That's what we can call good answer, real arguments about topic You must be Novak's fan, eventually Murray's? Low bounce, high speed in a nutshell. They were the Big Two, Fedal, the greatest rivalry yet in tennis history and the greatest players the sport had ever seen. Lets dig into the characteristics of this surface. In his column for the Times of India, Becker wrote, "The Australian Open entered its second a week with some of the contenders whom I had mentioned, particularly among the younger players, falling in the early rounds. I don't understand why OP question would draw such mockery from some posters. He is the only male player to have won all nine of the Masters tournaments, and has done so twice. I answered well. The declined state of tour and ability on grass has helped Novak win 3 wimbledons I will admit. 7, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at No. That's just my confidence, that's just what I bring to the table.". Novak is always a favorite because he is so well-liked. If he can keep up this level of play, he will be the only man to defeat Nadal in all four major tennis tournaments. Flying below radar has served Simona Halep well. Grass courts. Grass: Federer, Djokovic, Nadal Once again, the player at the top of this surface is clear; Federer's seven Wimbledon titles make it pretty obvious that he is the best grass-courter right now. But either way, the 85-time tour-level titlist knows he has a chance at joining Laver as the second man in the Open Era to complete the calendar-year Grand Slam in less than two months. Novak Djokovic holds the all-time Masters record with 38 titles, while Nadal is second with 36. First of all, clay courts are the most sensitive to spins and the slowest of all. Carpet courts are great for fast-paced training, but they can be quite dangerous for your joints. With the new rules we have less time. In fact, he has also done considerably better in the hard-court Masters Series tournaments than the clay ones. This viral Daikon Radish Pickle has sprite as an ingredient! Not surprisingly, it is Rafael Nadal who had the best winning percentage - 90.98% - in this period on clay. Because Federer has four more finals to look forward to, its simple to see why hes favorite. While the Spaniard is yet to hit his stride this season, he has been a beast on clay for almost two decades, winning the French Open a record 14 times -- 12 times more than Djokovic. One of the many advantages to building clay courts is that its an eco-friendly surface. It is only three victories behind Novak Djokovic, who holds the record for most wins on the surface by a female. In this article, I will try to tackle every concern and question you may have about the subject. Is it better to play in clay or grass? The clay season brings with it its own challenges, the formemost of which is Rafael Nadal. Durability: The longest-lasting of the tennis court surfaces. Currently ranked at No 8, Nadal will exit the top 10 on March 20 for the first. I suggest that you warm-up properly before each session to lower the risk of injury. The Ball Must Bounce Within The Confines Of The Court To Be Considered In, The Perfect String Tension For Your Tennis Game, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: A French Professional Tennis Player, How To Wear Tennis Shoes With A Button Shirt, How To Feed Your Tennis Ball-loving YouTube Addiction. The 35-year-old Djokovic - the world's top-ranked player - is now unbeaten in 14 matches this year. Fed, who was in his mid 30s when he won his first title at the age of 17, didnt get past the second round until he was 33. Its a shame. My performance was really satisfying. Novak managed to win so many times 6-4 6-4 6-4, I actually dont know how he does it. As Novak has always had to fight through more to win, it's not his natural surface. Please logout and login again. Earlier in the season, he won the Adelaide 1 and Australian Open titles. The international tennis federation (IFT) regulates and classifies these different tennis court surfaces by their theoretical speed. Players are unable to defend themselves, which is why Roger Federer has such a strong point. Roger Federer in the last four grand slams: Lew put down whatever you are smoking and watch a replay of AO 2016 -SF. Federer has accumulated more than 10 Slams on the quick courts and is clearly more dominant on this surface. Vajda said. "First of all, it was very strange in Paris, to be in the opposing box. I didn't want to give him too much time. This year at Wimbledon, grass courts were only used. Novak Djokovic of Serbia lifts the trophy after beating Stefanos . Djokovic's best surface is undoubtedly hard court. If you make a statement that sounds wrong to me, you are stupid. According to Vajda, even though it ached to be in the opposing box, they both still maintain a good relationship both on and off the court. I think he has a good draw. So whether you're looking to learn more about the sport or just stay up-to-date on the latest news, we've got you covered. Within hours of the defeat, the Serb had turned his attention to the next task at hand -- beating his arch-rival Rafael Nadal on clay. This surface is rather fast and quite popular in Asia, they are the closest thing there is to grass and are a good surface to practice on. Maybe his performance in the first round was not that great, but he improves his tennis as matches go by.". 'Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic went over the edge,' says Patrick Mouratoglou, Novak Djokovic counts to 1250 and moves closer to Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic: Probably no Serbia Open in 2024, Ion Tiriac wants his licence back, ATP Acapulco: Taro Daniel scores first top-10 win despite beating Novak Djokovic, ATP Dubai: Lorenzo Sonego keeps Rafael Nadal in top-10, Dominic Thiem: I'm constantly thinking of a life beyond tennis, Novak Djokovic joins Roger Federer, Pete Sampras on exclusive list. Tennis beauty Maria Sharapova looks stunning in a bathrobe! Camila Giorgi enchants Instagram with a cowgirl outfit! 