Do lefties have an advantage in tennis? Experts weigh in
Do left-handed players have an edge in tennis?
Several tennis greats are lefties, like John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova. Meanwhile, the likes of Rafael Nadal, Jack Draper, and Leylah Fernandez are right-handed but play with their left hand on the court.
Following Alex Eala's first WTA title win at the Mubadala DC Open on Aug. 4, Jessica Pegula, whom the Pinay defeated to clinch the championship, explained why she was "tricky" to play against.
"She's a lefty, she hits the ball well, she kind of baits you with her lefty serve. I have seen her in the gym a lot," the American player, who's currently the world no. 3, said.
Former world no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki also spoke about Eala's game during her Wimbledon run in July.
"I think it helps her that she's a lefty, with her serve obviously not being great—that's the biggest area for improvement. But it does help that she has that lefty slice, and it gives opponents trouble,' she said in an interview with Tennis365.
But is there a real advantage for lefty tennis players?
Fewer lefties
Gee Abacan, coach of the Ateneo de Manila Junior and Senior High School tennis team, told PhilSTAR L!fe that he believes lefties have an edge.
"We get to practice more righties than lefties in general," he shared.
According to a Columbia University study, only 15% of professional tennis players are left-handed. Because of this, tennis athletes—whatever their handedness—are more used to playing righties than lefties.
Sportscaster Severino Sarmenta, meanwhile, added that being a lefty had another perk.
"[Lefties] like John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova have distinct advantages because they can surprise an opponent who is probably anticipating a shot from the right angle," he told L!fe. "This is the advantage Alex Eala has and has been urged by lefties like Navratilova to use that advantage to the hilt."
"The lefty will use angles in shot exchanges and, off the serve, will try to find more angles than power," he added.
The 'spin'
A left-handed player's forehand goes cross-court into a righty's backhand, which is usually weaker. But the same can be said when the sides are flipped. Pattern of play aside, what gives lefties the upper hand is how the ball spins when they hit it.
"Lefties have this odd, different spin when you play them," Abacan said. "They create unusual spin and unusual angles since their dominant side is the left side (usual practice partners are righties)," he added.
In Eala's matches against Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon and Naomi Osaka at the Mubadala DC Open, the Pinay's second serve, which is slower and causes the ball to spin, scored her points.
Serena Williams' coach, Rennae Stubbs, was even asked for advice, as top WTA players like Swiatek, Osaka, Elena Ryabinka, and Elina Svitolina were defeated by Eala.
"Don't fight that spin. When a lefty serves [you] try not [to] hit it against that spin," she wrote on X.
Both Sarmenta and Abacan noted that the key to facing a lefty is to play the tough angles.
"Manny Pacquiao is a lefty and a hard hitter and threw off many opponents with angles of punches they never saw coming. Be ready to play the surprises when you play the lefties," the sportscaster said.
Meanwhile, the coach said that pro players should practice with lefties. "[Roger] Federer hires lefty practice partners when he plays Nadal."
Eala has advanced to the Round of 32 at the Canadian Open in Toronto after defeating Alycia Parks. She goes on to face Caty McNally.
The Pinay will also team up with her previous Bad Homburg Open partner Venus Williams in the tournament's doubles against Miyu Kato and Liudmila Samsanova on Aug. 7, 8:10 a.m. (Philippine time).