Giuseppe Merlo
Giuseppe "Beppe" Merlo was an Italian tennis player, who is considered the inventor of the two-handed backhand, many years before this style of stroke was made internationally popular by Bjorn Borg and became the backhand technique preferred by the majority of recreational and professional players.
Merlo reached the semifinals of French Championships in 1955 and 1956. In the final of Rome in 1955, Merlo led 2 sets to 1 and had 2 match points against Fausto Gardini, but minutes later had to retire with cramps. Merlo lost in the Italian Open final again in 1957.
He retired from competitive tennis in 1969 when he was 41 years old. He was 91 at the time of his passing in July 2019.
