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Like all professional sports, fine margins are often the key differences in any given match but being a left hander can hold a unique advantage on the tennis court.
Of course, it is not as simple as being a left hander equals being successful but the subtle changes in ball flight, trajectory and angle that comes with being a left hander, can have a huge impact on how top level matches pan out.
From natural left handers such as John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova to more engineered icons of the game such as Rafael Nadal and Goran Ivanisevic, the allure of the lefty remains as prevalent as ever in world tennis.
Quantifying what it is that sets left handers apart is a key question for tennis betting sites and punters, but the left handed match up often is a key differential in the creation of odds for any given match.
Here is a look at why left handed players are perceived to have the edge and some of the best left handers to have ever graced the game:
Alternative Angles
At the sharp end of professional tennis, being able to manipulate the play and cut off angles for an opponent, is a key weapon.
Being left handed, means that a cross court forehand from the left hander (which is generally a player’s strongest shot), is met by a backhand from a right hander (normally their weakest shot).
Therefore, the natural angle the matchup between left hander and right hander, does favour players with a big forehand – especially off the left hand side.
Of course, the mirror image this poses on the court does give the right hander the chance to create the opposite angle but most left handed players are very strong on their backhand – due to having to use it so often throughout their careers.
Giving the left hander a slight advantage from the back of the court, which is exacerbated when serving.
A left hander serving from both the deuce and advantage court is able to angle the ball out of the service box off the serve and away from the racket of a right handed returner.
This creates space on court, moving the opponent out of position and also enables left handers to dominate the point off their second shot – whether that be a groundstroke or a volley.
Coaches and players at the highest level are abundantly aware of the threats playing against a left hander can pose, regardless of ranking or tour level experience and players always need to be on guard for the unique dangers they pose.
Out of Sync
While there is a huge amount of preparation that goes into any professional tennis match, the reality remains that in the key moments, when players are under pressure, they are running on autopilot.
As the vast majority of players on both the WTA and ATP Tours are right handers, players are naturally conditioned to playing against them and react accordingly.
Coming up against a left hander on the other side of the net can disrupt the rhythm of a right handed player, which can cause confusion, especially in the heat of the moment on a clutch point.
From court position to recovery steps, everything a player does is to give themselves the maximum amount of time to react to the incoming ball and the slight change up a of a ‘lefty’, can throw opposing players out of sync.
Famous Left Handers
As mentioned, the predominance of the current crop of players on both the men’s and women’s tour are right handers and with most players opting for double handed backhands in the modern age, the differential of a ‘lefty’ is arguably lessening.
That said, some of the most prolific players in both the men’s and women’s game have been left handed and they still hold a special place in the hearts and minds of tennis purists:
Martina Navratilova – Arguably the greatest tennis player of all time, Martina Navratilova won a remarkable 59 Grand Slam titles in both singles and doubles, in a career that spanned over 30 years. Her longevity in the game will always be revered but her variety and shot making ability as a left hander, made her box-office viewing and her record is second to none.
Rod Laver – Australian Rod Laver revolutionised tennis in the 1960’s and his record of 11 Grand Slam singles wins came in an era of change for tennis. On court, he was able to use his diminutive stature to great effect, changing angles and styles with his left handed game, which saw him completely dominate men’s tennis throughout the decade.
Rafael Nadal – The ‘King of Clay’ enjoyed an unprecedented period of dominance at the French Open, securing a remarkable 15 singles titles at Roland Garros, to go with his overall haul of 22 career Grand Slams. Rafael Nadal’s ability to take time away from opponents and hit outrageous angles as a left hander, sees him stand out as one of the most remarkable players to have ever played the game.
Monica Seles – With seven Grand Slam singles titles to her name, Monica Seles was the first player to break the Navratilova and Steffi Graf duopoly in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. While a shocking on-court stabbing incident is always a point of reference for her, she remains one of the most talented left-handers of all time and her ability to hit unique angles was unrivalled.
From the distinctive nature of the left-handed serve to a heavy top spinning forehand to the backhand side, being a ‘lefty’ does provide a tactical advantage for many professional tennis players and some of the most iconic players in the history of the game have been left handed.
