"Next 3" Topspin

[jimlosaltos]

Re-sharing images posted by tennis stat guru @Vestige-du-jour compiling groundstroke topspin by the "Next 3" of Sinner, Alcaraz, and Rune.
Graphic and table of backhand and forehand spin by the trio, from TennisTV second screen compiled and plotted by nom-du-web Vestige.

So, Alcaraz has the most spin on his forehand, one could argue Sinner is hitting the most combined spin, and Rune the flattest balls. Now, these are "averages" and as we all know averages can deceive. Interpret as you will.

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[stotty]

So Carlos hits less topspin on clay than on hard courts. I thought it would be the other way round.

[johnyandell]

Well those numbers are pretty close...who knows how many events to get those averages. When we did our studies the averages were coming from a wide range. Might be the case here...

[stroke]

Jim, Alcaraz clearly at the top tier spin rates on the forehand. Isn't Tsitsipas right there with him?

[jimlosaltos]

Jim, Alcaraz clearly at the top tier spin rates on the forehand. Isn't Tsitsipas right there with him?

Funny you should ask <g>.

This graphic, also brand new from @Vestigue_du_jour using ATP's "Second Screen" data, is complex, but rich with information.

The bottom axis shows forehand topspin, further right is higher, the axis on your left is backhand topspin, with further up being higher. Players dots are color coding by ATP rank, which helps finding the top 10, etc. Players with one-handed backhands have their names shaded in yellow.

Casper Ruud is in the top, right quadrant and thus could be said to have the "highest overall spin, combining forehand and backhand", while Alcaraz is lower right, showing his forehand as one of the second highest topspin average on our, but much lower spin on is backhand. Stef Tsitsipas is in a cluster with Thiem and Dimitrov, significantly higher than tour average on both sides.

The most extreme differential is that of Cam Norrie, in your lower right -- with a heavy forehand and the flatest overall backhand on tour, even flatter than that of Adrian Mannarino, in the lower left corner.

One-handed backhands comprise every one of the top, spin numbers --- except for Ruud, making him quite an outlier.

From memory, it appears to me that Theim's forehand has lost about 300 RPMs from when he was challenging for 'Slam titles. Tough recovery from wrist injury.

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