5 best tweeners in tennis

Roger Federer against Novak Djokovic, US Open 2009

Defending his title, Roger Federer drew Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals this time around. The pair were locked in a tight match, with the first set going to tiebreak that Federer eventually won. Not one to give up, Djokovic held on to fight in the second set but yet again, it was Federer who prevailed – this time, 7-5.

With the third set poised at 6-5 in favour of Federer, Djokovic was the one on serve – and could well have sent the match into a fourth set.

But Federer had other plans. Up 30-0, Federer saw a couple of backhand lobs from Djokovic at the net, returning effectively. The Serb then scooped an inside-out forehand long, with the ball barrelling towards the baseline, and quickly.

With that speed on the ball, Federer’s pickup needed to be almost instantaneous. Racing towards the ball with his back to Djokovic, Federer sent the ball between his own legs, as it landed comfortably inside the lines – with Djokovic nowhere near it to pick it up.

Perhaps no one on court was as happy as Federer himself – the tweener had brought up match point for the Swiss. Djokovic followed with a fault, with Federer sending a simple forehand winner to the beleaguered Serb.

Although Federer would eventually lose the title to Juan Martin del Potro, the shot was perhaps one of the best he has played over an ongoing, long, illustrious career.