Novak Djokovic Says There’s Still Room For Improvement In His Game

by Tom Gainey | March 22nd, 2013, 9:55 am
  • 15 Comments

Novak Djokovic returns this evening to the Sony Open Miami, home of his first ATP Masters 1000 title in 2007 and home to some his best results at a single tournament. The two-time defending champion has been dominant on hardcourts and without Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal in the tournament, the Serb is the big favorite.

“I like the conditions,” Djokovic said on Wednesday. “It can be quite humid, but these weather conditions are different from Indian Wells and from other tournaments, which is normal to expect. It’s not the first time I’m in Miami. So as I said, I had plenty of success in the past. That gives me a reason to believe I can do well again in this tournament.”

And despite his nearly impeccable record on the hardcourts recently, Djokovic leaves room for improvement.


“I feel that I still can improve a lot of shots in my game,” he said. “I still feel that I can serve maybe better in some moments. I still feel that maybe I can come to the net a bit more often. So it’s actually very encouraging for me, because I like to work, you know. I like to practice and try to improve my game and get my game to best possible level. So that’s a positive.”

Djokovic takes his 12-match tournament winning streak against Lukos Rosol tonight.


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15 Comments for Novak Djokovic Says There’s Still Room For Improvement In His Game

Sirius Says:

Not more improvement please! Your game is a killer already, just be focused!


jane Says:

I love that Novak is always looking to improve, and definitely there is room for it. Good luck versus Rosol!


Nirmal Kumar Says:

As Novak rightly pointed, he can definitely improve his net game. I doubt he has a good stop volley like Roger or Tsonga. That would be a great addition for him. It’s not just hitting the volley, he needs to develp the attitude of coming to the net more which will in turn improve his volleying skills.

Also Novak could improve his FH inside out shot. Probably he is the best in FH CC today, but I see he does not generate much power when hitting inside out. That would be a great addition for him.


bada bing Says:

Nirmal, yes! I would hope he can win two masters titles and at least one more GS this year with what he already has. Keep up the good work Novak.


bada bing Says:

Wow, I didn’t think Delpo would get far in Miami but he went out really quick.


queen Says:

Only fool would say there is no room for improvement. Big deal he said that.


skeezer Says:

@queen

Only a fool would say that?

You visited the Uncle Toni article? Read that and come back and see if you feel the same ;)


Giles Says:

That is the goal of all the players, no?


alison Says:

If you want to stay at the top of the game,then surely thats what all players strive to do anyway?no player wants to take success for granted and rest on their laurels,goes without saying i would have thought?


jane Says:

I’ve heard players say they are “happy” with their games. Others continually strive to improve. But I wouldn’t say that all players do. I’ve certainly seen some players rest on their laurels or non-laurels. LOL.

And, by the way, Nole was ASKED what he could do better, so the context is important here.

“Q. We know what you do really well, but if there are things you don’t do well and can’t do and you’d like to turn that around and do some of those things really well, what would that be?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Hmm. Well, your best change is day to day, right? You can’t always expect yourself to play on the 100% of your abilities, you know, and you try to adjust to the feeling that you have that day, you know, kind of general feeling, and you try to maximize your possibilities.
There are things that are always open in my game for improvement. There is room for improvement. I feel that I still can improve a lot of shots in my game, you know. I still feel that I can serve maybe better in some moments. I still feel that maybe I can come to the net a bit more often.
So it’s actually very encouraging for me, because I like to work, you know. I like to practice and try to improve my game and get my game to best possible level.
So that’s a positive, you know.”


alison Says:

^Yeah fair enough^.


MMT Says:

Not to be a contrarian here, but isn’t it obvious that he can still improve a lot in his game? Why is this a story? It reminds me of a couple of years ago when he reached #1 and said that he would continue to try stay #1, as long as he was still motivated, etc. This was less than a year after reaching #1, and I wondered to myself, “Why wouldn’t he still be motivated? It’s not like he’s been #1 for years and years.”

My two cents…


MMT Says:

There’s a little bit of a charade here with the press where they ask Djokovic, “…if there are things you don’t do well and can’t do…”

I have to say that’s a pretty stupid question, or at least a pretty stupid way to put the question. There isn’t a player on earth that doesn’t have things they don’t do well or can’t do. It’s a set up question that gets asked of every player who reaches #1, and it’s really stupid.

Then I guess the story is, “…even though he’s #1, he still thinks he can get better, so watch out!”

I think it’s nonsense.


jane Says:

^ Agree MMT, it’s the questions asked that are somewhat inane. And then the even sillier thing is that the interviewer lets Nole answer the question, explaining which things he can still do better in tennis, and so on, and THEN the interviewer informs him that’s actually not what he meant! Here are the following questions:

Q. I was meaning not in tennis.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Sorry. You should have jumped into my answer before. (Smiling.)

Q. I didn’t want to interrupt you.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Not in tennis?

Q. Yeah.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: But in what way?

Q. You know, let’s say you’re a bad singer and that’s what you would really like to excel at, that sort of thing. Like Serena said, she can’t sing and she’d love to sing. So something you can’t do you don’t do well but you’d like to really do well.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: (Pause.) Okay. That’s a good question. I love all the sports, so I would love to play golf and basketball a little bit better.
Even though I love cooking, I think I’m not so good at it. So I think I have to improve there. That’s enough. I will tell you in the next one when I think about it a little bit more.


jane Says:

^ I assume that the other piece on Andy Murray wishing he could dance better is based on the same sort of question. Sigh…

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