What type of backhand was absent from every 2026 US Open singles semifinalist?
Answer
One-handed backhand
A one-handed backhand was absent from every 2026 US Open singles semifinalist.
The tournament marked the first time since 1877 that no player using a one-handed backhand reached the semifinals of a major championship. Stefanos Tsitsipas, one of the most prominent modern players with that stroke, lost to Ben Shelton in the fourth round.
The semifinal lineups were Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton on the men’s side, and Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff on the women’s side. All used predominantly two-handed backhands.
A one-handed backhand is still an important tennis stroke and remains associated with players such as Roger Federer and Tsitsipas. The statistic concerns semifinalists at this tournament, not every player in the draw.