Zero 2026 US Open men’s singles semifinalists used a one-handed backhand.
The four semifinalists were Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton, Karen Khachanov and Frances Tiafoe. None used the traditional one-handed backhand as their standard two-handed alternative, making the statistic a notable feature of the 2026 tournament.
The US Open’s official tournament figures described 2026 as the first year in tennis history without at least one player with a one-handed backhand reaching the semifinals of any major during the calendar year. The US Open was therefore part of a broader season-wide milestone.
A one-handed backhand is struck with one hand supporting the racquet through the main swing. It remains an important historical shot, but the two-handed backhand is much more common in modern elite tennis.