What unusual semifinal statistic defined the 2026 Grand Slam tennis season, including the US Open?
Answer
No one-handed backhand semifinalists
The 2026 Grand Slam season, including the US Open, had no men’s semifinalist using a one-handed backhand.
The US Open’s official tournament statistics identified 2026 as the first year in tennis history in which at least one major’s semifinals did not feature a player with a one-handed backhand. The pattern held across all four Grand Slam tournaments that season.
Most elite players now use a two-handed backhand because it generally provides greater stability and return power. The one-handed stroke remains associated with several historic champions, including Roger Federer, Stefan Edberg and Pete Sampras.
This statistic concerns semifinalists, not every player in the draw. Players with one-handed backhands could still have competed at the tournament; none reached the men’s final four at a major during 2026.