what elements of Djokers game have Improved since 2008?

djokovic2008

djokovic2008

Hall of Fame
No doubt since 2008 winning his first slam novaks game has gone from strength to strength with lapes in 2009 2010. What elements have improved and by how much?

2008:
Forehand=6
Backhand=8
Serve=7
Netplay= 3
Composure=6
Movement=8
Stamina=5
Mentality=6
ROS= 8
Overheads=5

2014:
Forehand=8.5
Backhand=8.5
Serve=8
Netplay= 7
Composure=8
Movement=10
Stamina=8
Mentality=8
ROS=9
Overheads=6
 
Last edited:
djokovic2008 said:
No doubt since 2008 winning his first slam novaks game has gone from strength to strength with lapes in 2009 2010. What elements have improved and by how much?

2008:
Forehand=6
Backhand=8
Serve=7
Netplay= 3
Composure=6
Movement=8
Stamina=5
Mentality=6

2014:
Forehand=8.5
Backhand=8.5
Serve=8
Netplay= 7
Composure=8
Movement=10
Stamina=8
Mentality=8
Click to expand...

Your marks are too low IMO. They are mars for top 20 player not the best player in the world.

My marks:

2008:
Forehand=8.5
Backhand=9
Serve=8
Netplay= 6
Composure=7
Movement=9
Stamina=5
Mentality=7
ROS=8.5

2014:
Forehand=9.5
Backhand=10
Serve=8.5
Netplay= 7.5
Composure=9
Movement=9
Stamina=7
Mentality=9
ROS=10
 
2014:
Forehand=8.5
Backhand=9-9.5
Serve=8-8.5
Netplay= 7
Composure=8
Movement=10
Stamina=8.5-9
Mentality=8

I just made a couple of changes from your original ratings. Basically, Novak is a more complete player now than in 2008. He was a bit more offensive in 07 and 08. His serve is a lot better now than 2009 and 2010. He has gotten better at net play since 2013 and his forehand and backhand have been a deadly combo since 2011. His FH has improved a lot and he can make the opponent run side to side effortlessly. Novak needs to work more on overheads as his footwork is not as great as Nadal and Federer on them and he needs to keep more focused in slams like in 2011.

He is the best player in the world but is showing it more in bo3; he needs to bring the play that we have seen this last month to the slams next year and then his mentality will be bumped up.
 
Chico said:
Your marks are too low IMO. They are mars for top 20 player not the best player in the world.

My marks:

2008:
Forehand=8.5
Backhand=9
Serve=8
Netplay= 6
Composure=7
Movement=9
Stamina=5
Mentality=7
ROS=8.5

2014:
Forehand=9.5
Backhand=10
Serve=8.5
Netplay= 7.5
Composure=9
Movement=9
Stamina=7
Mentality=9
ROS=10
Click to expand...

It's just to give 10 out 10 we are talking about absolute PERFECTION and that's hard to mark. Maybe his backhand gets a 10 and movement.
 
FedTheMan said:
2014:
Forehand=8.5
Backhand=9-9.5
Serve=8-8.5
Netplay= 7
Composure=8
Movement=10
Stamina=8.5-9
Mentality=8

I just made a couple of changes from your original ratings. Basically, Novak is a more complete player now than in 2008. He was a bit more offensive in 07 and 08. His serve is a lot better now than 2009 and 2010. He has gotten better at net play since 2013 and his forehand and backhand have been a deadly combo since 2011. His FH has improved a lot and he can make the opponent run side to side effortlessly. Novak needs to work more on overheads as his footwork is not as great as Nadal and Federer on them and he needs to keep more focused in slams like in 2011.

He is the best player in the world but is showing it more in bo3; he needs to bring the play that we have seen this last month to the slams next year and then his mentality will be bumped up.
Click to expand...

Oh I forgot overheads which must be a 5 even now a 6 at best.
 
What impressed me the most during this WTF are not really any specific departements of his game, but his ability to go to the offense, including net play. At time he really played all court tennis. When a player who can defend as well as Djokovic begin to be able to attack as well as Federer, it really is something.

Altough I must say these performances were against players who weren't really playing well. In the second set against Nishikori, he reverted to a too defensive Djokovic.
 
Flash O'Groove said:
What impressed me the most during this WTF are not really any specific departements of his game, but his ability to go to the offense, including net play. At time he really played all court tennis. When a player who can defend as well as Djokovic begin to be able to attack as well as Federer, it really is something.

Altough I must say these performances were against players who weren't really playing well. In the second set against Nishikori, he reverted to a too defensive Djokovic.
Click to expand...

What I'm impressed with is his recognition to attack the short ball and come to net and not get in too many gruelling rallies
 
djokovic2008 said:
What I'm impressed with is his recognition to attack the short ball and come to net and not get in too many gruelling rallies
Click to expand...

Yes. If he can do this against in-form opponents, he will be very, very hard to beat. Today against Nishikori he looked like he was finding a new peak, especially in the first set where Nishikori was playing well himself (and yet 6-1). I look forward to see if he can play with this level of aggressivity against resurgent Fed.
 
FH is worse today for my taste. He got defensive with it which might suite his game today. He was offensive back then with it.

Everything else improved considerably.
 
kandamrigam said:
FH is worse today for my taste. He got defensive with it which might suite his game today. He was offensive back then with it.

Everything else improved considerably.
Click to expand...

Agreed about the forehand. His forehand being a 6 in 08 is crazy. It had a lot more penetration back then. It's a loopier shot these days.
 
Djokovic schooled federer in FH to FH battle at AO08.
That was his fh peak probably (USO 2011 close second). Not lasted long, though.
 
Last edited:
His serve is so good now. I don't think people get how borderline great it is now. Especially the 2nd.
 
I think his forehand did improve a lot, he used to make a lot more unforced errors off of that wing, and he still wasn't exactly a power player. His forehand is incredibly steady now and that fits in better with his overall game. I would say forehand, movement/fitness, and mentality are the biggest things that improved since 2008. His backhand was always really good, and his serve was very good that year too although it has got even better.
 
NatF said:
Agreed about the forehand. His forehand being a 6 in 08 is crazy. It had a lot more penetration back then. It's a loopier shot these days.
Click to expand...

He hit more highlight reel winners then but did not hit the angles he does today plus more consistent making it a much more reliable shot.
 
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