What's the best strategy to defeat Novak Djokovic?

[Backspin1183]

If you were a pro, how would you take on Serbian world #2 Novak Djokovic? As we know, Novak is one of those few players with very few weaknesses in his game. He has a good forehand and an amazing backhand. He serves well and has an amazing ROS. He's also one of the fastest guys on tour, making it difficult to hit through his defenses.

How do you defeat such a player?

 

[Who Am I?]

Use a lot of slices and try to bring him to the net. Federer has the best such tactics which is why their matches are usually competitive even when Federer is playing crap.

 

[Alchemist]

Explosive play.

 

[Midaso240]

Variety. He's a consistent robot who feeds off rhythm

 

[batz]

I'd aim to win the last point of the match.

 

[ProRadTour]

Use a lot of slices and try to bring him to the net. Federer has the best such tactics which is why their matches are usually competitive even when Federer is playing crap.

I agree, I think that's why Stan the Man has pushed him also.

 

[Guivs]

Plenty of overheads

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Use a lot of slices and try to bring him to the net. Federer has the best such tactics which is why their matches are usually competitive even when Federer is playing crap.

Yes.

Djokovic, for all his positive virtues, has a pretty one dimensional playing style. Players that have been able to have consistent success against him, like Federer and Murray, have been able to do so by employing the variety needed to break him out of his 'shell.'

 

[TheAnty-vic]

I think mixing up the shots, is very essential against a player like Novak. Players should incorporate S&V when playing against him. Keep him guessing, don't let him get into his rhythm.

His BH is rock solid. So one can pin down his FH till the point it breaks down.

 

[Deuirej]

Did you see how effective the slice nadal used against him at the USO? Maybe if he ran around it, it wouldn't create such problems for him.

 

[President]

Serve really, really big (Isner and Roddick always gave him trouble). Mix it up off the ground too (Federer, Murray).

 

[borg number one]

I agree that you need to try and get Djokovic moving plenty back and forth as well as side to side. You can't just let him stick with his patterns at the beaseline almost exclusively. Wawrinka, Federer, and Nadal have done that as posters have mentioned already. Of course, it's much easier said than done, which is why Djokovic is so difficult to beat in the last few years especially.

 

[Incognito]

Variety. He's a consistent robot who feeds off rhythm

a game like Fed's or Tommy Haas..

 

[Terenigma]

Bring him into the net alot, play the ball directly to him at pace so he has to generate the angles. He's fantastic at chasing balls and coming up with DTL or CC shots on the move but he's less good at generating the angles himself when the ball is coming at him fast.

Also force him into an overhead if you're pushed out wide and outta position. His ovehead is 50/50 and it gives you time to get back into the point.

 

[Maximagq]

Keep giving him overheads.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

To be Pete Sampras.

 

[Tenez101]

1. Feed him high balls
2. SLICE
3. Hope he suffers personal tragedy/injury
4. Make him change his shoes halfway through the tournament
5. Play in front of the super classy Madrid crowd

 

[Lips]

Don't give him angles...

 

[Murrayfan31]

Djokovic figured out the slice at the end of this season. Won't work anymore. At least not indoors. He's got no weaknesses.

 

[Tenez101]

Djokovic figured out the slice at the end of this season. Won't work anymore. At least not indoors. He's got no weaknesses.

Overheads and volleys are still a weakness. Hopefully Fibak will rectify the situation over the off-season.

 

[Murrayfan31]

Overheads and volleys are still a weakness. Hopefully Fibak will rectify the situation over the off-season.

Not exactly weaknesses you can gameplan against though. I can short slices to the net is the only way to take advantage of that.

 

[bullfan]

Djokovic figured out the slice at the end of this season. Won't work anymore. At least not indoors. He's got no weaknesses.

You mean the same way Nadal figured out Novak after 2012 AO!

 

[Team10]

Serve like Isner, hit like Federer.

 

[Murrayfan31]

You mean the same way Nadal figured out Novak after 2012 AO!

Nadal figured out he couldn't just win moonballing to Djokovic. He had to be a more complete player. Better serve placement, taking the ball earlier, and etc. Imo aggression is key against Djokovic. Get him before he gets you mentality.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Serve like Isner, hit like Federer.

So, Pete Sampras then.

 

[bullfan]

Nadal figured out he couldn't just win moonballing to Djokovic. He had to be a more complete player. Better serve placement, taking the ball earlier, and etc. Imo aggression is key against Djokovic. Get him before he gets you mentality.

My point is that Nadal knows what needs to be done, given his being on both ends of the stick, and besting Novak in GSs post 2011. Sure Novak beat him in 2012 AO, but it's been a drought for the most part otherwise.

 

[Paul Murphy]

Use a lot of slices and try to bring him to the net. Federer has the best such tactics which is why their matches are usually competitive even when Federer is playing crap.

Spot on - bring him forward - don't let him dictate from the baseline.

 

[Wynter]

Delpo always gets close, aggressive power strokes, I suppose running him into the ground and then some.

Cross-court, cross-court, cross-court all day with hard strokes

 

[Graf=GOAT]

Great serve, great slice, random net approaches (must have excellent volleys). Basically disrupt his grinding game with variety and keep him off balance and guessing. Hold serve easily and pressure his own crappy serve in every game.

 

[Tenez101]

Great serve, great slice, random net approaches (must have excellent volleys). Basically disrupt his grinding game with variety and keep him off balance and guessing. Hold serve easily and pressure his own crappy serve in every game.

His serve does tend to break down. It seems to go through rough and purple patches. It was stellar in 2011, for example, while it was quite subpar this year. Don't even get me started about 2009.

 

[papertank]

The best strategy to beat Novak is to play to your own strengths. There is no tactic he is weak against right now, so the only way is to simply outplay him by doing whatever it is that you do best.

 

[Backspin1183]

The best strategy to beat Novak is to play to your own strengths. There is no tactic he is weak against right now, so the only way is to simply outplay him by doing whatever it is that you do best.

I beg to differ. Nadal seemed clueless against Djokovic in 2011 but since 2012, he's had the upper hand with a change in his game plan.

 

[nethawkwenatchee]

So, Pete Sampras then.

I like Isner over Pete on clay

 

[Start da Game]

Don't give him angles...

this.....nadal figured that out after 2011 and has been highly successful against him since.....

 

[Murrayfan31]

My point is that Nadal knows what needs to be done, given his being on both ends of the stick, and besting Novak in GSs post 2011. Sure Novak beat him in 2012 AO, but it's been a drought for the most part otherwise.

He didn't know the last 2 times they played. Maybe Djokovic has responded to Nadal's new strategy.

 

[edberg volleys]

1. Feed him high balls
2. SLICE
3. Hope he suffers personal tragedy/injury
4. Make him change his shoes halfway through the tournament
5. Play in front of the super classy Madrid crowd

6. Hope that a hurricane is going to hit to Madrid

 

[papertank]

I beg to differ. Nadal seemed clueless against Djokovic in 2011 but since 2012, he's had the upper hand with a change in his game plan.

Nadal didn't start winning by attacking anything in Djokovic's game, he did it by upping his own game. He dictated more with his forehand, strengthened his backhand and was more unpredictable on serve. That's why I say the way to beat him is to play to your own strengths. If you're looking for a weakness in Djokovic's game you're not going to find it, you have to just focus on upping your own game and hope you can outplay him.