What is wrong with Djokovic's game??
I don't know what it is, a tentative quality to his game. Last year, he went for the corners and took risks for that, and it paid big dividends. Now, he is just hitting a bunch of neutral balls short and getting manhandled.
Where are the blazing down the line backhands and the heavy, deep forehand shots into the corners? The serve doesn't sizzle as much either. Is it a shoulder problem or a problem of being number 1 and having to defend?
Tipsarevic took advantage of that in Madrid. Isner took advantage of him at Indian Wells punishing his short returns. Nadal took him apart at Monte Carlo. Djokovic hasn't been playing like a number 1. He better defend those points or we're looking at Fed or Nadal taking over.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chin Be on
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I agree. That extra glimmer when he prances about is gone. The shots that found the corners are the up the line lasers are few and far in between. I don't know what it is but Novak isn't playing the way he is. If the game doesn't return, he'll be losing too many points. Which begs the question: "Can Roger get that number 1?" He might have to pry it off of Rafa's clutches though.
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Permalink Reply by Tim Prapong on
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Roger will be able to if he wins either the French or Wimby, then get the US Open. No question. Can he do it? Well, if Djoko is signing off and Nadal is not up to the race, Federer WILL take number 1!
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Permalink Reply by Alex Daniels on
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Djokovic's form was exceptional last year. He played some of the best tennis I've ever seen. But it's hard to maintain that level for very long and these grand slam finals against Nadal have taken a toll on him physically and mentally.
On top of that his grandfather recently died. This could account for a lack of energy in Nole's game.
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He's gotta be number 1 or he isn't. So he has to maintain that level or he isn't that level. This is the tricky either/or of being number 1. Is Djoko ready for that and be number 1 for 6 years like Sampras, or be dominant like Lendl or Fed had? I'm not so sure now.
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I don't think he can be dominant.. I figure one or two years and then he'll slip. He may not even keep top dawg at the end of the year. It's just too crowded at the top
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Lendl never said it was too crowded at the top. He just gave them the deadly derisive stare and dominated. Djoko doesn't have that. He needs that dominating aura. He's floundering it away.
Is he going to be a shortlived #1, like Wilander or Rios?
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Permalink Reply by Mark T. on
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My guess is yes. I too don't see the "killer" attitude that those before had. I think his reign will indeed be short lived.
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Permalink Reply by akajohn on
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I think that for him is hard to be number one and is a matter of confidence. On the other side his playing style was analyzed and right now everybody knows what to expect and what to do against him. Combining these 2 factors is not easy for him anymore. On the other side he played a lot of games last year and is quite hard to keep such kind of high level for so long time. He will be back for Roland Garros and I think before that moment we will see some growing trend in his game. And by the way, he lost somebody very important in his life.
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I think you're right on the mark on that one, John. His game was analyzed to death and now players have strategies to beat him with. Besides, the Western drive forehand is common and is predictable. The Nadal and Fed forehand have a bit more disguise and uncommon quality to them. But those have been analyzed to death too. Well, it is interesting to watch tennis with all the analysts getting involved with the players.
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