Why has Novak Djokovic been so dominant in the last 4 years?

King of the Mountain

Since the end of 2010, Novak Djokovic has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of tennis. From the start of the 2011 season, Novak has unequivocally been the most dominant and consistent player in Men’s tennis. Others have had their share in the limelight - Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Stanislas Wawrinka, Marin Cilic - but no one can match the performances or record of the Serbian’s. He has won nine Grand Slams - and made the finals of six others - since then.

Djokovic’s success can be attributed to many factors and below we take a look at why he has become so infallible in his performances especially in the big stages:

1. Double hand backhand - The reason many cite why Federer is not as successful against Nadal is his single hand backhand. The heavy topspin of Nadal’s ferocious forehand, going to the beautiful Federer backhand and Roger’s inability to change direction and go down the line to Nadal’s backhand, does not have the same impact when facing Novak. Novak’s backhand is a thing of beauty and he effortlessly changes direction and keeps his opponents guessing. Djokovic’s backhand is deemed as one of the best shots in tennis at the moment and few could argue seeing the success he has.

2. Physicality - Contrary to his lanky demeanour, Novak’s strongest weapon is his physicality. Djokovic has been able to outperform, outplay and most importantly outlast all his opponents in the longer matches all thanks to his fitness. The Australian Open 2012 final against Rafael Nadal is the best example. A five hour fifty three minute epic that left both players requiring a chair to sit during the trophy ceremony. Not many players could have lasted that long against Nadal during those lung-busting baseline rallies and come out on top.

3. Return of Serve - An absolute nightmare for a serve & volleyer, Djokovic’s return of serve is one of his strongest assets in his arsenal. No matter how big the serve, or how well it is placed, Djokovic more often than not seems to get a racquet to it. His flexibility and dexterity assist him a lot in returning serves, which for other professionals seem impossible.

4. Mental Toughness - Novak’s strong will and never-say-die attitude is as imperative as his physicality. Coming down from match points in two successive US Open’s (2010 & 2011) against Roger Federer is evidence enough that the Serbian always chases a lost cause where most other professionals may throw in the towel. His winning mentality is another mark of the great champion that he is.

Overall, the Serbian has all the attributes of a tennis great. He can change defence into attack in the blink of an eye and currently no one does it better. The present generation of tennis players may be the toughest in the history of the sport, and Novak Djokovic is certainly leaving his mark on it.