Best Forehands In Men's Tennis
When it comes to the best forehands in men’s tennis, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Power, spin, precision, disguise and creativity – different players have mastered different aspects of the shot depending on their style, surface, and era.
Some forehands overwhelm you with raw pace; others wear you down with relentless topspin or accuracy. This list doesn’t aim to crown a definitive No.1 but instead celebrates the players whose forehands defined eras, intimidated rivals, and shaped the way the game is played. From Federer’s effortless genius to Nadal’s topspin assault and del Potro’s sheer force, each of these forehands left a unique mark on the modern game.
If you are interested in checking out the best backhands in tennis, click here for one-handed handed and here for double handed backhands.
10. Novak Djokovic
Not the flashiest by a country mile, but brutally effective. Djokovic’s forehand evolved into a consistent and offensive weapon, with excellent direction control and court positioning. A master of hitting it early and deep. Whilst we would love to exclude him from any lists, the fact that it got him 24 slams must account for something.
9. Pete Sampras
While his serve and volley game took the spotlight, Sampras’ forehand was a silent weapon, fluid, aggressive, and capable of massive inside-out winners, especially off short balls.
8. Andy Roddick
Known mainly for his serve, but his forehand was equally fierce. A short, compact motion delivered brutal pace, especially inside-out. It helped him play a major role in his hard-court success.
7. Jannik Sinner
A clean, linear strike with redline acceleration. Sinner’s forehand is deceptively powerful due to early preparation and minimal backswing, especially effective in fast-paced baseline exchanges.
6. Fernando Verdasco
A lefty powerhouse. Verdasco’s forehand was heavy, penetrating, and punishing when in rhythm. His 2009 Australian Open semi against Nadal showcased its peak devastation.
5. Carlos Alcaraz
The new-gen monster forehand. Blends Nadal-like RPM with Federer-esque creativity. Alcaraz hits massive forehands on the run, with the ability to turn defense into offense instantly. Still evolving, and scary.
Choosing the best forehand in tennis isn’t a simple, clear-cut decision. It depends on which qualities you value most, whether it’s all-around shot-making, raw power, heavy topspin, pace through the court, or creativity under pressure. The following players all brought something unique to the table, each excelling in different areas. Surface, era, playing style, and even racket technology also factors heavily into the debate. In the end, there’s no single answer, only different shades of greatness depending on the lens you view it through. From our perspective, they are all great!
1. Raw Power - Fernando González
Possibly the most explosive forehand ever. With a huge backswing and full commitment, González could end points from almost anywhere. High-risk, high-reward but terrifying when he is on.
1. Pace - Juan Martín del Potro
The hammer of tennis. Del Potro’s flat, full-throttle forehand could blast through any opponent, often topping 100 mph in rallies. His timing and ability to hit through the court were second to none.
1. Clay + RPM - Rafael Nadal
A forehand built for clay domination. With extreme topspin (upwards of 3,500 RPM), Nadal’s buggy-whip style generates high bounce and wicked angles, especially effective against right-handers’ backhands. His impact in the way he produced this swing and the amount of sheer whip has been adopted by many in the current generation of players including Rune and Alcaraz.
1. All-round - Roger Federer
The gold standard. While Fed doesn’t have the raw power of González or del Potro or the rpm’s of Rafa, his forehand was however an artful blend of these players with a sprinkling of magic on top. He can hit with surgical precision, blending disguise and effortless pace. Lethal inside-out, especially on faster courts, it allowed him to dictate play like few others in history. Some can argue that his forehand was better before he switched away from his 90sq head size but none the less as an overall stroke there isn’t anyone that can out rank him just yet.
Ranking the best forehands in men’s tennis comes down to what you value most. Whether it’s the artistry, the brutality, the consistency, or the innovation. Each player on this list brought something distinct to the table, shaping matches and careers with a single shot. Some forehands redefined dominance on clay, others blasted through the fastest hard and indoor courts, and a few seemed to defy physics altogether. While debates will always continue, what’s undeniable is that these forehands didn’t just win matches, they helped define eras of the sport. If you are interested in what some of these players used to produce these masterful shots, click here!