Decreasing yield: the famous yield of the Novak Djokovic service shows signs of cracking

Over the past two decades, Novak Djokovic has acquired the reputation of being the best tennis of a turner -up never seen. In times when players could generally look down and go out while their opponent is used for the match, the Serb managed to find answers that change momentum more frequently than anyone remember.

The United States semi-final opened in 2011, where he saved two match points against Roger Federer; The Australian Open final in 2012, where he came from a break in the final set to beat Rafael Nadal in the longest match in the history of the Grand Chelem; And the summit shock in Wimbledon in 2019 where he again saved two match points against Federer are some of the various remarkable cases where Djokovic has shown that he is never out of the competition even when he does not have the service.

However, since the beginning of 2024, Djokovic’s return game has experienced a minor drop. He won 33.7% of the return points to the first service of his career. In the past 52 weeks, it fell to 32.5%. On short hard, which is considered to be Djokovic’s favorite surface because he won 14 of his 24 Grand Slam titles, it represents only 29.7% in the past year. In terms of points of return to the second service, the respective percentages are 55.2 (career), 54.8 (last 52 weeks) and 56.7 (in the hard courts in the last 52 weeks).

During this period, Djokovic, who himself has 6’2 ”, particularly fought against the greatest players of the tour that serve great. The 6’3 ”Jannik Sinner (Australian Open Semifinal and Shanghai Masters Final in 2024), 6’5” Alexei Popyrin (US Open Third Round in 2024), 6’11 ”Reilly Opelka (Brisbane International Quarterfinal This Year), 6’5” Matteo Berrettini (Qatar Open First Round this Year) and Most Recently, 6’3 ”Botic van de Zandschulp in Second Round at Indian Wells, all made life difficult in Djokovic. In fact, he didn’t even have a single break up against Sinner in Australia last year.

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Djokovic was also unable to be more consistent in the crucial moments of the matches. He converted 44.1% of stopping points during his long career. In the past 52 weeks, this statistic is 41.5%, while in hard courts during the same period, it is even worse at 37.7%.

Paul Annacone, who led people like Federer, Pete Sampras and Sloane Stephens, and is also a well -known commentator and analyst, feels the slight decrease in the form of Djokovic is due to the fact that he did not play as often as before. “I haven’t really seen a lot of difference (in Djokovic’s game). (It is) a little less consistent and the margins are so narrow that if it falls, you are vulnerable. We have not seen it in the past of Novak too often, but now that it plays less, it’s a little more difficult to put yourself in a match pace, “said Annacone, 61 years old Sportstar.

Annacone also credited the other players for taking the game to Djokovic. “Players are improving and it doesn’t play so often. So, his level, perhaps, can dive a little because he doesn’t have as much match match, “he said.

Recently, Djokovic spoke a lot to focus more on the majors and, therefore, he adjusted his schedule accordingly to keep fresh. Between 2021 and 2023, he played 62, 49 and 63 games, respectively each season. This worked in his favor when he caught seven of the 10 grand slam he played during these three years.

Novak Djokovic in Serbia in action during its 32 -game open game of Qatar against Matteo Bertttini Italian. | Photo credit: Ibraheem al Omari / Reuters

But in March of last year, he ended a very successful partnership with coach Goran Ivanisevic under which he won nine majors. Since the beginning of 2024, he had only made one major final – Wimbledon from last year where he lost against Carlos Alcaraz. During the same period, he won only one title – the gold medal of the Paris Olympic Games after defeating Alcaraz in two equality breaks in the final.

“It is very difficult to balance a calendar for an icon like Novak. He shouldn’t play a full schedule, but if he doesn’t win enough and don’t get enough games, it’s complicated. He is the most accomplished male player in history. I would be shocked if it does not raise the level and will also be surprised if it is not in the final of the remaining majors this year, “said Annacone.

Djokovic is 38 years old in May and knee and hamstring injuries last year showed that he was human after all. Thus, the slight decrease in his return game can be a sign of things to come, but for the moment, this still requires a very high level of his opponents to beat him and he may not be done yet.