Djokovic slice

[lrdrdy]

People have been wondering of late why Djokovic is hitting more slices on backhand. But look at how much its improved, low over the net and consistent. Has been a great tool against Fritz and Med who want to play CC backhand rallies. Used to be seen as worst slice of big 4, now very solid and important shot. If he wins the tournament with his C/B level, his serve is the MVP shot, but his forehand and bh slice are also up there. Constant improvement in game and tactics are why Big 3 will/did beat these guys until Father Time says otherwise.

 

[Botschek]

His FH always was my personal favourite Novak-Shot. Doesnt get enough love because of his GOAT BH.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Yep that was the game changer. Djoko worked out that was the way to unsettle fritz game and it worked. The big 3 over the years have always had this incredible ability of finding different ways to win. Another example here.

 

[Kralingen]

Ultimately it’s not rocket science why he keeps winning. This guy, the one who during his prime was always called the least skilled and having the least variety of the Big 3/4, simply has way more in his toolbox than any young player (yes, even more tools than you, Stefanos).

Better slice, better control of spins, better approach shots, better passing shots, much better at retrieving drop shots and redirecting, and I’d even say his net game is better than the vast majority. Better variety/shotmaking, full stop.

He just has more than these young guns do, and time and time again that makes the difference.

 

[jm1980]

That slice approach at 5-5 to set up match point... Very nicely done

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

Djoker just has more belief in himself and a much higher IQ than these virgins. He knows when to deliver and the right moment to strike and pick apart every weakness a player has to exploit it

 

[Hitman]

I see more and more of Federer's game coming into Djokovic's game and it is making him deadly in many new ways to compensate for physical decline.

 

[GabeT]

Ultimately it’s not rocket science why he keeps winning. This guy, the one who during his prime was always called the least skilled and having the least variety of the Big 3/4, simply has way more in his toolbox than any young player (yes, even more tools than you, Stefanos).

Better slice, better control of spins, better approach shots, better passing shots, much better at retrieving drop shots and redirecting, and I’d even say his net game is better than the vast majority. Better variety/shotmaking, full stop.

He just has more than these young guns do, and time and time again that makes the difference.

One would have to know almost nothing about tennis to claim Novak was the least skilled of the Big 3/4

 

[Kralingen]

One would have to know almost nothing about tennis to claim Novak was the least skilled of the Big 3/4

It was pretty well established that the other 3 had better slices and net games than him in the 2010s

 

[GabeT]

It was pretty well established that the other 3 had better slices and net games than him in the 2010s

So you were referring only to a very small subset of all tennis related skills?

 

[jm1980]

It was pretty well established that the other 3 had better slices and net games than him in the 2010s

I believe statistically his slice was always very good, he just looked very awkward hitting it. He chose not to use it as much because he had a great topspin BH

But now the young guns are not as good dealing with this shot (partially because everyone is so tall nowadays), so he strategically employs it more

 

[Kralingen]

So you were referring only to a very small subset of all tennis related skills?

Considering the thread is about slices yes

Context clues Gabe

 

[D.Nalby12]

It doesn't look natural like his net game. But he worked on it making it like 7/10 slice.

 

[SecondToNone]

One would have to know almost nothing about tennis to claim Novak was the least skilled of the Big 3/4

It's just circlejerk at this point. It was never true at the first place.

 

[GabeT]

Considering the thread is about slices yes

Context clues Gabe

This is what you wrote

Ultimately it’s not rocket science why he keeps winning. This guy, the one who during his prime was always called the least skilled and having the least variety of the Big 3/4, simply has way more in his toolbox than any young player (yes, even more tools than you, Stefanos).

Better slice, better control of spins, better approach shots, better passing shots, much better at retrieving drop shots and redirecting, and I’d even say his net game is better than the vast majority. Better variety/shotmaking, full stop.

He just has more than these young guns do, and time and time again that makes the difference.

I don’t think you were clear that you were only talking about net game and slices. but If that’s your point I take back my comments. I understood something else.

 

[Kralingen]

This is what you wrote



I don’t think you were clear that you were only talking about net game and slices. but If that’s your point I take back my comments. I understood something else.

