Watch Novak Djokovic Hit This Insane Shot In Practice [Video]

Djokovic has many interests, and talks about both the absolute need to workout and practice hard – and how tough it is to put in the time and effort needed some days. When he would rather be doing a dozen other things with that time.
Having moments of enjoyment and fun during those workouts and practices makes it much easier though..so he tries to be positive and look for the good things that happen with coaches, his physio, and practice partners.
So he hits a fabulous (and lucky) shot and gets stoked.
Puts the video out on his Twitter account.
It made that practice session a good one. Something to carry forward.

October 1st, 2015 at 9:44 am

Obviously Djokovic would never try that shot in

MATCH

Unlike Federer or even Dimitrov for that matter

because his only & proven winning strategy his

ultimate defence with momentary offense !!!

October 1st, 2015 at 1:43 pm

@Jeez – whatever his strategy is, it’s clearly working!

October 1st, 2015 at 2:14 pm

It would be nice posters for a change,could just simply say great shot etc,without the need for a comparison to Federer,i mean hes the greatest player to ever play the game etc,but this is about Nole cant he just be given credit for his tennis in his own right,is that too much to ask? jeez….

October 1st, 2015 at 3:10 pm

GG-You are voice of reason here!
Good luck with you NVQ-improving at old age-you just like Federer!

October 1st, 2015 at 3:36 pm

Hi Courbon,well ive just called it a day for now as my brains turned to mush who knew eh lol?all work and no play makes Alison a very dull girl,had a fabulous week two weeks ago now visiting Glastonbury,the tor,the chalice well,cheddar gorge,and the stones at Avebury and Stonehenge,which was very spiritual and uplifting,but now im paying for it with all this studying,just hope its all worth it….

Anyway Novaks an amazing player in his own right,and that was an amazing shot,so we should just leave it at that….

October 1st, 2015 at 4:26 pm

Nice words from Rafa in Bangkok:

“The mental strength and the level of tennis is difficult to equal,” Nadal, 29, said sitting next to Djokovic at a press conference in the Thai capital.
“I texted him after the US Open, but I want to say today in a public way, it’s amazing the way he’s playing during the whole season.”

http://m.timesofindia.com/sports/tennis/top-stories/Nadal-says-Djokovic-difficult-to-equal/articleshow/49185174.cms

October 2nd, 2015 at 12:52 am

Its a nice article,and nice words from Rafa to Novak,but i want him to be a lot less friendly and alot more ruthless,this isnt the talk of a 14 GS champion and an all time great,it sounds like the talk of a defeatist,like im there to be beaten,im there to be his pigeon,yeah right Rafa are you just gonna let Novak take everything with no fight what so ever?might as well retire if you think like that,people can heckle me if they wish,but its what i read into the article nice as it was probably Rafa being too nice IMO….

October 2nd, 2015 at 6:58 am

Well, to my mind joker will always have the edge against any player – he has a weapon, it’s called the POD!!!

October 2nd, 2015 at 11:03 am

The PODs not illegal or against the rules or anything,personally ive nothing against Nole,hes an amazing player having an amazing year and good luck and power to him,the problem i have is my personal favorites that throw in the towel,and seem so accepting of playing second fiddle,which is the way Rafas talking,and thats not the way a 14 time GS champion should be talking IMO hes the one i have the problem with not Nole….

October 2nd, 2015 at 1:15 pm

^^^^ I have no idea what your problem is. Rafa paid joker a compliment. Rafa spoke the truth.

October 2nd, 2015 at 1:20 pm

Gypsy – 10 years of seeing Rafa in action, I know he does not need to see his rivals as enemies off court. He is a natural competitor. He has always been complimentary of his rivals and doesn’t have a puffed up ego about his own abilities.

Rafa seems to enjoy doing exos with Djokovic. They had a great time in the long Chile-Argentina exo/farewell to Nalbandian and Gonzalez. That was after the great runs both had in 2013 – no one else was even close to those two’s 12.5K, 13K ATP point totals. And the Nole-Rafa rivalry was in full bloom. You couldn’t pick who would win anywhere. Novak ended Rafa’s run at Monte Carlo and was a net touch away from taking the French Open from Nadal. Then Rafa locked down #1 by beating Nole in the N American hardcourt season. A fire lit, the Serbinator reappeared and Djokovic won everything after that. But couldn’t catch Nadal when it went down the wire -since Nadal made the Championship Finals. Where Nole beat him. There was a remarkable point Nole played impossible tennis to break Rafa in the 1st set.

