Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and the 20 Most Unbelievable Tennis Trick Shots Ever

Tennis great Bill Tilden once described how tennis transcended sporting realms and went into the art world. He saw himself as a performer who was there to entertain.

Whenever I see a tennis player perform a trick-shot, even if I've seen a tweener (a between-the-legs shot) countless times, it still makes me gasp.

I guess there is something unbelievable about a trick-shot because it's so high risk and an uncommon shot. 

This list isn't exhaustive, so if you have any examples, provide a link to the YouTube video below in the comment section. 

Here are the 20 most unbelievable tennis trick-shots ever.  

Roger Federer's Piece of Clay Genius

There's something beautiful about Roger Federer sliding and pivoting to perfection in order to hit that astounding shot. 

David Ferrer's Unintentional or Intentional Whiff?

My friend insists David Ferrer took a whiff at it, and the ATPWorldTour uploader agrees with him. 

I believe it was a trick-shot, albeit a poorly executed one from Ferrer. 

His reaction was too quick to say it was an unintentional whiff. 

What do you think? 

Andy Murray's Balls of Steel

Imagine if Andy Murray missed the shot?

So many pundits would have critiqued the Scot's arrogance 

Clearly Murray was practicing for Wimbledon, because he pulled off the exact same shot against Ivan Ljubičić. 

Andy Roddick's Claim to the Mercedes Benz Play of the Week

This shot was so good that it began being used in the Mercedes Benz Play of the Week introduction. 

Jimmy Connor's Hail Mary Throw

To my understanding of the tennis rules, your racquet has to be in your hand when you make contact with the ball. Therefore, logic would tell me that Jimmy Connor's "shot" was illegal. 

Though when Guillermo Coria threw his racquet at the ball, presumably hoping it would make some kind of fluke deflection, it hit the ball girl. 

Unlike Tim Henman, Coria wasn't defaulted. 

Oh, and Connor's celebration speaks for itself. 

Roger Federer's Smashlob

If anyone is familiar with cricket, it's like a fast bowler delivering a slow bouncer, which contradicts the point of a bouncer. 

Here, Roger Federer shapes up for a smash, and Novak Djokovic is in position at the net hoping to get a racquet on the shot, but Federer somehow lobs him. 

I guess it's called a smashlob. Amazing trickery. 

Mary Pierce Running Tweener

A mix of athleticism and audaciousness. 

Mary Pierce was at home on clay, winning a French Open and reaching the finals twice. 

Gaël Monfils' Unparalleled Athleticism

If you thought Mary Pierce's shot was athletic, watch Gaël Monfils pull off something extraordinary.

It would have been legendary if he had won the point from that shot.   

Janko Tipsarević Showing His Squash Skills

It wouldn't surprise me if Janko Tipsarević was pretty good at squash.

So much flexibility in his wrists.

There's an even better shot by Tipsarević, which I still remember vividly.

Read on to find out. 

Juan Martín Del Potro's Immaculate Tweener

This was when Juan Martín Del Potro was just 19 years old, and if I recall correctly, he received a wild card into Madrid Masters. 

He ended up beating Tommy Robredo 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 before losing 6-2, 6-4 to David Nalbandian, who surprisingly went on to to win the tournament. 

Considering Del Potro has such long legs, the tweener just looks so immaculate. 

Marcelo Ríos' 180° Return

Marcelo Ríos ended up turning 360°, but I believe he was roughly 180° when he hit that return. 

Positional ability, racquet awareness and outright cheekiness made the shot so unbelievable. 

Alberto Martín was so peeved at what Ríos did that he fired what should have been an easy winner into the net. 

Roger Federer Being Himself

I... er... don't know how to describe it. 

Somehow Roger Federer managed to not only get to the ball but hit it in a way that made the ball lob over Andre Agassi, who looked very ambivalent.

Andre Agassi's Rock-and-Roll Tennis Trick-Shot

If only Andre Agassi had made this shot five years earlier when he still had the wild hair and wild persona. 

Out of the world. 

The crowd appreciated it as they lauded Agassi with a standing ovation. 

PhenomeNadal

Poor old Novak Djokovic... habitual victim of the tweener. 

Dominik Hrbatý's Career Highlight

Finally, Roger Federer getting a taste of his own medicine. 

It's a real shame that Dominik Hrbatý has retired, because I always liked him not only as a tennis player but also his persona.

I recall him being overshadowed at the Hopman Cup by his ever-so-glamorous teammate Daniela Hantuchová. 

I guess in a way, Hrbatý was always overshadowed because he was a mild-mannered guy who was a solid but not world-class tennis player. 

This must be his career highlight. 

Dick Norman's Behind-the-Back Lob

Don't be fooled by Dick Norman's 6'8" frame, because that was a Roger Federer-like shot. 

At age 40, he's still chugging along in the ATP Tour as a doubles player. 

One of the Best Tennis Trick-Shots Ever

I remember this game quite vividly—well, parts of the game, and definitely Janko Tipsarević's shot. 

This was in Tipsarević's backyard in Belgrade, a real hostile atmosphere, and the crowd went nuts when the Serb completed such an astonishing shot. 

Lleyton Hewitt outlasted Tipsarević in five, winning 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. 

Filip Polášek Is More Then Just a Doubles Player

You know how many singles matches Filip Polášek has played on the ATP circuit? One. 

Then again, he is a doubles specialist, but you'd think he would have played more.

You generally see Polášek, a competent doubles player, with František Čermák on the ATP doubles circuit. 

The Magician

One of my all-time favourite tennis players: Fabrice Santoro. 

Aside from being a magician, Santoro had so much heart and determination to compensate for his lack of physical prowess.

Hopefully people will also remember that epic 6-hour, 33-minute dual with compatriot Arnaud Clément in the French Open. 

Though you wouldn't blame people if they only remembered Santoro for being a magician. 

Is This the Best Tennis Shot in History?

What's ironic about the YouTube video is that a message pops up saying to watch in HD. 

I'm thinking to myself it can't get more HD than this. 

I wish all YouTube videos were as clear as this one is.

We've all seen the shot, but let's admire it again. 

Mansour Bahrami's Flamboyance

This article is an homage to one of tennis' greatest entertainers—Mansour Bahrami.

Please read Serena Williams and the 20 Worst Temper Tantrums in Tennis History.