Roger Federer, Steffi Graf, and Justine Henin: Who Has the Better Slice? | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report
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Roger Federer, Steffi Graf, and Justine Henin: Who Has the Better Slice?

Michael CasentiCorrespondent IAugust 19, 2010

Roger Federer, Steffi Graf, Justine Henin...the similarities?  Multiple grand slams won, one-handed backhand, gracefulness, and most of all an infamous slice backhand.  These three tennis players are known for their slices, so here are my comparisons on them.

Roger Federer 

In my opinion, one of the many reasons Roger Federer has dominated the men's tour is because of his slice.  He can hit a deep, low slice, or a short, chipped slice.  He can even hit a sliced drop shot very well.  His game plan relies on his slice. As most players on the men's tour aren't that good to adjusting to a slice backhand, Federer has used it very often.  Federer usually slices to a right-handed player's double-handed backhand, and it is difficult to control a slice well enough to hit it back down the line.  Therefore, Federer almost always is able to predict where the opponent will hit back, which is around the center of the court.  Since Federer is able to anticipate where his opponent's ball will land, Federer can usually run around his backhand and hit his lethal forehand to set-up or create a winner.

Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf employs a similar tactic to Roger Federer.  She sets up for a sizzling forehand by anticipating her opponent's ball and running around her backhand. Also with less-athletic players, Graf can hit a slice with much depth, forcing the player to hit up, which can be extremely hard.   Also, Graf might get a short ball off a slice, and can hit the easy winner off the short ball.

Justine Henin

Justine Henin uses her slice extremely well in an era dominated by six-foot and above players. With her very low skidding slice, she can force her tall opponent to bend down low to get the slice back in play.  Also with the one-dimensional play in the women's game nowadays, many players have trouble to hit the ball back, resulting in an error.  Another way Henin wins points off of her slice is by slicing to the backhand of her opponent, and the opponent slices back, but the slice would usually sit up, making for an easy winner.

I am not an expert on slices, but as everyone knows, these three people are the greatest slicers of all time.  So please write your argument in your comment below! Who has the better slice!