Season ended, Djokovic then praised Nadal being able to take #1 from him, “He was the better player this Season. For sure. He deserves to be #1.”

That is not dissimilar to Rafa’s remarks about Nole this year.

Neither is throwing in the towel by acknowledging who had a better year. I expect there’s a lot left in Rafa’s time to play top level tennis. He is still a force.

October 2nd, 2015 at 2:33 pm

Yes thats true and i didnt say otherwise,read my posts again….

October 2nd, 2015 at 2:33 pm

^For Giles^….

October 2nd, 2015 at 2:37 pm

Jeez how many more times are you going to beat the drum to the ground about that net touch at the FO in 2013 Chris Ford 1?for the last time Rafa shouldve served out the match in the fourth set, i know other posters see that as such an amazing match,well i dont as its forever tainted for me as a fan because of that particular incident,the rest of your post i dont really understand,Novak is winning everything and good for him sure,but if its all the same id like some other players to actually win something now,and Rafa to me sounds like hes too accepting and his attitude seems one of a defeatest ,yeah i probably seem like a grumpy drama queen,but not all of us are having a happy time with our favorites….

October 2nd, 2015 at 2:50 pm

The whole season battle for #1 in 2013 hinged for Nole and Rafa, on the outcome of that French Open semi. It was commonly acknowledged as the best big match of the year.
Discussing that one is no more ‘beating a dead horse’ than still talking about Roger-Rafa 2008 Wimbledon, Nole-Fed 2014 Wimbledon, or the gladiator match Rafa and Nole in 2012 Australia. Tennis at it’s finest!
I like it because I am more a fan of those monster instant classic matches than I am in GOAT stats. If Nole and Rafa have 6-7 more thrilling matches at the highest quality level for the highest stakes and split them 50-50, I’d be fine with that.

October 2nd, 2015 at 4:23 pm

Again not entirely sure what any of this has to do with what ive actually said,but Personally i hate to talk about the FO 2013,and i hate looking back on that match, because of that bloody net touch,as its all people can talk about,even the commies talk ad nauseum about it,when you put an astericks on a match it takes credit away,and there will always be a question mark there,Rafa got lucky blah blah,Novak was unlucky blah blah,the rest were clean matches….

October 2nd, 2015 at 4:39 pm

But i agree with the last sentence of your 4.23pm post as im not a big fan of GOAT,weak era,H2Hs etc,i prefer the idea that we have a number of all time greats past and present….

October 2nd, 2015 at 4:48 pm

Pretty competitive exhibition, Nole won 6:4, 6:2 in front of 15.000 fans. Rafa was playing 2013 HC game, receiving serves on the base line and staying on the base line during the points instead of playing 5m behind, uncle Toni was there too.

This full match for those who wants to check or who are missing Rafa and Nole in action:

http://youtu.be/ogWvwOPOIJs

October 2nd, 2015 at 6:42 pm

Thank you WB. I attach for you and others the Reuters feed on Rafa and Nole meeting the PM giving the Thai one of their rackets, and visiting the shrine that was bombed in Bangkok to lay a wreath.
Standard article, but cool picture. Guys look great in those raw Thai silk jackets.

http://www.reuters.com/news/picture/nadal-djokovic-meet-thai-pm-visit-deadly?articleId=USKCN0RW0GU20151002&slideId=1083921318

And Novak once again flashes his secret identity as a 4-eyed nerd.

October 2nd, 2015 at 11:37 pm

Wogboy thanks for the pictures and links to the match,its just im a little bit cranky with the way my favorite is playing,and talk of that FO in 2013 and that net touch doesnt make my mood any better….

October 3rd, 2015 at 3:48 am

Call me cynical but when ones favorite player has such an upper hand in a rivalry,theres no reason for fans of that particular fan not to love that rivalry,i wonder how they would feel if it was the other way around?,id state my life that they wouldnt love it so much then hmm….

