Internet loses its mind over 12-year-old’s incredible viral tennis clip

Roger Federer’s silky one-handed backhand may be a thing of the past if this is what the future of tennis looks like.

In fact, backhands could become extinct altogether if a young gun’s form is anything to go by.

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Footage of Teodor Davidov competing in the under-12s division of a junior tournament in America on the weekend has gone viral after he showed off the incredibly rare skill of possessing a right-handed and left-handed forehand.

Davidov had no need for a backhand, alternating between holding the racquet in his left and right hands to strike traditional forehands off either wing.

A clip of the unusual approach has been viewed more than 320,000 times on Twitter, and former pro and tennis administrator Paul McNamee believes it’s only a matter of time until we see it on the ATP or WTA tours.

“I’ve always felt that is the next development in tennis … having two ‘King’ forehands,” McNamee tweeted. “Just imagine facing Rafa’s forehand on both sides … too good.

“You will see it one day.”

Tennis commentator Blair Henley said she “would very much like to see this at the highest level”.

“To have two forehands and to hit them both this well is amazing,” she tweeted in response to Davidov’s clip. “To be a true switch hitter on the *serve* is next level. He’s in the 12s?!”

Former player turned coach and analyst, Brad Gilbert, called the skill level “tremendous” on Twitter while AFL reporter Mark Stevens wrote: “The future.”

Will backhands be around in 50 years?Source:Getty Images

Davidov reminded veteran tennis reporter Christopher Clarey of Yevgeniya Kulikovskaya, who he described as “the last all-forehand player to make it to a grand slam tournament”.

The Russian cracked the top 100 after learning as a kid to switch hands rather than hit backhands — a trait she carried all the way through to the professional ranks.

“I feel like a horse in the circus, running and people are looking at you do stuff,’’ Kulikovskaya told the New York Times in 2003. “Sometimes, I’m getting crazy, because people come and see me, and they point their finger at me: ‘Look! Look! Look, how she plays!’

“I understand it’s different, and people will react, but sometimes I can’t stand it.’’

In that same NYT piece, Michael De Jong — a former coach of two-time grand slam champion Mary Pierce — said “two forehands is the dream”.

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