Djokovic’s service motion has always been unusual, but this service is more slice,” said Shane Liyanage of Data Driven Sports Analytics, which provides scouting for ATP players. It’s a faster, cutting shot, and because of the sharper trajectory, it’s a more attacking — and riskier — serve. Players like Nick Kyrgios have been known to employ that tactic to surprise their opponents. I apologize to the @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behavior. So wrong. Novak Djokovic (29) TENNIS.com - Live Scores, Tennis News, Player Ranking, and Complete Tournament Data. What will become of meeeeeee? Kyrgios averaged about 100 mph on his second serve at the Australian Open, slower than Djokovic’s average. It’s the damage to his reputation — as it is, Djokovic doesn’t engender the respect that Roger Federer does or the exuberance that Rafael Nadal commands — that may be irreparable. Privacy Notice “I was, like, so tight in my whole body,” Thiem said. "I was, like, so tight in my whole body," Thiem said. The 2020 ATP season was somehow completed with a few hindrances here and there. N ovak Djokovic knows that his end to the 2020 season has been disappointing, falling to Lorenzo Sonego in the quarter-finals of the Vienna Open and … In Melbourne, Djokovic is more often doing just the opposite — hitting to his opponents’ forehand on second serves. Last year through the quarterfinals, he had committed 13. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. LONDON: Novak Djokovic is bidding to win the ATP Finals for a record-equalling sixth time as Rafael Nadal chases the biggest title missing from his glittering resume at … When no less than one-time professional tennis villain John McEnroe says that after Sunday’s incident, Djokovic “is going to be the bad guy for the rest of his career,” you’d best believe it’s true. LONDON (AP) — Daniil Medvedev pulled off an underarm serve as he outlasted Alexander Zverev and joined Novak Djokovic as a winner at the ATP Finals on day two Monday. The Novak Djokovic Foundation has launched a Season of Giving campaign for the third consecutive year in the hopes of raising €100,000 to help open a preschool in both Vajska and Ljubis, two villages in Serbia. Djokovic, 33, had already apologised for the incident which saw him take a ball from his pocket and hit it behind him, striking the judge in her throat. 20,404, This story has been shared 19,623 times. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Your California Privacy Rights After attempting to comfort the lineswoman — who gave him the most epic and deserved side-eye of 2020 — Djokovic argued that he should not, per the unambiguous rules, be disqualified. His average backhand speed is 67.3 mph. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are tops in second-serve point success over the past year, with 59.4 percent and 59 percent of those points won, respectively. September 6, 2020 | 10:43pm | Updated September 7, 2020 | 2:01pm. 30,118, This story has been shared 20,404 times. Thank you and I’m so sorry.”. World No. It’s certainly not a typical second serve. He will also lose every ranking point he earned at the Open and will likely be fined an additional $250,000, his compensation for reaching the fourth round. Medvedev led 4-3, 30-30 in the second set when he surprised Zverev with a quick underarm serve. 30 in men’s singles, was making the Great Novak Djokovic fight to win that first (and last) set. Conventional wisdom in tennis holds that most players have stronger forehands than backhands. Then what is it? 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The faster, hybrid second serve that Djokovic has often deployed at Melbourne this year isn’t a kick serve — it’s a slice, according to coaches and analysts examining it. Players more often reserve a kick serve for a second serve. A kick serve offers a safe margin over the net, and the heavy topspin sends the ball jumping sharply off the court. According to data from Infosys, when Djokovic had a second serve from the deuce (right) side of the court in the first four rounds of the tournament, he hit the most to the out-wide location — 22 out of 40 times. Your California Privacy Rights Djokovic … expecting the traditional, slower second serve, Dr. Fauci On When Life Will Return To 'Normal', Why Georgia Isn’t Like The Other Battleground States. — to discover the Clintons are slimy, Sad tale of Time's Up and Hollywood's failed activism. The lineswoman collapsed and clutched her throat, clearly struggling to breathe. By way of comparison, his average first-serve speed for that timeframe was 118 mph. Djokovic’s new second serve is also confounding opponents with its bold and unconventional placements. Antifa riots may be part of Democrat power grab: Devine, This story has been shared 30,118 times. What looked like a tap clearly struck like a bullet. Djokovic has now won five titles in Rome and he will head to Roland Garros looking for his second victory at the French Open and first since 2016. Djokovic had already whacked a ball more safely, in apparent frustration, and had just dropped serve to 20th seed Carreno Busta, to fall 6–5 behind. To summarize: ME ME ME ME ME ME ME. Clearly, it’s an effective tactic. Imagine a hard tennis ball slamming into … Dominic Thiem needed two monster tie breaks to overcome Novak Djokovic and advance to the final of the ATP Finals, beating the Serbian 7-5, 6-7 … © 2020 ABC News Internet Ventures. Instead of expressing relief that she wasn’t more grievously injured or killed, instead of humbly taking whatever penalty was coming his way, Djokovic whined like a toddler. Djokovic hit most of his second serves (28 out of 45) to the T location — also to right-handed opponents’ forehand. New Yorkers ask: Is