Notice the compact nature of the swing and easy power Andrey achieves. The key components are keeping your non-dominant hand parallel to the base line creating a full shoulder rotation, and the “loose flexed wrist” at the top of the swing. This leads to great lag and snap of the ball. It’s fun to try! youtu.be/hgt1mU9J4w8

Here’s another video that again stresses how the strings face down during the preparation phase of the swing. youtube.com/shorts/GSU5pcXDopw?feature=share

This is a practice video with his coach: youtu.be/6nz2xILzmc8

These clips show Rublev, Nadal, and Gasquet hitting shots with quick repeated loops in slow motion. What I like about this type of repeat is that you can notice different aspects of the shot through repetition which is different then watching slow motion exclusively. My eye is drawn to different key aspects of the shot: movement, balance, technique, timing, in a match setting which is telling! Enjoy! youtu.be/Ct0fZzUe4tU

Andrey is Russian. It’s been my observation that tennis is a unifying sport across the world. It’s sad to think that a war has caused so much suffering. This fine young man is trying his best to live a tour life with battles much more serious going on with his country.

This is a great compilation of two of the greatest one hand backhands in the world. To summarize the components:

1. Unit turn with the proper grip.
2. Keep your left elbow (righty’s) high and the racquet tip up
as if to balance a coin on the edge of the tip.
3. Drop down with left hand holding the throat til the racquet meet meets the left pocket area (right pocket lefty’s) then separate the hands at that point. The racquet keeps the same wrist angle throughout the swing.
4. When the separation occurs, the racquet is in a slightly closed position.
5. Swing inside out lifting the racquet up for maximum power.

​This is the video link: youtu.be/9thZ6ayMNzI

Check out this secret little gem regarding backhand adjustment to fast balls to the backhand with Pavlov Tsitsipas, the younger brother of Stefano: youtube.com/shorts/02wh2q7d2s8?feature=share

There’s a few things noteworthy regarding their cooperative hitting session. The forehand swings generate power deep drives with tight spin on the ball. Carlos sometimes comes off the ball with a helicopter follow through. Both he and Andrey come off their forehands quick with fast racquet speed. Both players hit from a strong athletic base and their timing is clean and crispy. Both of their two-handed backhands are simple take backs with the racquet above the wrist and simple release through the ball. When going out to hit try to hit deep to your partner and you both will develop that fun rally timing. youtu.be/cOIrsc7xFf8