“He will be back, I’m sure about it,” Patrick Mouratoglou has immense faith in Stefanos Tsitsipas jumping back into the top 10 as the need for a one-handed backhand expert looms large

The Greek's exit means no one-handed backhand player exists in the Top-10 for the first time since the ATP rankings were introduced.

“He will be back, I’m sure about it,” Patrick Mouratoglou has immense faith in Stefanos Tsitsipas jumping back into the top 10 as the need for a one-handed backhand expert looms large

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Patrick Mouratoglou (Images via IMAGO)

The exit of Stefanos Tsitsipas from the Top-10 of the ATP singles rankings has created a lot of buzz. It’s not related much to the player himself but to one of his shots, the one-handed backhand.

The Greek is one of the very few players left to employ the shot, as players prefer to have a two-handed backhand instead. Alongside Tsitsipas, one can remember three-time Grand Slam title winner Stan Wawrinka, former US Open winner Dominic Thiem, and French veteran Richard Gasquet also hitting the shot. 

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But neither of them has been in the top ten in recent times. Tsitsipas was the only one, but his latest loss saw him crash out of the ranking list. This means there has not been a single player in the ATP Top-10 with a one-handed backhand since the rankings were introduced in 1973. 

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The news was quite shocking for tennis fans, given the specialty and rarity of the shot. However, French coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who’s recently signed a long-term deal with Holger Rune, found the discussion exaggerated. He showed faith in Tsitsipas to return to the top ten quickly. 

I think it shocks people. I think it makes sense. I'm not saying that there won't be any other ever. I think Grigor Dimitrov can come back to the top ten, he's very close. Also, Stefanos Tsitsipas is out of the top ten for the first time in five years but he'll be back. I'm sure about it.
Said Mouratoglou speaking with Tennis Majors.

Stefanos Tsitsipas to slip down another place in the rankings in the coming week

Tsitsipas played at the Los Cabos Open in Mexico this week. He was the defending champion at this year’s event having defeated Alex de Minaur. But his title defense didn’t turn out successful.

Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Via: Imago)

On the back of consecutive straight-set wins, he reached the semi-finals where he took on Casper Ruud. The Norwegian however proved too good on the day as he won the match 6-4,7-6(4). The fourth seed however lost the title decider to eighth-seeded Jordan Thompson as the Aussie won the tie 6-3, 7-6(4).

As a result of the loss in Los Cabos, the Greek will slip down another place in the rankings and be ranked No. 12 next week. He will however have the chance to redeem himself at the Acapulco Open.

He missed the 2023 edition and as a result, has no points to lose. The Greek is currently 170 points off the World No. 10 Taylor Fritz. With the American reaching the semis last year, he will need another big run to hold his position or could exit the top ten.

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