During the prime years of the “Big Three” between 2008 and 2020, discussions about grand slam draws primarily focused on which player from the trio might face off before the finals. This often resulted in semi-finals being more enthralling than finals themselves, with notable examples including the 2010 and 2011 US Open semi-finals between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, as well as the 2013 and 2021 French Open semi-finals featuring Rafael Nadal and Djokovic.
Tennis had not seen such a dominant trio of stars since the brief era of Jimmy Connors, Björn Borg, and John McEnroe in the late 1970s and early 1980s. What makes that period particularly striking is the prevalence of left-handed players. From 1974 to 1984, a lefty claimed victory at the US Open every year: Connors in several years, Manuel Orantes, Guillermo Vilas, and McEnroe himself, who dominated in 1979-1984. Notably, in 1979, four of the top-six ranked men were lefties, leading to a remarkable era for left-handed tennis.
However, since McEnroe’s last US Open title in 1984, only two male left-handers—Rafael Nadal and Goran Ivanišević—have secured titles at the US Open or Wimbledon. Additionally, only three others have claimed any major titles: Andrés Gómez, Thomas Muster, and Petr Korda. Interestingly, Nadal, who is technically right-handed for most tasks, became a lefty after his uncle noticed his stronger left-side strokes.
The trend of fewer left-handed champions has also been evident among female players. While several left-handed women, including Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles, achieved substantial success from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, only a handful have won major titles since Seles, including Petra Kvitova, Marketa Vondroušová, and Angelique Kerber.
The scarcity of left-handed champions is perplexing, given the distinct advantages they often hold. Lefties can produce shots with different trajectories and spins that can confuse right-handed opponents. Just like in baseball and cricket, where lefty pitchers and bowlers gain advantages, left-handed tennis players have historically disrupted their right-handed rivals.
Currently, a resurgence of left-handed talent in tennis seems to be underway, with Ben Shelton and Jack Draper leading the charge. Shelton has had a standout year and aims to become the first American lefty to win a Grand Slam since McEnroe in 1984. Although he has a challenging record against top competitors like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, his powerful serve could give him an edge in future matches.
Draper is also enjoying a notable season following his semi-final appearance at last year’s US Open and winning his first Masters title. Meanwhile, French player Terence Atmane has captured attention with his explosive play, having recently taken down top seeds in Cincinnati. Though he is not participating in the US Open due to injury, the emergence of left-handed players promises to enhance the diversity and excitement of tennis matchups, potentially leading to a lefty claiming a Grand Slam title soon.