2011-2020: best winning % on grassDjokovic 90.14Federer 87.50Murray 87.01Cilic 75.00Isner 72.31Raonic 70.00Lopez 69.33Tsonga 68.97Nishikori 68.52Mahut 65.63Min 50 matches. In the last decade grass seems to be the best surface to play the baseline game where you can trade shots and be safe. Novak Djokovic is widely regarded as the favorite to win Wimbledon, but world number one Daniil Medvedev believes he is the greatest ever on the grass courts. There are however some tournaments still being held on carpet courts such as the Tournoi de Qubec. In addition to 19 titles on grass at Halle, eight at Wimbledon, and one at Stuttgart, he has won nine on grass at other events. Andy Murray only wins 60 percent on his. If you want to be successful on clay courts, patience and a strategic mind will go a long way in terms of game. According to the Wimbledon runner-up, Djokovic is also the best mover across all surfaces. Its non-toxic composition is made of crushed bricks and mineral aggregates. Djokovic has won four Wimbledon titles and has reached the final six times, including five consecutive years from 2014 to 2018. Since the last two years, Clay has choked in Rhode Island. Novak Djokovic was a flawless 18-0 in January and February, going 6-0 during Serbia's triumph at the inaugural ATP Cup, 7-0 en route to his 17th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and 5-0 . The 20-time Grand Slam champion will also compete in the ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup finals, while his presence at the Australian Open 2022 is uncertain (due to the well-known vaccination requirement). Found mostly in Europe and South-America, clay tennis courts are the dream surface for baseline players. Almost never used on the professional circuit, carpet courts are made of artificial turf mixed with sand. Thanasi Kokkinakis bowed out in the second round of Wimbledon 2022, losing to Novak Djokovic 6-7 (7-4) 6-2. From a practical point of view, ball impacts leave a mark on this surface, which is a great advantage when reviewing whether a ball was out. This rivalry is as close as it gets between these two teams. Clay courts allow players to slide, which makes them more mobile and adds flexibility to their movement. We mortals can only shrug our shoulders. As one of the favorites for this years Wimbledon, Medvedev ranked Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer among the best grass players of his generation. The 35-year-old revealed that they were an important part of why he kept on playing, so that he could give them a "good feeling" when they came to watch him compete. Djokovic, as a result, has a quick reaction time and can change directions without waiting for a response. I knew I had to have started the match well today, because they are a dangerous opponent. Defensive players and those who like to play from the baseline are often the ones that strive on clay courts. Improving: The best surface to improve as a tennis player. well.She has been serving well, and that always is a sign that she is feeling good about her game.It is also wonderful to see Garbine Muguruza doing well.Clearly, the collaboration with Conchita Martinez is paying rich dividends for the Spaniard," Becker opined. Thats a 14Mph difference for a strong forehand. 1 Novak Djokovic had the best hardcourt winning percentage on the ATP tour during the period from 2011 to 2020. Despite being born on clay, the Serbs four Grand Slam victories are significantly better on hard courts than on clay. Fast courts were definitely Sampras' friends, as his quick style of play and phenomenal serve-and-volley were dependent on them. Fewer mistakes: Make the judge's job easier thanks to the marks left by the ball. Novak Djokovic might be the only player in the Open Era to be in the top 5 list of players on every surface (hardcourt, grass, clay); he has redefined what it means to be versatile. I believe that claiming that Nadal is simply too overwhelming is an incorrect statement. He has. In the eight previous meetings between the two, neither Federer nor Djokovic has been able to break through. He also did not have the best fitness regime, so he tried to get the points over as quickly as possible. But I want to play on grass, I want to play Wimbledon. As a result, Djokovic has an unfair advantage. Nadal is a great hard court player, but his success on clay makes him the clear favorite in that format. Ash Barty stormed into her maiden Australian Open semi-final with an emphatic 7-6(6) 6-2 win over Petra Kvitova that avenged her defeat to the hard-hitting Czech in last year's quarter-final at Melbourne Park. According to him, Novak