today the day someone attacks me on subway? When Lorenzo Sonego defeated World No. 1, Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-1 in the Vienna quarter-finals, his First-Serve Rating was 53.6, which translates to a solid grade of A. Djokovic could only muster a grade of D with a 33.6 rating, which was tied for the lowest rating of the tournament.. Sonego First-Serve Rating • 67% made / 80 won • First-Serve Rating: 67 x 0.80 = 53.6 So unintended. World number one Novak Djokovic says he hopes some crowds can return in time for Australian Open after reports attendance could be as high … Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning match point against Diego Schwartzman of Argentina during their singles tennis match at the ATP World Finals tennis tournament at … In 2019, he won 57 percent of his second-serve points at the Australian Open through four rounds. 1 Novak Djokovic and his wife, Jelena Djokovic, will match all donations. 19,623, © 2020 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved First set: Khachanov* 7-5 Djokovic (*denotes server): First double fault betrays some nerves, as does a missed first serve on the next point to go 0-30. Imagine a hard tennis ball slamming into your Adam’s apple with even the lesser force. Amy Lundy is a reporter whose work has been featured on ESPN, CNN and The Golf Channel. This article lists serving speed record breaks for the men's and women's professional tennis. Djokovic backs domestic violence policy for tennis Alexander Zverev in action against Novak Djokovic at the ATP Finals AFP/Glyn KIRK LONDON: Novak Djokovic … “Apparently there’s a pandemic …,” tweeted former tennis champ Andy Roddick. Novak Djokovic, world Number One and top seed at the US Open, the only one of the Big Three who didn’t opt out this year, was meant to bring grandeur and legacy to a competition hollowed out by the pandemic. This year, that number is outpacing his old percentage at 60 percent through four rounds. — Instagram. It’s worse than the hit itself. But Djokovic is not using this faster slice second serve as a surprise tactic — he’s hitting it regularly, according to data from Infosys. Je prendrais son service et sa volée contre mon retour et ma vitesse, ce serait bien de vivre ce genre de match, '' a déclaré Novak Djokovic. As for the disqualification, I need to go back within and work on my disappointment and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being. But a kick serve is not a fast serve. Djokovic now has 17 major singles titles to his name and he trails only the other two members of the "big three" of men's tennis, Roger Federer (20) and Rafael Nadal (19). Players commonly hit a slice on a first serve. An otherwise fearsome warrior, the cowardly Djokovic slunk out of Queens rather than face the media — another no-no that may cost him a $20,000 fine. “I was, like, so tight in my whole body,” Thiem said. “It’s tricky. He’ll never be able to erase it because Djokovic only cares about Djokovic. Thiem's next opportunity came at 7-6; he double-faulted. Medvedev led 4-3, 30-30 in the second set when he surprised Zverev with a quick underarm serve. It’s a hybrid of the two, and Novak Djokovic has brought it out to play in 2020. Djokovic’s emergence in this category is even more remarkable when you consider that he has not been known as an exceptional server. But also, consider going for more on your own second serve. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. “This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. Terms of Use Instead, he got himself disqualified for hitting an older lineswoman in the throat after swatting a ball in a peevish little fit. Serves (2). Post was not sent - check your email addresses! But Djokovic saved that initial chance with a 127 mph service winner. Your Ad Choices All rights reserved. Nonetheless, we were treated to some extraordinary events in both the first half of the year and the second, after the hiatus. Novak Djokovic’s Second Serve Doesn’t Look Like A Second Serve. Djokovic double-faulted to give Nadal the break that allowed him to serve for the third set at 6-5. The 16-time Grand Slam champion has added an eye-catching 6 mph … It was all too reminiscent of Serena Williams’ series of on-court meltdowns at the 2018 US Open, her all-but-assured comeback sullied by the much younger phenom Naomi Osaka — who not only outplayed Williams but outmatched her in maturity, grace and sportsmanship. Do You Buy That … Trump’s Rhetoric Is Hurting GOP Senate Candidates In Georgia? Brother accidentally killed sister while showing off new gun: cops, Killer caught on video carrying backpacker's body in suitcase, Pharmacist accidentally injected with four doses of COVID-19 vaccine, Five dead in 'catastrophic' Yonkers crash that left car split in half, 'It's a cult': Ex-Hillsong members claim church demanded 'slave labor', John Mulaney's odd Seth Meyers clip in November started fans worrying, Hundreds gather at vigil for teens killed in tragic Yonkers crash, 'Bachelorette' Tayshia Adams and Zac Clark visit her family, © 2020 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, At least you didn't fall in love with Martin Shkreli in 2020, Irrelevant Time magazine missed the year's real heroes: The developers of the COVID vaccine, Doug Band is shocked — shocked! Consider that Djokovic’s fastest serve has been clocked at 122 mph. A returner is more likely to make an error when expecting the traditional, slower second serve, while something that looks more like a first serve comes out of nowhere. Thiem’s next opportunity came at 7-6; he double-faulted. Trump Hasn’t Pardoned Many People -- But So Far They Have Been Mostly His Friends. Here’s one sure prediction, Novak: You will never truly be