Novak Djokovic's best/signature 'shot'

[Masayoshi]

I know Novak's success comes from his incredible consistency, mental toughness, and high competence in most aspects of his game, but to me, he still does have a defining 'shot': his return of serve.

He may be the best returner to ever play the game, and it's probably one of the most discouraging things for other players to face against. It's a signature characteristic of his game, how he's able to get those wicked wide-angle or bullet up-the-middle serves back into play, and often deep. It's what I expect to see when I watch a Djoker match, just like seeing the classic Federer forehand followed by an approach to the net, or when Wawrinka has time to measure up a shot on his backhand side and unleash a scorcher.

What do you guys think? If Novak does have a signature shot or play, what do you think it is?

 

[MichaelNadal]

 

[StannisTheMannis]

The more Rafa gets owned by scrubs, the more his fangirls attack Novak. He just needs to make an appointment with Fuentes and all will be well. Rafa is that dude after all...

 

[MichaelNadal]

The more Rafa gets owned by scrubs, the more his fangirls attack Novak. He just needs to make an appointment with Fuentes and all will be well. Rafa is that dude after all...

I only care to attack his "I've been watching tennis for 5 whole years" fanboys.

Mission accomplished

 

[I am the Greatest!]

I know Novak's success comes from his incredible consistency, mental toughness, and high competence in most aspects of his game, but to me, he still does have a defining 'shot': his return of serve.

He may be the best returner to ever play the game, and it's probably one of the most discouraging things for other players to face against. It's a signature characteristic of his game, how he's able to get those wicked wide-angle or bullet up-the-middle serves back into play, and often deep. It's what I expect to see when I watch a Djoker match, just like seeing the classic Federer forehand followed by an approach to the net, or when Wawrinka has time to measure up a shot on his backhand side and unleash a scorcher.

What do you guys think? If Novak does have a signature shot or play, what do you think it is?

His return of serve is good/great but not in the level of Andre. I agree that his overall return game or defence could be the best ever.

 

[LETitBE]

his overhead smash of course

 

[hescobal]

Open stance sliding 2hbh for a passing shot way behind the baseline

 

[Masayoshi]

Open stance sliding 2hbh for a passing shot way behind the baseline

Good one, it always looks kind of ugly, but it's distinctly Djokovic and definitely devastating.

his overhead smash of course

Haha, though it's at worst a mediocre shot, not nearly bad enough to be a signature. Like, a top-100 smash for a #1 player is kinda bad, but hardly defining. It's not like Shaq's free throws, which actually got laughably bad. Top 10 player in the world who could get out-free-thrown by high school varsity players.

 

[LETitBE]

Good one, it always looks kind of ugly, but it's distinctly Djokovic and definitely devastating.




Haha, though it's at worst a mediocre shot, not nearly bad enough to be a signature. Like, a top-100 smash for a #1 player is kinda bad, but hardly defining. It's not like Shaq's free throws, which actually got laughably bad. Top 10 player in the world who could get out-free-thrown by high school varsity players.

i don't watch basketball,when you can score 3 points from your own goal line there is something wrong with the game.

 

[beltsman]

Novack doesn't have a signature shot.

 

[boramiNYC]

For me, it's the blistering counter-punching or serve return cc fh, just like The return against Fed at USO.

 

[Supertegwyn]

I've always liked his inside in forehand with heavy spin.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Open stance sliding 2hbh for a passing shot way behind the baseline

I agree.

 

[D.Nalby12]

II forehand - a killer shot.

 

[user]

Open stance sliding 2hbh for a passing shot way behind the baseline

Untill 2011 his signature shot was BH DTL. Last few years^^^.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

He has a few. BHDTL and drop shot during rallies. Most defining might be the ripped backhand return cross court, usually deep or to the server's feet right on the baseline.

 

[Fedinkum]

Nipples topspin.

 

[swordtennis]

Just watch highlights of the last nadal match. The next one will be even uglier. He might play a bit more defensive against other players but as soon as you put nadal in front of him he goes beserk. 2013 was the worst thing for nadal and his fans in the long run. Lmao.

 

[tennisaddict]

Every shot is clinical, but nothing is signature. Most of them are robotic and you can expect the same response for a given shot 95 out of 100 times.

He wins by playing error free tennis.

 

[jm1980]

Every shot is clinical, but nothing is signature. Most of them are robotic and you can expect the same response for a given shot 95 out of 100 times.

He wins by playing error free tennis.

Seems like a good way to win, opposed to error filled tennis

 

[6august]

OP, why do you have to ask people here when most of tennis legends have already admitted that his ROS is the GOAT ROS in history?