Djokovic has the potential to win the 2022 Wimbledon title. The Serb has won 27 Grand Slams on hard courts and 11 on clay, making him the only player in history to complete the Career Golden Masters by winning all nine of them. why was carrie's sister dropped from king of queens . Last year, he defeated Nadal in the finals by attacking his serve games. ", Flavia Pennetta: "Novak Djokovic is always number 1! I tried to follow my tactics and do what I had to do to win. Is Novak Djokovic the best clay court player ever? 8 and Nicolas Mahut at No. Your login session has expired. Djoker is clearly dominant on any surface with any bounce or speed. He also has a very impressive record at the All England Club. Novak Djokovic also touched upon the importance of his family during the press conference, hailing them for being by his side through thick and thin. When probed if that was what the Serb meant as the next challenge, beating Nadal on clay, the 22-time Grand Slam champion made it sound like it was, adding that he has not written off the possibility. 2, with Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem and David Ferrer rounding out the top 5. Ons Jabeur stands with migrants in their struggle. Grass Courts (minimum 5 matches) The main one resides in the fact that its a very demanding surface for players articulations. He went on to explain how it is a little custom, saying in 2018 that it is a tradition. Daniil Medvedev says that Novak Djokovics grass court game is unmatched. Caitlin Thompson joins Joe Molloy to recap Novak Djokovic-Nick Kyrgios and Wimbledon 2022.Have you downloaded the OTB App?- Search for OTB Sports in the Goog. Flavia Pennetta: "Novak Djokovic is always number 1! After winning the Rome Masters, Novak Djokovic will now head to Madrid to begin preparing for the French Open. Murray and Tommy Haas have a winning record against Joker on grass. There is no clear consensus on whether Novak Djokovic is the best tennis player on grass, but many experts believe he is. In an interview with Spanish media outlet Dairio de Mallorca, Medvedev predicted that Novak Djokovic will be regarded as one of the greatest grass-court players of all time. He did, however, lose on hard courts, but he retains the number one ranking on both surfaces. Medvedev has never progressed beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon and he holds an 8-4 record from four main draw appearances at the All England Club. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service. From 100Mph, the ball will travel at 92Mph after bouncing on the grass. Die-hard Murray fan but nothing against Novak (except when he plays Murray of course). He did not have a great end to 2019, so it is particularly satisfying that he has flown below the radar and kept his cool," Becker wrote. Djokovic, one of the most high-profile athletes unvaccinated against Covid-19, said he is still waiting for an outcome having applied for special permission to enter the United States, where. But following a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Daniil Medvedev, the World No. He has won five Grand Slam titles on hard courts, as opposed to one on clay and one on a hard court, and has never lost a semi-final at the French Open on a hard court. Grass is the historically prominent surface. "Finally, I hope Ash Barty does well because it would be great for the game to have a top seed on the women's side winning a Grand Slam.Add to that the fact that Australia has had a terrible summer, thanks to the bushfires," Becker signed off. Roger Federer has won more Grand Slam titles than any other male tennis player, making him the most successful tennis player of all time. Kevin Fitzgerald is a tennis coach based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It only lasts 4 weeks with Wimbledon as the main event. These are techniques that have helped me throughout my career. After various speculations, the 34-year-old from Belgrade has announced that he will be at the starting line of the Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy. His ability to move quickly and efficiently and stretch out is astounding, and his determination has made him invaluable on grass. Add to that his 24 hard court masters and 5 WTF and it becomes clear that hard court is Djokovic's best surface. He has a very strong serve and can hit winners from anywhere on the court. Together, they utterly dominated for several years. With eight titles, Novak Djokovic is almost certain to win another one and close out his career. Carpet courts are mainly found indoors. He has now won nineteen majors, just one. This tennis court surface requires specific training, physical condition, and skillset. 15-0 on hard in 2023. Novak Djokovic looking forward to beating Nadal on his best surface as clay season beckons Novak Djokovic faced his first loss of the 2023 season on Friday, falling to Daniil Medvedev in. Nadal has won the most titles on the clay courts (34) and the hard courts (ten). If I had to name just one thing for you to become a better player on grass, it would be this: Stay low and bend your knees A LOT more than usual. TheChampLair.