October 3rd, 2015 at 4:34 am

If Novak was “a net touch away from winning the match” then I must have missed something and Nadal beat Novak in the 2012 Australian Open final.

October 3rd, 2015 at 10:21 am

thanks for posting that wog boy. i missed the exo.

nice words from rafa too. glad to hear he texted novak after he won the us open.

October 3rd, 2015 at 11:22 am

Nadal won a grand total of six points on Novak serve getting to 30 just once. He was sweating a lot looking yippy and this was just an exhibition. They treated it as a serious match but Nole didn’t have to play near his best. Nadal played much of the match well behind the baseline far from his 2013 level.

October 3rd, 2015 at 11:33 am

Elina in the semis of the FO in 2013,i believe it was in the 5th set where Novak touched the net which stopped him going a break up or something like like that anyway,even though Rafa shouldve really won the match in the 4th set,when it comes to that match its all some people can talk about,and how unlucky Novak was,some people beat it to the ground and seem to have a hard time getting over it,about the AO in 2012 Novak won the final fair and square no complaints….

October 3rd, 2015 at 11:41 am

“… that net touch doesnt make my mood any better….”
Ok then, let’s start:
net touch, net touch, net touch, net touch, net touch, net touch, net touch, net touch, net touch, net touch…

October 3rd, 2015 at 1:34 pm

Courbon lol, but your posts always make my mood better though…..

October 3rd, 2015 at 1:41 pm

LOok, after the best match of 2013, by writers choice- Rafa said it could have gone either way, both guys deserved it, but only one could win. And said it was like the great Australian Open final the year before. So close. Luck.

===================
In the tape Wog Boy linked to, I noted one ominous thing (to non-Djoker fans and other players to contend with). That is while he had some mishits from rustiness – Djokovic was intense, confident, stoked.
It may not pan out this way, but my belief is that Novak is feeling good, has plenty of energy, and wants to do what he couldn’t in 2011 when he fried out after winning the USO. Nail the whole fall season as he did in 2013, almost did in 2014.

Djokovic is a student of the game and knows if he keeps it up, he can make significant achievements for this year outside Slam Count.
1. Most points in a season.
2. Hold a record 6 of 9 Masters titles at one time if he wins Shanghai.
3. Finish the year tied with his and Rafa’s record of 5 Masters titles/year, or establish a new yearly record if he wins Paris and Shanghai.
4. Most important, a victory at the Finals in London would give him 4 straight, tie him with Pete and Ivan Lendl with 5 titles, and put Fed’s record 6 titles within reach.
5. If opportunity presents, try to continue to whittle away at Fed and Rafa’s H2H with him.

October 3rd, 2015 at 2:37 pm

Right ill make this clear,it was an absolutely bloody amazing match best one ive ever seen,Rafa was lucky like he always is,Novak was unlucky like he always is,dont worry about it though as Novak will win a dozen FOs,he will win everything every year from now on,in fact theres no point in anyone one else even bothering to play,lets just give Novak everything,there you go are you satisfied now?….

October 3rd, 2015 at 3:19 pm

There are some of us tennis fans that won’t ever give a poo-diddly that something got “writers choice.”

But, absolutely loved this Nole video and hope that once in a surprising, tactical while, he uses that backhand!

That said, I don’t like my favorites being too “buddy, buddy” with a rival. It’s sport and serious competition. At a hit and giggle exho…it’s fine. But come Shanghai, Paris, WTF, no buddies.

October 3rd, 2015 at 3:30 pm

Gypsy, if it will make you feel better, Rafa’s luck ran out this year. No one is calling him lucky in 2015.

But you misread. Rafa, Fed, and Nole all have had matches with one another that were so close, either opponent could have won and sometimes it comes down to luck. Had Fed had a little more luck in 2008, had he not had the misfortune of being bothered more than Rafa, he would have won it but called Rafa deserving if he had won it. Just as he said in their razor close 2007 Wimbledon – he won that because he was lucky on a few points and Rafa was not.

October 3rd, 2015 at 3:41 pm

Jalep great post,personally i hate my favorites been too friendly with their rivals,and i dont care about which match was writers choice either blah blah,they are entitled to their opinions like we are all entitled to ours,and because of that incident i hated that match its tainted end of….

