Rafael Nadal uses his left hand for his forehand.
Nadal is officially listed as a left-handed player, although he uses a two-handed backhand. His left-handed forehand became one of the defining shots of modern tennis: heavily topspin-loaded, high-bouncing and especially difficult for right-handed opponents to handle on clay.
A common mix-up is that Nadal is naturally right-handed in some everyday activities, including writing. His uncle and longtime coach Toni Nadal encouraged him to play tennis left-handed, helping create a tactical advantage against opponents. Nadal also learned to serve left-handed, making his delivery and forehand come from the same side.
That lefty pattern was particularly troublesome for Roger Federer, whose one-handed backhand often faced Nadal’s high, spinning forehand. Nadal’s forehand was not merely a matter of handedness; his extreme racket-head speed, court positioning and ability to strike with heavy rotation made it a signature weapon.