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Your login session has expired. However, the ability to adapt to each surface is what separates the good from the great. So remember, if you want to be a complete player, clay courts are where you should practice. A few years ago, as a child, I was dreaming of winning Wimbledon, so like every child, you dream of doing something crazy when you actually achieve it if you do and that was one of the things you did. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Djokovic has a very powerful and aggressive game that allows him to take control of points and dictate play. In the end, it all comes down to personal preferences, but clay is often regarded as the best surface. Andy Murray comes in at No. Even if he has natural clay court skills, athletics is the physical and mental activity that brings the most physical and mental challenges. We are changing more and more tournaments from clay to hard surfaces but the hard surface is more aggressive so there are more and more injuries. On the ATP World Tour website, you can check the FedEx Reliability Zone to see players' winning percentages and indices on different surfaces over their entire careers. He has more weapons to defeat Nadal at Wimbledon than he did at the French Open. This tournament gave birth to quite a lot of champions who could master the low bounce and the quickness of grass balls. Medvedev describes grass as the toughest surface to play on. Novak Djokovic, who has won 60 of his 81 career titles on hardcourts, had an 88.38% winning percentage on the surface during the 10-year time-frame, followed by Federer and then Nadal. "Roland Garros is the most open it has been in the last 10-15 years. Federer mentioned it last week how the rallies are longer on grass now than on hard courts. Still give the edge to hardcourts. Thanasi is a good guy and we have a great relationship. In addition to winning eight grass titles, the Serb also won seven at Wimbledon and one at Eastbourne. At Wimbledon, the pair will almost certainly meet again. Improving: The best surface to improve as a tennis player. Now, the four-time Wimbledon champ is threatening Roger Federer's claim as the world's best player on the surface. Anyone who has watched both of them on grass knows Fed is the superior squad. With a flawless record in majors against Nadal, its easy to see why Novak Djokovic is so revered. If he played more Queens-halle he would loose there quite a few times, clay would be a better surface for him. I felt so bad, Novak [Djokovic] also felt very bad. Grass that is slow in its growth is not real grass. Can you imagine the difference it would make on a 150Mph John Isner serve? Despite notching another win on clay, Nadal is still the top-ranked player on both surfaces. "From the German corner, I am delighted that Alexander Zverev has made the quarters. Many professional players use this time to prepare and practice for the competition. Novak Djokovic barely wins 78 percent of the time on his least desired environment. Novak Djokovic faced his first loss of the 2023 season on Friday, falling to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships. He's better at Wimbledon than the USO, but best at the AO. Defensive playstyle: Not ideal for offensive players as the balls bounce slow and high, High-quality tennis: Allows fast and spectacular points, Less tiring: Physically forgiving surface, Service: A strong serve can be a powerful ally here, Expensiveness: Not cheap to build and maintain, Weather condition: Wet areas will decrease the quality of the ball-bounce, Slippery when wet: Can be slippery if not completely dry, Low-maintenance: Hard courts are easy and cheap to maintain, Longevity: It is a lasting tennis court surface, Standard: Hard courts are a rather neutral surface that fits all playing styles, Perfect bounce: No impact on ball trajectory, Hard on the body: Strength and stamina highly recommended, Hard surface: Hard courts are not suited to older players, Almost never used on the professional circuit, carpet courts are made of artificial turf mixed with sand. Novak Djokovic is a natural on hard courts, where he has quick reactions and an agility that helps him win. Medvedev faces Djokovic in the hard court Dubai Tennis Championships semi-final on Friday evening. That's how it is here, unfortunately. Daniil's misstep at Indian Wells guaranteed Nole the almost mathematical certainty of ending 2021 at the top of the ATP ranking. Hard courts are made of concrete, topped with a synthetic and or acrylic layer. The Serb is on a roll in this tournament, and if he wins his first title, he will become the first man in the Open era to win four Grand Slams in a row. Becker picked defending champion Novak Djokovic as the man to beat at the Australian Open. It has a very clay-like feel to it. The Serb has a winning percentage of 79.6% on grass courts, which has been his best form for the last few years, and he has won the French Open for the last two years. Nole is going on sunday for the 4th title in the last 6 Wimbledon editions. My intensity is always the same in every game. He has won all of his Grand Slam titles on hard court, and has consistently been a top player on tour on this surface. :lol: The best claycourters around are: 1. Marian Vajda is a Slovak who is well-known as a professional tennis coach and former player. These four tennis surfaces we just covered all have pros and cons and can all be useful for improving a particular aspect of your game. The Spanish player has won an outstanding