Watch: Thiem on Toughest Shot

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The one-handed backhand is a signature shot for Dominic Thiem, but it was once the most problematic stroke in his arsenal.

Tomas Berdych, Marin Cilic and Grigor Dimitrov also discuss the toughest shot to master in the video above.

More: Thiem Earns Much-Needed Win

Thiem, who like Pete Sampras changed from a two-handed backhand to a one-hander during his junior days, says it took him several years to fully control the stroke.

"I think (the toughest shot) was my backhand because I changed from a both handed to a one-handed (backhand)," Thiem said in Rotterdam. "It took for sure four or five years until I trusted it in a match... It took a long, long way to get there."

The eighth-ranked Austrian possesses one of the most explosive forehands in the game and his backhand is widely regarded as one of the best.