October 3rd, 2015 at 3:47 pm

Chris Ford1 your missing the point….

October 3rd, 2015 at 3:50 pm

Im probably on a hiding to nothing but i wouldnt actually mind some other players actually winning something now if thats OK,i mean some of us are actually fans of other players too?….

October 3rd, 2015 at 3:54 pm

What I like about 18 yr old Belinda Bencic, Gypsy: she doesn’t have a second thought about taking down Serena and relishes the opportunity – Roberta Vinci lately too. Jo Konta has that quality. Seems lately more moxie in the WTA than ATP.

Guys are lazy and uninspired – look at Dimitrov. Then out of the rising stars ATP, who do we have…perhaps over-rated Alex Zverev and have begun to see Rublev like that. Coric and Hyeon Chung appear the most likely to succeed at the moment. Kokkinakis has shown a lot of potential at 19 but I have to wonder if he’s learned to put in the hard yards when he loses a match like he should have won at US Open v Gasquet.

October 3rd, 2015 at 4:12 pm

Jalep very true,i love Kei too but he seems so suseptible to injuries,shame about Grigor such alot of talent,but blows hot and cold too much,its a funny game tennis which at times leaves me scratching my head at times,the rest you mentioned have alot of potential,time will tell if they live up to it,its great that there are players taking it to Serena,like Bencic and Vinci Vika is another that loves playing Serena and isnt intimidated by her either,most of the WTA players fold like cheap suits when facing her….

October 3rd, 2015 at 4:31 pm

Jalep – It you disagree with the SI, tennis.com writers saying 2013’s best match was the French semi, put out why you think a different match was more deserving. Djokovic sort of swept the “3 best”. After that, writers called 2nd place the Wimbledon semi between Nole and del Potro an edge of your seat thriller(my favorite match of 2013 and in my 5 best ever list). Then Nole-Stan 4th Round Australian Open classic 3rd.

Friendships? They are there. Have to be kept a little at arm’s distance for the time they are active players but it is not typical for players to be like Sharapova, The Williams Sisters, Roger at times, or Jimmy Connors and not socialize with any other player. Probably easiest for Connors, because he hated everybody. There are also players that like to be, if not close friends, mentors of new talent that they compete against. Mentors – not players out to sabotage rivals – but help them fit into the ways and internal norms and values of Tour life, give some tips to help the ones they take a shine to rise in the ranks. And players do practices with competitors and they try to have some fun and banter along with the work.

And it is a bit complicated by this not being players alone – but cliques at times by national origin, sexual orientation, spouses and entourages, seniors and doubles players, wheelchair competitors, the Organizers event staff and ATP staff all mixing together at events.

October 3rd, 2015 at 4:36 pm

Maybe its one of your favorite matches,maybe its one of SIs favorite matches,but we are all different its a matter of preferance,some of us prefer clean matches without a question mark against them,maybe some of us prefer none friendships in the sport,personally i wish Rafa would keep his distance,and figure out a way of beating Novak which is more important right now….

October 3rd, 2015 at 5:00 pm

Just look at Kuala Lumpur’s draw and who made it through…all these young talents and we still have Ferrer, F-lo, and Benjamin Becker at the pointy end.

Shenzen – maybe Berdych can finally win something like a 250 pt. tournament…or not: he has to get by G-lo, Cilic, and Tommy Robredo…not sure Berdych will have the attention span for it.

CF1, yes I disagree with SI, often disagree with Werthiem, Bodo, ect. the one most consistently like reading is Tignor. Also disagree with the sports writer for OregonLive.com. It’s opinion, subjective. Also no surprise – popular opinion is what it is, opinion. Disagree with popular blockbuster movies frequently and disagree with popular music lists as well. Any problem with that? Disagree with polls that have Trump as the favorite…sheesh. Have to question conventional wisdom and thinking.

October 3rd, 2015 at 5:06 pm

Well said as always Jalep.

Luck had nothing to do with any of those memorable matches. Better player won all of them and played the big points better simple as that.

October 3rd, 2015 at 6:53 pm

So is 2013 your favorite tennis year, CF1?

