek
00:00
Current time00:32
Toggle Mute
Volume
Toggle Fullscreen
Sampras’ Bullet Backhand…With A Twist
Hanover, 1999
Pete Sampras was in no man’s land as Gustavo Kuerten dropped a silky backhand lob near the baseline at the 1999 Nitto ATP Finals in Hanover, but the American gave chase before crushing a flat backhand winner down the line mid-turn. A magical moment of athleticism from the American, whose exertions left him sitting on an advertising board to admire his own handiwork.
PlayPlay
Seek
00:15
Current time00:49
Toggle Mute
Volume
Toggle Fullscreen
Federer’s Leaping Smash Leaves Roddick Speechless
Basel, 2002
The point is never quite over when Roger Federer is on the other side of the net. The Swiss great responded to an Andy Roddick overhead in Basel with a remarkable curling smash from way behind the baseline to leave his opponent in disbelief… and prompting the American to jokingly throw his racquet across the net in resignation.
PlayPlay
Seek
00:00
Current time00:59
Toggle Mute
Volume
Toggle Fullscreen
Marathon Man Hewitt Outlasts Federer
Indian Wells, 2005
Two greats pushing each other to the brink in Tennis Paradise, Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer played out a lung-busting 45-shot rally in the California desert in an exchange that had both players moving forward, back, and all around. A whipped Federer forehand appeared to have clinched the point for the Swiss, but the ever-persistent Hewitt conjured a volley on the stretch to bring an enraptured crowd to its feet.
PlayPlay
Seek
00:00
Current time01:51
Toggle Mute
Volume
Toggle Fullscreen
Tweener Time For Nadal
Madrid, 2010
After a well-crafted Novak Djokovic lob had Rafael Nadal scampering to the back of the court in Madrid during one of the countless pulsating rallies that have been played out between two modern legends, the Spaniard appeared out of options. Cue an audacious tweener lob that left Djokovic a mere spectator and sent a passionate Caja Magica crowd into raptures.
PlayPlay
Seek
00:00
Current time01:10
Toggle Mute
Volume
Toggle Fullscreen
Roddick Dives For The Title
Memphis, 2011
Andy Roddick saved his best until last in the 2011 championship match in Memphis. The American fired a remarkable diving forehand winner past Milos Raonic on championship point to clinch his third Memphis crown, a shot he would later describe as "The best shot I’ve ever hit in my life, considering the circumstance."
PlayPlay
Seek
00:00
Current time00:53
Toggle Mute
Volume
Toggle Fullscreen
Elastic Novak Forges Forehand Out Of Nothing
London, 2013
A five-time champion at the Nitto ATP Finals, Djokovic has regularly brought his top level to the season finale. The Serbian’s run to the title in 2013 was no exception, as evidenced by an outrageous forehand on the stretch just as Stan Wawrinka appeared to have struck a clean winner in London.
PlayPlay
Seek
00:00
Current time00:39
Toggle Mute
Volume
Toggle Fullscreen
No-Look Cuevas Lets Instinct Take Over
Madrid, 2017
A perfect demonstration of the modern player’s ability to hit winners from anywhere. Pablo Cuevas had just sprinted to the net to chase down a deft Alexander Zverev drop shot, but the Uruguayan still had the energy to track the German’s subsequent lob and arrow a sublime no-look passing shot past his bemused opponent.
PlayPlay
Seek
00:00
Current time00:47
Toggle Mute
Volume
Toggle Fullscreen
Kyrgios’ Miami Magic
Miami, 2019
Something special, even by the standards of the ultimate showman Nick Kyrgios. The Australian had already tested Borna Coric’s reactions by playing a volley while looking the other way during the pair’s 2019 clash in Miami. There was nothing the Croatian could do about what came next in the rally, however, as an angled tweener winner fired from deep in the tramlines had Hard Rock Stadium on its feet.
PlayPlay
Seek
00:00
Current time00:45
Toggle Mute
Volume
Toggle Fullscreen
Monfils' Spinning Forehand
Madrid, 2019
Dealing with a lob, the Gael Monfils way. Marton Fuscovics seemed to have backed the Frenchman into a corner with a perfectly placed lob during the pair’s 2019 clash in Madrid, but a sublime moment of pure athleticism, coordination and skill saw the Frenchman crush a forehand winner on the turn. A unique hot shot from a unique talent.