At just 14 years of age, Lucas Herrera Sanchez has already become one of the greatest promises in tennis. His story is not only striking because of his results, but also because of his unusual playing style. He competes without a backhand, using a forehand with both arms, a quality that gives him an advantage over his competitors by appearing to have no ‘weak arm’.
Lucas Herrera Sanchez represents Germany, but he has Latin ancestry as he is the son of a Chilean father and an Argentine mother. In a short time he has become one of the names to follow in the tennis world.
Playing style
What sets Lucas Herrera Sanchez apart from the rest of the juniors is his total ambidexterity. Instead of developing a traditional backhand, the young German executes “forehand” shots from both sides of the court, switching hands with ease. This technique, which is uncommon even at the highest level, has made him a unique case on the circuit.
From his first participation in national tournaments, his game caught the attention of coaches, rivals and fans. At only 13 years of age, he was already surprising in high-profile competitions such as Les Petit As, a tournament historically linked to the emergence of future world tennis stars.
The Latin influence behind the talent of Lucas Herrera
The origin of this particular style is at home. Lucas has said that it was his father, Jorge Herrera, who taught him to play using only forehands from a very young age. Far from being an improvisation, this methodology was refined over time until it became a hallmark.
The family environment plays a key role in his development. While his father accompanies the sporting process, his mother, of Argentine origin, and Lucas himself prioritize academic training. In fact, the young man attends a bilingual school and maintains a routine that balances daily studies and training.
Why did Lucas Herrera go viral?
The young tennis player went viral due to his peculiar way of playing. But his style of play is not only flashy and atypical, but also effective and his numbers support him: In the last season, Lucas Herrera Sanchez achieved five podium finishes on the European Junior Tour, a bronze medal in Monte Carlo and one of his greatest achievements so far, gold in doubles at the European Junior Championship, together with Luys Calin.
These results position him as one of the most intriguing talents of his generation and reinforce the expectation of his projection on the ITF circuit, where he plans to take his next competitive steps.
Lucas Herrera’s idols
Like many young tennis players, Lucas finds inspiration in established figures. Roger Federer was his great role model as a child, and today he follows closely players such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
With Latin American roots, European training and a disruptive style, his path is just beginning, but it already makes him one of the most attractive appearances in youth tennis today.
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