considered a GOAT. Consider that Djokovic’s fastest serve has been clocked at 122 mph. Djokovic isn’t the first player to use a faster second serve to good effect. I’m very grateful to my team and family for being my rock support, and my fans for always being there with me. Amazingly, he’s not double faulting more with the increase in speed. I checked on the lines person and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling ok. I’m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. The 16-time Grand Slam champion has added an eye-catching 6 mph this year to his average second serve speed. We've received your submission. That’s 61 percent. His average backhand speed is 67.3 mph. Djokovic is also winning matches. Through five matches in Melbourne, he has dropped only a single set. Thiem’s next opportunity came at 7-6; he double-faulted. An increasingly confident Medvedev broke the 17-time Grand Slam champion again at the start of the second set to win his sixth game in a row in the round-robin match. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! It’s the gold standard for the second serve. In the advantage (left) court, a similar pattern emerged in the first four rounds. Thanks for contacting us. That serve placement has proven a stunning formula for success. Djokovic and Medvedev meet on Wednesday to secure the group lead. For right-handed opponents, three of Djokovic’s first four opponents, the out-wide spot would be to their forehand. Interrogé sur ses matchs les plus mémorables lors de l'événement, Djokovic a affirmé qu'il y avait une rencontre particulière qui s'est démarquée. It’s not quite a first serve. Djokovic’s swat, by the way, was out of frustration that younger player Pablo Carreño Busta, ranked world No. At the season-ending ATP Finals, Daniil Medvedev pulled off an underarm serve while outlasting Alexander Zverev to join Novak Djokovic as a winner on day two in London. Through the first four rounds at this year’s Australian Open, his average second serve speed was up to 104 mph. The service box is divided into thirds when measuring serve placements: “Wide” serves are placed closest to the sidelines; “body” serves land in the middle of the service box, at the returner’s body; and “T” serves land along the center stripe of the service box. Wow. Then he stood on the sidelines, head in hand, anxious over nothing but his own fate. This is, after all, a guy who got the coronavirus warning and threw a mask-less party for several of the world’s top tennis players, then got coronavirus. For instance, not listed here, Roscoe Tanner's serve was clocked at 153 mph at Palm Springs in 1978 during the final against Raúl Ramírez.There are also reports that Bill Tilden had a serve that was clocked at 163.3 mph but there is nothing to verify that. Tennis - At 33 years and seven months, Djokovic is the oldest year-end no. Men's Tennis (22) Sitemap But Djokovic saved that initial chance with a 127 mph service winner. Djokovic and Medvedev meet on Wednesday to secure the group lead. Anyone who’s ever had the wind knocked out of them knows the terror of gasping for air. “She doesn’t have to go to the hospital for this,” he griped. For one thing, prepare for the serve out wide in the deuce court and up the T in the ad court. In the short run, for a player of his stature and wealth, that’s nothing. He faces Federer in the semifinals at 3:30 a.m. EST Thursday. That’s the other thing: Djokovic doesn’t seem widely liked among his peers. If you’re returning against this new-look Djokovic second serve, what do you do? Through the first four rounds, the number of Djokovic second serves that topped 105 mph was 52 out of 85. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. In the first four rounds in Melbourne, when Djokovic hit a second serve to those locations — wide in the deuce court, T in the ad — he went on to win the point 74 percent of the time, according to Infosys. Novak Djokovic of Serbia serves to Diego Schwartzman of Argentina during their singles tennis match at the ATP World Finals tennis tournament at the O2 arena in London, Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Russia's Daniil Medvedev in action during his group stage match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic at the ATP World Finals tennis tournament at the … This list is not historically complete. The 24-year-old held serve easily in the next game and seized the opening set 6-3 when a rattled Djokovic double-faulted. She is Director of Films at The Tennis Congress. Australian Open (20) “This is obviously a stain that he’s not going to be able to erase,” McEnroe continued, “whether he likes it or not.”. And not only has he increased the speed, but Djokovic is also showing an unconventional style for the type of stroke he hits for a second serve and where he directs it. It’s a hybrid of the two, and Novak Djokovic has brought it out to play in 2020. Through the quarterfinals, Djokovic has only 12 double faults. Because of this, a kick serve to a player’s backhand is considered the ultimate safe, defensive strategy. So what did Djokovic do? But Djokovic saved that initial chance with a 127 mph service winner. Djokovic begins the defence of his Wimbledon title next week and the strategy analyst for the tournament, Craig O’Shannessy, and former France … Novak Djokovic of Serbia, left, shakes hands with Dominic Thiem of Austria at the of their semifinal match ATP World Finals tennis tournament at the O2 arena in London, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. Tennis (108 posts) But what about his overall winning percentage on second serve points? Let’s take his tone-deaf apology, delivered later Sunday evening via — what else? Naturally, ATP Tour released a video comprising the …