Some forehands are functional. Others are violent. But the prettiest forehands? They’re the ones that glide off the strings like poetry, leaving fans in awe and opponents shaking their heads.
From effortless elegance to blistering power with style, these players had forehands that weren’t just effective — they were flat-out beautiful to watch. Let’s count down the 30 prettiest forehands the sport has ever seen.
30. Mary Pierce
Pierce’s forehand was all about clean, explosive contact. When she caught it just right, it looked like a missile painted with finesse.
29. Tommy Haas
Haas had one of the smoothest strokes on tour, and his forehand was a model of controlled aggression. It was textbook German precision with a bit of flair.
28. Naomi Osaka
Osaka’s forehand has serious power, but the balance and timing make it look so good. When she’s locked in, it’s a straight-line blur.
27. Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz brings flair and flexibility to a forehand that explodes off the racquet. It’s a modern weapon that somehow already looks like a classic.
26. Svetlana Kuznetsova
Kuznetsova’s forehand had a gorgeous arc and plenty of kick. It had a whip that made every rally more fun to watch.
25. Kei Nishikori
Nishikori’s compact forehand was like a laser beam — short takeback, clean contact, and smooth follow-through. It was surgical and stylish.
24. Ana Ivanovic
Ivanovic’s forehand was full of motion and grace, with a huge backswing and a whip-like finish. It looked like she was painting winners with a brush.
23. Stefan Edberg
Edberg didn’t overpower you with his forehand, but the grace and timing were undeniable. It fit perfectly with his flowing serve-and-volley game.
22. Sebastian Grosjean
Grosjean’s forehand was like a controlled flame — compact, efficient, and elegant enough to admire in slow motion. He made it look so simple.
21. Jelena Ostapenko
When Ostapenko’s forehand clicks, it’s as powerful as stylish. The full-body rotation and commitment make every stroke feel cinematic.
20. Stan Wawrinka
Yes, Stan is known for the backhand, but don’t sleep on that forehand. It’s smooth and firm, and it finishes with a signature flourish
19. Michael Chang
Chang’s forehand wasn’t flashy, but it had a wonderful blend of spin and placement. It danced more than punched — and that made it pretty.
18. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Tsonga’s forehand had serious flair — big backswing, high follow-through, and a sense of drama. It was a crowd-pleaser from every angle.
17. Petra Kvitova
Kvitova’s forehand is sharp, lefty, and smooth as silk when she’s on. There’s something about that lefty swing path that always looks good.
16. Dominic Thiem
Thiem’s forehand was a hammer with the form of a ballet dancer. It was all torque and topspin, delivered with incredible grace.
15. Novak Djokovic
Djokovic’s forehand isn’t flashy, but the mechanics are so sound that it becomes beautiful in repetition. It’s the perfect example of function becoming form.
14. Martina Hingis
Hingis didn’t hit the most brutal forehand, but hers was intelligent, fluid, and oh-so-pleasing to watch. It was more art than force.
13. Roger Taylor
Before the modern power game took over, Taylor’s forehand was an elegant slice of vintage tennis. It had flow, control, and a timeless feel.
12. Lleyton Hewitt
Hewitt’s forehand wasn’t flashy, but his timing was pure, and his footwork made it look gorgeous in motion. His ability to change direction with it was unmatched.
11. Amélie Mauresmo
Mauresmo’s forehand came from a wide stance, rolling through the court with natural grace. I like the rest of her game. It was effortlessly stylish
10. Richard Gasquet
Gasquet’s backhand steals most of the headlines, but his forehand has an often overlooked relaxed fluidity. It’s the forehand equivalent of sipping espresso in a French café.
9. Jim Courier
Courier’s forehand was pure American muscle, but it had a surprisingly pretty finish for something aggressive. The lasso-like motion gave it flair.
8. Monica Seles
Two hands, full power, and zero hesitation — Seles made her forehand look like controlled chaos. The follow-through was tidy, and the timing was stunning.
7. Juan Carlos Ferrero
Ferrero’s forehand was all about simplicity and rhythm. It wasn’t flashy, just a beautiful, repeatable motion that wore opponents down.
6. Maria Sharapova
Sharapova’s forehand had drama — big swing, big grunt, and a picture-perfect extension. It was as stylish as it was fierce.
5. Fernando Verdasco
Verdasco’s lefty forehand looked like a tennis artist had drawn it up. Its heavy topspin and fluid motion gave it highlight-reel vibes.
4. Serena Williams
Serena’s forehand had raw power and clean lines. Her technique was as sharp as her intensity, and she always looked like a winner.
3. Pete Sampras
Sampras didn’t just serve like a legend — his forehand was smooth, precise, and devastating. The compact motion and surgical precision were a thing of beauty.
2. Rafael Nadal
Nadal’s buggy-whip forehand might be unconventional, but it’s slow-motion hypnotic. That spin, power, and signature flourish is tennis artistry.
1. Roger Federer
No surprise here — Federer’s forehand is the swing everyone wishes they had. Graceful, fluid, and effortlessly powerful, it’s the gold standard of pretty strokes.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Greatest Servers in Tennis History