Perhaps a better way to phrase it is that the other guys all are known as having better variety to their games than Novak. Skill of course is a very debatable term.

 

[GabeT]

Perhaps a better way to phrase it is that the other guys all are known as having better variety to their games than Novak. Skill of course is a very debatable term.

He has a different skill set than other Big3/4 players. But certainly not less variety.

 

[mehdimike]

He has a different skill set than other Big3/4 players. But certainly not less variety.

can we call "problem solving" a kind of skill?! if yes, he is probably the best at that.

 

[Bogdan_TT]

His FH always was my personal favourite Novak-Shot. Doesnt get enough love because of his GOAT BH.

This guy TENNIS ^

 

[King_ Zeglan12]

People have been wondering of late why Djokovic is hitting more slices on backhand. But look at how much its improved, low over the net and consistent. Has been a great tool against Fritz and Med who want to play CC backhand rallies. Used to be seen as worst slice of big 4, now very solid and important shot. If he wins the tournament with his C/B level, his serve is the MVP shot, but his forehand and bh slice are also up there. Constant improvement in game and tactics are why Big 3 will/did beat these guys until Father Time says otherwise.

Agree with everything except this, I feel it's at least closer to his top level, maybe not his absolute best though

 

[Milanez82]

I see more and more of Federer's game coming into Djokovic's game and it is making him deadly in many new ways to compensate for physical decline.

Federer showed to the world that it was possible to be the best player in the world past age of 35, and more specifically made Rafa and Djoko they could do the same
That calling the season in summer of 2016 and then winning AO17 was a revelation

 

[legcramp]

Wasn't there a thread about some rec player getting owned by slices during a match because his opponent didn't play like they practiced rallying? Fritz is obviously the superior player, Novak sliced too much it's not real tennis

 

[Blahovic]

In general, it's remarkable how polished Djokovic's skillset is now. There's nothing he's weak at, bar maybe generating kick on his second serve (because he's made his motion more compact). There are things he's less good at, but he's made all his weak shots competent ones.

 

[Born_to_slice]

Ultimately it’s not rocket science why he keeps winning. This guy, the one who during his prime was always called the least skilled and having the least variety of the Big 3/4, simply has way more in his toolbox than any young player (yes, even more tools than you, Stefanos).

Better slice, better control of spins, better approach shots, better passing shots, much better at retrieving drop shots and redirecting, and I’d even say his net game is better than the vast majority. Better variety/shotmaking, full stop.

He just has more than these young guns do, and time and time again that makes the difference.

Those were exactly the same type of salty comments as one Stefanos now made after losing to Rublev. And those same people who were making them then are now almost all berating Stefanos.

 

[TheFifthSet]

Ultimately it’s not rocket science why he keeps winning. This guy, the one who during his prime was always called the least skilled and having the least variety of the Big 3/4, simply has way more in his toolbox than any young player (yes, even more tools than you, Stefanos).

Better slice, better control of spins, better approach shots, better passing shots, much better at retrieving drop shots and redirecting, and I’d even say his net game is better than the vast majority. Better variety/shotmaking, full stop.

He just has more than these young guns do, and time and time again that makes the difference.

I know you're trolling but it's a shame that 'variety' is traditionally only thought of in terms of # of shots used with even just marginal effectiveness without factoring in directional/shot type patterns (a different and probably more important form of variety in the modern game). Djokovic has always been better at going DTL or I/O, as well as varying his serve effectively whereas Murray's serve works best when he's going for flat bombs. Djokovic also mixes up flat/topspin better than Murray off the ground. I mean sure Murray uses more ‘'niche'’ shots to greater effect (slice, lobs) but when it comes to shots they both hit 85+% of the time, Djokovic has greater variety within that dynamic.

 

[tennissavvy]

Djoker just has more belief in himself and a much higher IQ than these virgins. He knows when to deliver and the right moment to strike and pick apart every weakness a player has to exploit it

I had to comment on "...these virgins" lol

 

[Fabresque]

The fact that this guy can turn weaknesses in his game into strengths is mind boggling.

He similarly became one of the most lethal servers on tour and uses S&V more.