My most memorable ATP matches since 2009.
AO Verdasco v Nadal 2009
FO Federer v Tommy Haas 2009
US Open final 2009
Barclays WTF 2009
Rome 2010 Federer vs Gulbis
FO 2010 Monfils v Fognini
US Open semifinal Federer v Nole 2010
Indian Wells Final 2011
Wimbledon 2011 Final
AO 2012 Final
Olympic Gold medal round 2012
2013 AO final
2014 FO Gulbis v Federer
2014 Wimbledon Final
2015 US Open Paire v Nishikori
2015 US Open Fognini v Nadal
And anything Dolgopolov won ever, espesially vs a top 10 player.

2015 Davis Cup Argentina v Belgium
2013 Davis Cup Serbia v USA Boise, Idaho

October 3rd, 2015 at 7:01 pm

Let me rephrase what I said, Rafa was trying to stay as close as possible to the base line whenever it was possible, he is trying to go back and play the way he played in 2013 HC season and took Nole by surprise then. He wasn’t playing his usual “5m behind base line” game.
Does it sound better or still not good enough?

October 3rd, 2015 at 7:04 pm

jalep,
I don’t know if you watched Dimitrov in Malaysian open, but he regressed big time, from bad to worse, and his choice of coaches is questionable to say at least. He might end up like Ana Ivanovic, having dozen coaches in ten years. I don’t think it is going to work with Davin either, he needs authority who is to shake him up and redirect his game, Davin looks like too nice person, atm he is going nowhere, actually he is going backward.

October 3rd, 2015 at 7:20 pm

Well no, Wog Boy, didn’t have any option for watching Kuala Lumpur or Shenzhen. Tennis Channel has been doing a good job with WTA tournaments the last 2 weeks – even early rounds.

Not sure what the deal is with no coverage of ATP. Thinking TC will change that and cover Beijing WTA and maybe ATP, and Tokyo ATP. For sure by Shanghai ATP I should have live coverage.

Only have followed draws and results for the past 2 weeks for ATP. Agree: Dimitrov is going nowhere to backwards and needs someone to reign him in and help him get motivated.

Ana…I keep hoping. Maybe this week she’ll shine? At least WTA has that posh, new, year-end final in Zhuhai, the Chinese riviera for 9-19 ranked. But she’ll have to go deep in Beijing this week to make that :/ almost can’t see it happening.

October 3rd, 2015 at 8:14 pm

I think its extremely unlikely not only that serena will play WTA finals, but sharapova certainly doubtful she has played all of a half of a match since wimbledon

October 3rd, 2015 at 8:16 pm

Yeah, Kimberly. Serena already announced that she’s done for the year. A Left forearm injury is keeping Sharapova from defending her title in Beijing apparently. But have you heard she won’t play Singapore? Maria has enough cushion points-wise to not get bumped out. Not a lot of big points tournaments after Beijing. Kremlin Cup is a 470 point event. The rest are 280’s.

October 3rd, 2015 at 8:55 pm

jalep,

I think Ana is playing Venus in Bejing, no much hope, I said few times if there is only JJ head on Ana’s shoulders, she would be the best player in the world:)

October 3rd, 2015 at 10:20 pm

Jalep – good list. Didn’t say 2013 was my favorite year for classic matches, just that writers picked the 3 best as I listed and my personal favorite was the Nole-Delpo war at Wimbledon.

Wog Boy – No doubt you saw that Nenad Zimonjic posted a clip where he and Nole sit arm and arm and Nole announces he will be playing doubles at the RIO Olympics with Zim. Singles and doubles. If Djokovic goes deep in both medal contests he may have to skip the only Masters left on his bucket list, Cincinnati, to rest up and get practice in at Flushing Meadows before the USO starts.

October 3rd, 2015 at 11:09 pm

CF1,
Yes, I’ve seen that one, Ziki is over the moon, understandable so, he is 39 and about to finish his playing career, he is great bloke too, I really don’t mind if Nole skips Cincinnati, Olympic games are far more important than one masters, even if it is only missing masters, besides, they are great friends.

