The Lefty Comeback? How Tennis Southpaws Are Shaking Up the Game Again
From 2008 to 2020, the golden era of the Big Three – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic – dominated tennis so completely that the only real question in a grand slam draw was which of them would collide before the final. Often, the semi-finals were more electrifying than the finals—think Federer vs Djokovic at the 2010 & 2011 US Open, or Nadal vs Djokovic at the 2013 & 2021 French Open.
This kind of impenetrable trio hadn’t been seen since the late 1970s and early 1980s, when Jimmy Connors, Björn Borg, and John McEnroe ruled the courts. That era stood out for another reason: the dominance of left-handed players. From 1974 to 1984, a southpaw won the US Open every single year. Connors, McEnroe, Guillermo Vilas, Manuel Orantes, and Roscoe Tanner made left-handed tennis nearly unstoppable. Even before them, Rod Laver, another lefty, was the undisputed king when the Open Era began.
Where Did All the Lefties Go?
Fast forward, and the picture is different. Since McEnroe’s last US Open title in 1984, only two lefties – Nadal and Goran Ivanišević – have won Wimbledon or the US Open. A handful of others—Andrés Gómez (1990 French Open), Thomas Muster (1995 French Open), Petr Korda (1998 Australian Open)—snagged titles, but the era of southpaw supremacy faded.
Ironically, Nadal isn’t even a natural lefty. As a kid, he hit two-handed shots on both wings. His uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, noticed he was stronger from the left-handed side, and the rest became history.
The women’s game has seen a similar decline. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles (a natural lefty) racked up slams. Since then, only Petra Kvitova, Angelique Kerber, and Markéta Vondroušová have flown the flag for lefties at the majors.
The Lefty Advantage – Why It Still Matters
So why have lefties historically been so dangerous? Their unorthodox spins and angles disrupt right-handers, who make up the majority of players. McEnroe’s wicked slice serve in the ad court and Nadal’s heavy topspin forehand into Federer’s backhand are legendary examples. Simply put: lefties train against righties their whole lives, while righties rarely face lefties.
It’s the same story in other sports. In baseball, left-handed pitchers dominate Hall of Fame stats. In cricket, left-arm bowlers cause havoc with unusual angles. The serve in tennis works the same way—it confuses, frustrates, and creates opportunities.
A New Lefty Renaissance?
Now, a new generation of southpaws is stepping up. Leading the charge:
Ben Shelton – The fiery American, currently world No. 6, is enjoying his best season yet. He won his first Masters title in Canada, blasted through the US Open first round in straight sets, and is making the most of his wide ad-court lefty serve. He’s still trying to solve the puzzle of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner (1–9 combined record), but with his massive serve and fearless style, Shelton could break through soon.
Jack Draper – The Brit, once a natural righty who switched like Nadal, has turned into a dangerous all-rounder. He claimed his first Masters title at Indian Wells in 2025 and has both a forehand and backhand capable of finishing points.
Terence Atmane – The surprise package from France. The 23-year-old stunned Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune in Cincinnati before pushing Sinner in the semi-finals. With a Roscoe Tanner-style abbreviated service motion and explosive forehand, Atmane looked like a breakout star—until a foot injury forced him out of the US Open.
Why Lefties Are Good for Tennis
Contrast creates drama. The sport thrives on variety—big servers vs grinders, attackers vs defenders, righties vs lefties. Having more southpaws in the mix means more unpredictable matchups, fresh rivalries, and higher-quality tennis.
With Shelton, Draper, and Atmane rising fast, it feels like a lefty renaissance is underway. If Shelton wins a slam, he wouldn’t just become the first American male major champion since Andy Roddick—he’d also be the first American lefty to win a slam since McEnroe in 1984.
The stage is set. And with their natural advantage and fearless styles, it’s only a matter of time before a southpaw lifts another grand slam trophy.