On the otherside, I do agree with some of you that his overhead is unbelievably sucked for an ATG.

Lucky for him, overhead/ROS ratio per match is only something like 1/20.

 

[tennisaddict]

OP, why do you have ask people here when most of tennis legends have already admitted that his ROS is the GOAT ROS in history?

On the otherside, I do agree with some of you the his overhead is unbelievably sucked for an ATG.

Lucky for him, overhead/ROS ratio per match is only something like 1/20.

The ROS is an effective shot, nice and deep , most often landing at the feet of the server, but it is ugly looking . Novak is stretched or lunging or out of position himself hitting those returns.

I think the OP is looking for something where Novak is smooth in execution

 

[Shaolin]

Contorted awkwardness is his signature.

 

[tennisaddict]

You can call this his signature shot

Or

 

[6august]

Don't you guys see it beautiful? Fed moves like gazelle, Nad moves like bull, Djo moves like snake

 

[tennisaddict]

Don't you guys see it beautiful? Fed moves like gazelle, Nad moves like bull, Djo moves like snake

I think you meant Djoko moves like a dog.

 

[Jaitock1991]

His overheads. No doubt.

 

[Gary Duane]

He doesn't have a signature shot. He has a signature game. And there are his amazing "Gumby" stretches.

 

[TheMaestro1990]

Don't you guys see it beautiful? Fed moves like gazelle, Nad moves like bull, Djo moves like snake

That's the type of picture I associate with Novak. Extremely agile, stretching out to the backhand to return an unreturnable serve.

 

[Russeljones]

@MichaelNadal killed it.

 

[MichaelNadal]

@MichaelNadal killed it.

Thanks sir

 

[VexlanderPrime]

Ahaha well played, ur a D sometimes lol

Still, made me lol

 

[VexlanderPrime]

He doesn't have a signature shot. He has a signature game. And there are his amazing "Gumby" stretches.

Agreed. I'd say his sig shot is gumby reaches in either direction

 

[VexlanderPrime]

The more Rafa gets owned by scrubs, the more his fangirls attack Novak. He just needs to make an appointment with Fuentes and all will be well. Rafa is that dude after all...

Dude cmon, this is beneath you. It was funny.

 

[Emperor of Belgrade]

 

[StannisTheMannis]

Dude cmon, this is beneath you. It was funny.

I'm not responding to the comment, I'm responding to the user. He's a passive aggressive loon.

 

[moonballs]

I'm not responding to the comment, I'm responding to the user. He's a passive aggressive loon.

That's making a personal attack. All the Internet forums will be much better places if people remember to attack the posts, not the posters.

 

[StannisTheMannis]

That's making a personal attack. All the Internet forums will be much better places if people remember to attack the posts, not the posters.

Eventually the posts and posters become 1

 

[HipRotation]

 

[MichaelNadal]

Eventually the posts and posters become 1

I promise, Novak will be ok if you laugh at a joke about him.

 

[PHS_10]

Does he have a sig shot? His game is mostly based on being consistent and making less unforced errors.

 

[The Green Mile]

Open stance sliding 2hbh for a passing shot way behind the baseline

Yeah, this shot is what I associate Novak the most. Other than the overhead that is.

I once though that, while his overhead was below average, it wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to be. How ignorant I was. It's failed him so many times at the most crucial moments. I feel like making a list, just to prove my point, but I think most will agree anyway.

 

[Bender]

Nothing really signature.

Sliding BH CC passing shot? That's vintage Nadal more than anything else. Passing shots in general are in Nadal's realm.

Inside-in forehand? That's Federer.

Inside-out forehand? Federer / Nadal

Forehand down the line? Nadal

Backhand down the line? He's stopped hitting these since 2011 for whatever reason.

Drop shot? Shares this with Murray, and Federer is arguably better.

 

[Bender]

Don't you guys see it beautiful? Fed moves like gazelle, Nad moves like bull, Djo moves like snake

If there ever was proof that lizards live amongst us, Djokovic would be living proof.

But a snake? Those things don't have legs, and Djokovic is famous for being to spread them beyond normal limits.

(That's not what she said.)

 

[every7]

 

[Noelan]

Can you Imagine if someone posted more misshits like this. Btw look how cluch misshitter is

 

[Bender]

Can't really see--what happened?

 

[6august]

Can't really see--what happened?

The return was too long but the ball accidentally landed on Djokovic's racquet when he turned his back too soon. The point was for Muller.

 

[Tarkovsky]

 

[Chadillac]

Bouncing the ball before he serves. 7 on the first, 9 on the 2nd and 13 on big points.