October 3rd, 2015 at 11:25 pm

AO Verdasco v Nadal 2009
FO Final 2008
W Final 2008
AO Final 2009
W Semi 2013
W Final 2013
USO Final 2009
AO Semi 2014 Stan v Nole
AO Semi 2013 Murray v Federer
AO Semi 2013 Stan v Nole
USO Semi 2014 Kei v Nole
Toronto Masters Semi 2013
Cincy Final 2013
W Semi 3013
These are some of my favorite matches….

October 4th, 2015 at 2:14 am

Forgot the Gold Medal matchs 2008,and 2012….

October 4th, 2015 at 2:16 am

2010 USO Final
2012 USO Final
2013 USO Final

October 4th, 2015 at 8:52 am

Better. Yes he tried but Nadal hasn’t been near his 2013 level since… well 2013.

October 4th, 2015 at 10:02 am

great list jalep; very varied. interesting that you picked ernie/rog matches.

gypsy don’t like your list quite as much since almost 40% of your picks were novak losses. “AO Semi 2013 Stan v Nole” – they didn’t play a semi that year. i think it was R16 you mean. also AO2014 was a quarterfinal. “W Semi 3013”? my goodness, i hope it lives up to your expectations.and may we all live that long to see it. hee hee. ;-)

October 4th, 2015 at 11:16 am

Jane lol 3013 fraudian, anyway yeah round 16 sorry,but Stan and Nole have played some great matches,and both those AO matches were amazing as were 2013 W semi,sorry about those 3 USO matches but i enjoyed them as they had alot of significance for my two favorites like Rafa completeing a career grand slam,and Murray winning his first GS,also Murray won Win 2013 as a Brit that was amazing for me as a fan,and the USO in 2013 was another HC GS for Rafa and i always enjoy any GS he wins away from clay,as clay is regarded as the poor mans GS,the FO semi in 2013 i hated and prefer not to talk about it for certain reasons i dont want to go into anyway….

October 4th, 2015 at 4:30 pm

^Meant anymore,not anyway^….

October 4th, 2015 at 4:40 pm

Those were both exciting matches, jane, Fed v Gulbis…very memorable. And Federer was playing well in 2014. EG was perhaps at a level we’ll not see ever again! Rare moments of brilliance. Still carry a torch for EG to make another comeback.

Gypsy, it looks like 2013 was your favorite year in tennis. It was a low point for Federer, 2013. Not the most memorable year for Novak either – he got a GS, though. 2008 was a crappy year for a Fed Fan. Probably should put down FO 2009 Nadal v Soderling; and Soderling v Federer 2009 FO final too as memorable favorites – since Fed got his FO title finally, which was a turning point for me. Shocking that Federer went on to win 2 more Wimbledon’s, plus an AO after winning FO 2009.

So, Federer’s 2011 and 2013 is reason enough to not write off Rafa after a poor 2015.

Dolgo has his hands full with Sam Querrey in Tokyo. Dolgo is the Camila Giorgi of ATP.
Lost the 1st set TB to Sam. Come on, Dolgo!

October 5th, 2015 at 1:49 am

Jalep yeah tis true,my two favorites had great seasons in 2013,there are many great matches out there,too many to mention,and even if i cant stand Gulbis that match was great, i enjoyed the AO in 2012 too,even though my favorite lost,i just get sick of hearing about that incident in the FO semi in 2013,anyway after the USO in 2013 Novak went on a tear and finished the season on a high note….

October 5th, 2015 at 2:09 am

Aren’t you up early, Gypsy? Shouldn’t you be doing your coursework? ;)

It’s 12:20 am here but thinking I’ll stay awake all night and sleep in the day even on my days off during Asian Swing. So many good matches on!

Dolgo just lost :(

But next is Kei v Borna.
Goffin v Seppi
Fognini v Klizan

Bouchard v Petkovic
and a Bencic match, plus a Aga match

October 5th, 2015 at 2:25 am

Jalep lol please dont tell me off,and apologies for this late reply,i was tuning in before heading of to work,just finished another three units,but theres still loads more to do yet,it will be this time next year before its all finished,anyway yeah some great matches,it seems an age since the top players last played now,when i stay up in the night to watch tennis it tends to be during the GS,and mostly when i dont have work the next day,mostly thats during the AO or USO where i am….

October 5th, 2015 at 11:32 am