Southpaws on the roll

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The conclusion of this year’s Wimbledon tournament has highlighted the issue of left-handed players. Many of the top players, not only in tennis but in other sports as well, are left-handed and this is sometimes seen as having an added advantage over right-handed players.
Growing up, World No. 2, Rafael Nadal, a natural right-handed player was made to practise with his left hand by his father. In the women’s arena, Petra Kvitova made history by being the first left-handed player to reach the Wimbledon final since Martina Navratilova in 1994. And Roger Federer has tennis player Bob Bryan on speed dial, to advise him whenever he has to play against a left-handed player. Even Serena Williams says, “I always wanted to be a lefty.”
But why is this being looked on as an advantage and are there different techniques in being left-handed that tilt the balance towards these players?
Eighteen-year-old footballer Richard Rego from Springdale Academy says, “It does give us an advantage as it’s harder for people who play with their right foot to counter us. Also, many left-foot players have a reputation of being powerful kickers, like David Silvam, Ryan Giggs and Lionel Messi. Many players are right-footed so defenders assume that the player will veer right, this gives lefties an advantage. In the professional arena, all players are trained to counter both ways but locally it does give us an upper hand.”
For some, being left-handed has meant that even though they were not the best they were chosen to play. Nineteen-year-old cricketer, Rupesh Jhabak, from OU, says, “As a left-handed cricket player at school, I was sometimes selected over a right-handed player although I was not as good.”
Affirming this opinion is K. John Manoj, from St John’s Sports Coaching Foundation says, “Being left-handed is propitious. The service stance changes and also it’s easier to play both ways. As was evident during the match between Novak and Nadal, Novak’s stance was different to adjust to Nadal’s service. But, whether you win or lose, it is not about being left or right handed.”
Therefore, it seems your skill and perseverance is what will see you through. As Vaishnavi Sethia, 17, from Little Flower Junior College, says, “I play lawn tennis and for me being left-handed doesn’t give me any advantage. In fact, there are right-handed players who are far better than me. It’s more the ability to counteract your opponent’s move.”
After all, Rafael Nadal couldn’t stop the winning rampage of World No. 1, Novak Djokovic, with his strong left-handed strokes.