By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, March 29, 2025
Photograph credit score: Miami Open by Itau
Tennis is a numbers recreation.
Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic has spent his profession amassing dominant digits.
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The 37-year-old Serbian celebrity has reached 142 finals, received 99 profession championships, together with 24 Grand Slam crowns, holds the ATP and WTA document for many weeks as world No. 1 (428) and he is earned a document $182 million, and counting, in prize cash.
So it takes a considerable stat to impress Djokovic.
The fourth-seed’s serving precision in Miami has struck Djokovic himself as an “wonderful, wonderful customary.”
In his most commanding service efficiency of the 12 months, served a mind-boggling 87 p.c immediately, received 31 of 39 first-serve factors, fired 5 aces and confronted simply two break factors sweeping previous pal Grigor Dimitrov in a 70-minute semifinal. That adopted off an astounding serving efficiency that noticed him serve 84 p.c and pump 11 aces defeating Sebastian Korda in a bodily quarterfinal conquest.
“I believe I have been serving fairly nicely this 12 months,” Djokovic informed the media in Miami. “Possibly another parts in my recreation have not been working significantly nicely. However serve was stable. I imply, that is complete completely different degree of serving, clearly.
“I imply, I didn’t count on myself to prime the serving efficiency of final match, the place I had 83%, and I had 87% immediately. I missed I believe 5 or 6 serves in the entire match. In order that’s actually wonderful, wonderful customary, actually excessive customary.”
Djokovic is holding serve at a price of 88.19% this season, which is seventh on the ATP Tour. Explosive Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard leads the ATP holding at 93.86%, Matteto Berrettini is second at 90.91% and American Taylor Fritz is third hodling at a 90.37%
Serving prowess has given the Open Period’s best returner a glimpse of the way it should really feel to be Reilly Opelka or Nick Kyrgios.
Contesting his first Miami Open since 2019, Djokovic stated the quicker serve pace and the actual fact he discovered his vary and rhythm on serve nearly instantly have propelled him to this eighth Miami Open last vs. Jakub Mensik.
“I need to say was joking with Tim Henman within the post-match interview that now I understand how it feels prefer to be Isner or Opelka, simply make most of your first serves,” Djokovic stated. “Possibly not as many aces as these guys, however…
“However yeah, it does assist tremendously. It simply releases that pointless stress from all the opposite photographs in your recreation. Then you may type of put extra stress on the return video games in your opponent.”
Corridor of Famer Andre Agassi has referred to as Djokovic the best returner of all time. Corridor of Famer John McEnroe calls Djokovic “the best mover on a tough court docket I’ve ever seen on a tennis court docket” and plenty of opponents have referred to as him the Open Period’s best groundstroker.
One facet of Djokovic’s recreation that maybe would not get as a lot appreciation is his serve.
Earlier in his profession, Djokovic really hit extra double faults than aces on season, however labored diligently to strengthen his serve.
Over time, Djokovic labored with three coaches who have been dominant servers of their day—Goran Ivanisevic, Boris Becker and Todd Martin—and says his secret is he locations a premium on placement over energy to arrange his first strike. Djokovic stated he and new coach Andy Murray have put plenty of work into his serve in practices.
“Clearly I am a baseline participant. Most of my profession return and backhand might be the photographs which have been talked about essentially the most in relation to my recreation and success,” Djokovic stated. “Possibly the serve has been a bit underrated. However I all the time favored my serve, significantly in relation to accuracy and precision. That is what I used to be on the lookout for.
“I used to be by no means actually seeking to ramp up the miles per hour on the serve. I imply, it is nice for those who can serve 130-miles-an-hour serve, however I might slightly serve 120 miles an hour and hit the road and hit the right spot within the field as a result of that is what both wins you some extent or provides you a straightforward first shot within the rally.”
