International Left-Handers Day: Who is the left-handed player you know best?

Every year on August 13th, we celebrate International Left-Handers Day. This occasion aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by left-handed individuals in a predominantly right-handed world, advocating for inclusivity in tool design, educational systems, and the elimination of historical biases.

Surveys indicate that around 6%-13% of the global population is left-handed, which means there is about one left-handed person for every ten individuals. In the professional tennis world, several prominent left-handed players have emerged, and let’s take a look at some of the well-known athletes.

Martina Navratilova

Left-handed grip, single-handed backhand

Born in 1956 in Czechoslovakia, Navratilova was once regarded as one of the best tennis players in the world. After becoming a U.S. citizen in 1981, she won a total of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam doubles titles, and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles throughout her career.

Navratilova turned professional in 1975 and won her last mixed doubles title at the Wimbledon Championships in 2003, spanning her career across two centuries. At 46 years old, she became the oldest Grand Slam champion.

Angelique Kerber

Left-handed grip, double-handed backhand

Born in 1988, Kerber's rise to success came later in her career. Although she made her professional debut in 2003, it wasn't until 2016 that she claimed her first Grand Slam title—winning both the Australian Open and the U.S. Open that year, earning her the title of WTA Player of the Year in 2016.

In 2018, Kerber lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish at Wimbledon after defeating Serena Williams in the final, marking her final Grand Slam victory in her career.

Kerber officially retired after losing to China's Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics last year. Over her career, she secured 3 Grand Slam titles and 14 tour titles, and she was also a former world number one in women's singles.

Petra Kvitova

Left-handed grip, double-handed backhand

As the first player born in the 1990s to win a Grand Slam singles title, Kvitova is considered a prodigy in professional tennis. She reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2010 by defeating top players like Azarenka and Wozniacki, and the following year she claimed the title by overcoming Sharapova and other elite competitors.

In the 2014 season, she again lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish. Despite experiencing fluctuations in form in the subsequent seasons, Kvitova's achievements in her career surpass those of most players. According to recent news, Kvitova plans to retire after this year's U.S. Open.

In addition to these players, current left-handed athletes include Wang Xiyu, Vondroušová, and Fernández. So, who is the left-handed player you are most familiar with?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Barbie)