Alex de Minaur’s career-high rank rise sparks historic 51-year tennis first

Australian star Alex de Minaur rose to a new career-high, but in doing so created a piece of tennis history that has never been seen before.

Alex de Minaur sparks historic tennis first

Alex de Minaur may have fallen short at the Rotterdam Open, but the Aussie has helped create some tennis history.

The Demon was no match for the Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner as he claimed the 7-5, 6-4 victory and moved up to number three in the world.

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Despite the loss, de Minaur achieved a new career-high ranking as he leapt up to number nine on the ATP rankings.

The top 10 reshuffle forced Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas down to number 11 and in the process created a remarkable 51-year tennis first.

For the first time since the rankings system was introduced way back in 1973, not a single player inside the top 10 uses a one-handed backhand.

Tsitsipas was the only member of the one-handed backhand gang but now sits on the outside looking in with fellow star Grigor Dimitrov the next highest ranked player at 13.

They’re the only two players in the top 25 using the one-handed method.

Is the Single-Handed backhand becoming a lost art form? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/jZrtHA661L

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 17, 2024

The rankings are a far cry from when they were first introduced in 1973 with nine out of the top ten players wielding a one-handed backhand.

The current top 10 on the ATP rankings sees Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Hubert Hurkacz, de Minaur and Taylor Fritz, who all utilise a two-handed backhand.

Swiss duo Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka are widely known as the two best users of the one-handed backhand with Frenchman Richard Gasquet another included in the conversation of the best player with the diminishing art form.

“In terms of elegance and beauty, I would probably say Gasquet’s is a beautiful backhand,” Tsitsipas said previously.

“Otherwise Roger’s. Roger has a very nice flow, as well. It’s poetry when you watch it.

“He can mix up the slice, which makes it an interesting combination, switching from a single-handed backhand top-spin to a slice. But I feel like Stan’s single-handed backhand down the line is much better, in my opinion, having played him.”

The art form is dying a slow death. (AAP Image/Albert Perez)

The top 10 is now two-handed country. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

De Minaur was crushed on Monday morning at the hands of Sinner who powered to his first Rotterdam Open title.

The win extended the Italian top seed’s unbeaten streak to 15 and took his record against the Aussie to 7-0.

The two are friends off the court and former doubles partners and they embraced at the net as the Rotterdam crowd gave them a thunderous ovation.

“It’s very tough to play against you. It’s better when we are on the same side playing doubles,” quipped Sinner.

De Minaur’s run to the final included a pulsating semi-final against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, later describing it as his “best match on tour.”

“I asked him jokingly if he’s going to lose a match this year. He’s playing an incredible level and just too good. I’ll get you back next time!” said De Minaur.

De Minaur said he had taken “another big step in the right direction” and pledged to “fight for bigger and better things.”

Originally published as Alex de Minaur’s career-high rank rise sparks historic 51-year tennis first