 

[mahatma]

The fact that this guy can turn weaknesses in his game into strengths is mind boggling.

He similarly became one of the most lethal servers on tour and uses S&V more.

Soon we will have serve dependent, net game ready slicing Djokovic who could hit a great over head.

When I started as fans it was just the opposite lol

 

[pasta]

Time to bring back forehand slice !

 

[sportsfan1]

The slice is still a less natural shot for Novak than how fed, nadal and murray play it. But the discomfort of the upcoming players against it makes it look better.

On a somewhat related note, if Medvedev had any degree of comfort at to approach the net, he might have wom that match against Djokovic. His reluctance to cone to the net allowed Djokovic to reset quite a few rallies.

 

[daggerman]

The slice is still a less natural shot for Novak than how fed, nadal and murray play it. But the discomfort of the upcoming players against it makes it look better.

On a somewhat related note, if Medvedev had any degree of comfort at to approach the net, he might have wom that match against Djokovic. His reluctance to cone to the net allowed Djokovic to reset quite a few rallies.

Nadal literally chokes up on his racquet to hit slices. Not sure how it can be more natural than Novak's.

 

[sportsfan1]

Nadal literally chokes up on his racquet to hit slices. Not sure how it can be more natural than Novak's.

It's a much sharper slice and he troubled Novak with it at the uso.

 

[daggerman]

It's a much sharper slice and he troubled Novak with it at the uso.

It's a sharper slice when he's hitting it well, but there are also moments where he loses feel/timing and hits awful, floating slices. I don't think it's a natural shot at all for him.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nadal literally chokes up on his racquet to hit slices. Not sure how it can be more natural than Novak's.

 

[daggerman]

Do you really think this is a natural shot? It's a very effective shot when he's hitting it well, but it's clearly not a shot that comes naturally to him.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Do you really think this is a natural shot? It's a very effective shot when he's hitting it well, but it's clearly not a shot that comes naturally to him.

I don't think it's "un-natural" for him, that's for sure. Is it as natural as it is to Fed? No, but way more so than Novak's

 

[DogInSpace]

It's 2022. Novak Djokovic discovered that slice can be effective tool. After Federer and Nadal used it for years.

He is such a genius.

 

[a10best]

People have been wondering of late why Djokovic is hitting more slices on backhand. But look at how much its improved, low over the net and consistent. Has been a great tool against Fritz and Med who want to play CC backhand rallies. Used to be seen as worst slice of big 4, now very solid and important shot. If he wins the tournament with his C/B level, his serve is the MVP shot, but his forehand and bh slice are also up there. Constant improvement in game and tactics are why Big 3 will/did beat these guys until Father Time says otherwise.

He used the slice to make his taller opponents bend lower and take away their offensive control and angles on their bh.
I credit the improvement to his game to Becker. Novak immediately developed a better serve, volley, and BH slice.
Where did Goran help? perhaps his 2nd serve b/c he had to change it due to his elbow.
But you have to admit Novak is playing a lot of tiebreakers and winning by slighter margins.

 

[lrdrdy]

He used the slice to make his taller opponents bend lower and take away their offensive control and angles on their bh.
I credit the improvement to his game to Becker. Novak immediately developed a better serve, volley, and BH slice.
Where did Goran help? perhaps his 2nd serve b/c he had to change it due to his elbow.
But you have to admit Novak is playing a lot of tiebreakers and winning by slighter margins.

Yea now that you mention it the players at this tournament and at the top in general nowadays are a fair bit taller, and they also are reluctant to go to net unless its a putaway. I imagine Fed would attack the first short slice he gets in a match like this but those players dont rly exist anymore so Novak doesnt have to worry about that.

 

[Milanez82]

Yea now that you mention it the players at this tournament and at the top in general nowadays are a fair bit taller, and they also are reluctant to go to net unless its a putaway. I imagine Fed would attack the first short slice he gets in a match like this but those players dont rly exist anymore so Novak doesnt have to worry about that.

Federer also had a killer slice that neutralized Djokovic offense and especially that short slice which was tactical mastery, it would bring the opponent in no mans land