For a good set Novak Djokovic felt the wrath and power off Juan Martin Del Potro’s forehand wing. The 6-foot-6 Argentina began yesterday’s ATP semifinal against Djokovic by blasting winners off his massive forehand, and it nearly won him the match. After getting “crushed” early, Djokovic calmly re-calibrated his tactics and turned the tables on Del Potro to eventually win it 46, 63, 62.
In the press Djokovic was asked if there was a way to solve the Del Potro forehand.
“Sure, there is,” he quipped. “You can avoid that part of his game, you know, try to get more shots in his backhand. That was I think also a change. I’ve played a little bit more on his backhand side and got more opportunity to attack, where in the first set I played too much on his forehand, got crushed.”
Djokovic added that he thinks Del Potro will be a growing factor next season.
“He already won a Grand Slam title, US Open,” Djokovic said. “He knows how it feels to win Grand Slam. He’s definitely one of the players behind the big four that can challenge for winning a Grand Slam. Next to him it’s obviously Ferrer that had a fantastic year, the best year of his career.
So there are players, and he’s probably one of them.”
Djokovic will seek a second career ATP Finals crown later today against rival Roger Federer in London. Regardless of outcome Novak has already wrapped up the year-end ATP No. 1 ranking for a seconds straight season.
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