Beauty before success - Who are the current tennis aesthetes on the tour?
The tennisnet editorial team went in search of the tennis players with the most remarkable and admirable stroke technique.
by Stefan Bergmann
last edit:
Dec 19, 2022, 09:53 am
Most of us grew up hearing umpteen variations on the saying "beauty isn't everything." And rightly so - everything, no matter how wonderful it is to look at, is transient. And what's more in top-class tennis: Not everything that deserves a golden star for its external form also wins a match. But still: A mature and playful-looking technique is a wonderful addition to an attractive tennis match. But who is currently ahead in the elegance charts after the departure of the former industry leader Roger Federer? Here is a loose juxtaposition of the tennisnet editorial world of ideas:
Jens Huiber: Anyone who has decided on a one-handed backhand (yes, please!) will no longer have the two best options in 2023 after the resignations of the two all-rounders Roger Federer and Philipp Kohlschreiber. So when it comes to pure aesthetics, you have to consider Stan Wawrinka (but what about the volley?), Dominic Thiem of course (but he usually comes through the dynamics), not to forget Stefanos Tsitsipas (but where the serve looks a bit out of round), also old master Richard Gasquet (the forehand is effective, but also not a feast for the eyes). The biggest filigree still active on the ATP tour is actually Grigor Dimitrov. But he could have a wonderful successor in Lorenzo Musetti. There are only two candidates for women: Ons Jabeur in the morning or Ons Jabeur in the afternoon.
Niki Fink: In a nutshell: Grigor Dimitrov. Which is also logical. He comes closest to Roger Federer in terms of play.
Stefan Bergmann: Okay, Ivo Karlovic and Alexander Bublik just barely failed to qualify for the best tennis aesthetes in the world - but if you put the admittedly bad joke aside, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Dennis Shapovalov and Grigor Dimitrov remain three men with the finest for me blade left. And to substantiate the initial statement that beauty (except probably in a beauty pageant) does not necessarily win prizes, the final decision falls in favor of the Canadian. If only the fickle North American could get his nerves under control one day... After the departure of Ashleigh Barty, I only see Ons Jabeur among the women, who regularly takes me to tennis dreamland with her hitting technique.
Victoria Moser: Apart from Roger Federer, Stefanos Tsitsipas has the most aesthetically beautiful tennis. And especially when it (successfully) goes online.
Michael Rothschädl: In terms of aesthetics, everything speaks clearly for Denis Shapovalov. Incidentally, a good example of the fact that you can often buy relatively little from a good look & feel. Because: Although no player regularly throws me into ecstasy with winning shots from every possible (and also impossible) position on the court, one should not ignore the veritable orgies of mistakes that the Canadian is good and happy to "conjure up" on the court. But since these backhand shots are often nice to look at, even if they just miss the target, the choice of the world number 18 is. a clear one. With the women, on the other hand, I don't want to lean too far out of the window, because for me it's simply a feast for the eyes to watch the absolute dominator, Iga Swiatek, at work. As a batting afficionado of power tennis, the Pole shows exactly what I like on the court. And on top of that with a precision and consistency that at times only amazes. Think of the winning streak in the spring of this year.