New York, September 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Stefanos Tsitsipas will have more than a place in the US Open quarterfinals at stake when he faces eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton in the fourth round at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the early hours of Monday, according to Indian Standard Time.
The Greek star is also the last remaining men’s singles player at Flushing Meadows using a one-handed backhand, leaving him as the final hope of preserving a remarkable 150-year Grand Slam tradition.
According to the ATP, since the inaugural Wimbledon Championships in 1877, at least one player using a one-handed backhand has reached the men’s singles semifinals at a Grand Slam in every year. However, the streak is under serious threat after no one-handed backhand player reached the last four at the Australian Open, French Open or Wimbledon in 2026.
Tsitsipas is therefore the only player who can extend the sequence at the US Open, and he is aware of the significance.
“I’ve got a 150-year streak to save,” the 28-year-old wrote on X after being told about the record earlier in the tournament.
Tsitsipas will make his first appearance in the US Open fourth round. It is also his first Grand Slam pre-quarterfinal since the 2024 French Open, where he reached the quarterfinals.
The Greek was asked about the declining use of the one-handed backhand after defeating Lloyd Harris in the second round. He also discussed French player Diane Parry’s unusual ability to return with a two-handed backhand before switching to a one-handed stroke during rallies.
“I would never be able to pull that off,” Tsitsipas said, explaining that the two-handed backhand requires greater involvement of the left hand and that switching between the two techniques would be too demanding.
Tsitsipas acknowledged that the one-handed backhand is disappearing from the modern game and joked about its declining presence.
“You see, every single decade, we are degrading. We are like dinosaurs going extinct,” he said.
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