Jimmy has switched from a two-hand backhand to a one-hand backhand and has struggled with that, but is improving. He has also played some very tough competition at No. 1 singles. I think for him (5-8, 140 pounds) it's the right move going to a one-hand backhand because it gives him more mobility and a bigger reach.
Quotes about backhand (14 Quotes)
He's got an unbelievable backhand. You can't read it, ... You don't know if he's going up the line or he holds it to go cross-court. He's very talented. He's going to definitely be up there in contention for Grand Slam titles. It was such a tough match. I know that his arm was bothering him. I don't know how bad that was hurting.
I'm very happy with how I played. I got some confidence back. My backhand was not 100 percent today, but it was good.
Last year he had a really strong first serve -- if it went in. This year he is much more consistent with it. His backhand is also very strong this year as well, his ground strokes ... he's just a much more consistent player. I just see him getting better and improve every time I see him play.
When your leading goal scorer and your best player has 15 goals, you've got to play airtight. When we play airtight, we're a tough team to play against. When we believe that we can throw pucks in the middle, backhand passes, plays like that - and it's not one guy, it's a group effort - then we're in trouble.
I really dominated. I stuck with my tactics and kept my concentration. I tried to change speeds on her backhand ... I served well. That helps a lot in exchanges.
When I play her on grass I have a game plan where I can attack. But on the hardcourt I have to adjust. The serve is not so effective on the hardcourt and the slice on the backhand is not so effective. So I have to mix it up a little bit more.
I was really happy to make it in the first set. He was returning just so well. His backhand down the line was really killing.
It was a great experience to play against him and I hope I will get another opportunity. I am not sure I played very well today as I had problems with my serve and missed a lot of shots when he was slicing to my backhand. But I played better than in the last two finals I lost. I enjoyed myself more.
I had to fly all the way over there (to Thailand) and play five tough matches then come all the way back and play three matches here so I think my body is just saying it needs a bit of a break, ... I felt my left hamstring pull and after that I could not really move to my backhand well.
The match was up and down, but overall, I'm happy to be in the semifinals again, ... Washington has a very interesting game, meaning that she is capable of doing a lot of different things. She volleys well, serves well, can control her slice backhand well. She made some mistakes from the baseline but has an unusual game compared to the other girls who just hit hard from both sides.
His backhand is much improved ... as well as his transition game and his volleys. He's getting to a point now where he's very comfortable up at the net. And now it's just getting the confidence to be able to do it in big matches.
I figure most people, it's going to be their game plan to attack my backhand, ... I got a lot more confidence in it. When I have time to hit it, I feel like I can really go after it and hurt people with it, as opposed to playing defense all the time. I think I passed him with three backhands that first game and that's probably something he wasn't expecting.
I think he's got different techniques, and he's good on both his backhand and forehand. He also uses his body well. There's so much emphasis now on squaring up against the guy you're facing off with, but he's still able to get body position very well.