The Best Shot in Tennis That You (Probably) Haven't Seen Yet

Elmer Møller's game-breaking backhand is making its Grand Slam debut at Roland Garros.

PARIS, France — ATP No. 7 Casper Ruud, again the top-ranked player from Scandinavia after his win at the Madrid Open earlier this month, admitted Saturday at Roland Garros that he hadn’t yet gotten to watch much of the young player who is currently the Scandinavian No. 3.

But Ruud said he had caught one specific glimpse of 21-year-old Elmer Møller of Aarhus, Denmark, who is currently 108th in the ATP rankings.

“I saw this compilation of this backhand of his—which was crazy,” Ruud said.

Elmer Møller following through on a lethal backhand. (Photo by Regina Cortina)

Møller’s backhand, which slashes through the court like the line slashing through the second letter of his surname, will make its Grand Slam main draw debut—along with the rest of his game—on Sunday morning in a first round French Open match against No. 12 Tommy Paul on Court Simonne Mathieu.

The occasion will give most of the tennis world its first chance to behold and measure one of the most staggering shots in men’s tennis right now, and could inspire more envy from his peers.

“When I looked at that video, I was thinking, ‘Wow—I wish I had that backhand,’” Ruud said of Møller. “I think I'd be a better player…Yeah, that was a really, really, really aggressive and good backhand. I want to see it live, and I hope I can play him once.”

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