topspin
noun
top·spin ˈtäp-ˌspin 
: a rotary motion imparted to a ball that causes it to rotate forward in the direction it is traveling
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The beauty of his backhand was no match for the heavy topspin of Nadal’s forehand that day, and on numerous other days to follow. 
Gerald Marzorati, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2022 Raleigh Upton served the final two points with topspin to finish off the match. Colin Murphy, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2022 Rising to the distinctive occasion that meant the winner Sunday would be the world No. 1, Alcaraz fired 55 winners, won 34 points at the net, and had emphatic responses to Ruud’s tricky topspin shots. Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 His opponents all try to hit with heavy topspin to bury him in the backcourt. New York Times, 1 May 2022 But Saturday belonged to Swiatek and her own heavy-topspin forehand. New York Times, 4 June 2022 On display were Swiatek’s heavy topspin forehand, her expert court coverage and swift movement, her hands and feel for the ball at the net, and — perhaps most importantly — her never-give-up attitude, which is so essential on clay. Andrew Dampf, ajc, 16 May 2022 The teenager tossed up a topspin lob near the baseline that Nadal could not catch up to and Alcaraz led 5-4. Beth Harris, ajc, 20 Mar. 2022 This is the first edition of the French Open to feature night sessions and the king of clay felt that the cooler temperatures as the match progressed played to Djokovic’s strengths — mainly by taking some of the sting out of Nadal’s topspin. Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 11 June 2021 See More
Gerald Marzorati, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2022 Raleigh Upton served the final two points with topspin to finish off the match. Colin Murphy, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2022 Rising to the distinctive occasion that meant the winner Sunday would be the world No. 1, Alcaraz fired 55 winners, won 34 points at the net, and had emphatic responses to Ruud’s tricky topspin shots. Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 His opponents all try to hit with heavy topspin to bury him in the backcourt. New York Times, 1 May 2022 But Saturday belonged to Swiatek and her own heavy-topspin forehand. New York Times, 4 June 2022 On display were Swiatek’s heavy topspin forehand, her expert court coverage and swift movement, her hands and feel for the ball at the net, and — perhaps most importantly — her never-give-up attitude, which is so essential on clay. Andrew Dampf, ajc, 16 May 2022 The teenager tossed up a topspin lob near the baseline that Nadal could not catch up to and Alcaraz led 5-4. Beth Harris, ajc, 20 Mar. 2022 This is the first edition of the French Open to feature night sessions and the king of clay felt that the cooler temperatures as the match progressed played to Djokovic’s strengths — mainly by taking some of the sting out of Nadal’s topspin. Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 11 June 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
top entry 1
First Known Use
1902, in the meaning defined above