2010s in tennis: 5 most unorthodox WTA players of the decade

3. Monica Niculescu

Monica Niculescu

How far can you go as a competitive tennis player without a topspin forehand at your disposal? 32-year-old Romanian star Monica Niculescu has tried to provide an answer to that question all through her career.

At the beginning, it would feel surreal to watch someone hitting a slice forehand every single time during a rally (even against the likes of the Williams sIsters and Maria Sharapova). But the feeling goes from surreal to blown-out absurdity when you see the same player come on top of the rally by doing just that.

Niculescu has done that through most of her career. She has sliced and diced her way through tough opponents, matches and even long drawn-out tournaments altogether.

That is not to disregard the rest of her game. When it comes to having a consistent backhand and solid game at the net, Niculescu ranks right at the top, with the best athletes of the game.

Commentators and skeptics were quick to dismiss her as a fluke or a one-hit wonder, but Niculescu's eight singles WTA finals and three titles have put those arguments to rest. The answer then, to the question posed earlier (how far can you go as a competitive tennis player without a topspin forehand at your disposal?) is: all the way!