Sen, you backhanded compliment you

Ask any baddie player, and they'll tell you that the backhand is an incredibly difficult shot to play. But what about a no-look, behind-the-back backhand stroke? Lakshya Sen unveiled this incredible shot - a commentator named it a 'matrix move', while fans dubbed it a 'god-level shot' - on Wednesday at Paris during a scorching rally against world No. 3, Indonesia's Jonatan Christie. Sen won in straight sets, securing a place in the pre-quarters. Huzzah!

The beauty of the Senback - Sen backhand - however, was not just the shot itself but how gracefully the 22-yr-old executed it. It was as if he had a secret third hand that appeared at just the right moment, Nataraj-style. And as the stadium erupted in joy after witnessing something flawlessly beautiful, Sen held his concentration and won the rally. Champion stuff, monsieur. But beyond leaving spectators awestruck, Sen has done the world of words a fab deed. With one stroke, he has redefined the word 'backhand', a term that often carries negative connotations, implying indirectness, criticism or deceit. One might give a backhanded compliment like, 'Your presentation was surprisingly good for someone with your experience.' Or be part of a backhanded deal, a rather deceitful agreement. But, bhai, Sen's backhand.... Now, thanks to Sen-san, a backhanded compliment has got a whole new meaning.