number of titles on this surface, including 11 French Open, and reached an incredible streak of 81 consecutive wins on clay. Though he did not have outright weapons, per se, he could break anybody down and won so many matches on clay by being clever and skillful. During a recent interview with 'Gio Journal', Matteo Berrettini spent nice words for Djokovic and Medvedev. Jimmy Connors was, in a way, the Federer of his time. Some of the pre-tournament events include the Aegon Championships and the Aegon International. Despite Nadals overall dominance, Djokovic leads the field on clay (.727 to Nadals.560), winning more titles (.727 to Nadals.560). The material used in the construction of hard courts in the United States is called Decoturf and is usually green or blue. Much like the Australian Open who was played on grass until 1988, the US Open became a hard court tournament in 1978. While it might not look like much, it is the highest number of matches Nadal has lost on his favorite surface to a single player. He better on clay than grass but he's ran into the clay GOAT to often, especially at RG to get more than 1. The two world number ones have met in all four Grand Slam finals in the last four years. Price: Clay courts are cheaper to construct. Novak Djokovic looks to be the hot favourite for a third French Open title. The ball keeps coming back from all corners of the court." Novaks traditional grass court game is very poor. Because of its slippery surface, he probably prefers to play on the hard court. Djokovic was around but couldn't compete with either of them. It was a terrible feeling, I have to be honest. Medvedev describes grass as the toughest surface to play on. What adjustments to your game do you need to make? 5, Milos Raonic at No. Sometimes you don't even have a minute. The match between. Today there has been a lot of respect and that is the most important thing. What's wrong with some people who only feel the need to throw petty sarcasm and act immature rather than simply answering the question. His seven Wimbledon titles make up half of his all-time major count, and they are representative of his status as an American icon. His game is entirely suited for the surfacehis heavy forehand breaks down fellow-baseliners and his retrieval skills make the court seem small for competitors. A hard court will be built at Wimbledon in 2028. Even players who are not particularly talented (such as Nick Kyrgios) dont care about grass, and its the worst surface for them all. Taylor Fritz has the game to win Wimbledon. Maybe his performance in the first round was not that great, but he improves his tennis as matches go by." Djokovic, one of the most high-profile athletes unvaccinated against COVID-19, said he is still waiting for an outcome having applied for special permission to enter the United States, where. It would be best to learn how to build your points and avoid unforced errors at all costs. Still, they and their achievements deserve recognition. He is the best player on Grass over the last few years but HC is where he is best. Because of the speed of the ball on the grass court, players have very little time to react because the ball rarely bounces. I like grass but its a very tough surface, its a little bit tougher than hard courts, and thats where I think Novak is amazing winning so many grass-court tournaments, he told Eurosport. Rafael Nadals nearly 18-year streak in the top ten is ending. 2011-2020: best winning % on clayNadal 90.98Djokovic 84.62Murray 75.96Thiem 74.87Ferrer 73.91Zverev 70.00Nishikori 69.85Wawrinka 69.23Almagro 67.63Berdych 66.10Min 100 matches. March 3, 2023 Daniil Medvedev insists that he cannot fathom how Novak Djokovic manages to win so many matches on grass. expressed his dismay by the defeat of youngsters at the Australian Open but was more than happy to see Stanislas Wawrinka reaching the quarterfinals. Kevin was introduced to tennis by his father at the age of 3. Throughout tennis history, some winning streaks and dominant performances have defined a particular age or generation. - TheChampLair.com. He is only ahead of Roger Federer (%27192922) in victories, with 84.48%. Djokovic - whose worst surface is clay 3. 10. Since defeating Nadal in the fourth round of the 2010 Australian Open, Novak Djokovic has beaten him in each of their four meetings, including a thrilling five-set victory at the 2018 French Open. Playing on grass courts is quite rare for amateur players, however, if you have an upcoming tournament on this surface, try to get as much practice on this surface beforehand. Despite losing slightly more points (84.1%) on clay courts than on other surfaces, Roger Federer has an advantage due to his better understanding of the surface. (Federer has played 96). Feather Legend Jul 12, 2019 #4 Roger Federer in the last four grand slams: US Open 4th round Australian Open 4th round French Open Semi final Wimbledon final -- clay is currently Roger's second best surface. Djokovic isn't even better than Federer on hard yet, both are tied with 11 Slams on hard. These two are the top-ranked tennis. 60 of the Spaniard's 86 career titles have come on dirt, and a majority of those 60 have come in the 2011-2020 decade. Meaningless stat. He has won Wimbledon three times and is the current world No. 6, Feliciano Lopez at No. "There are a lot of great athletes, but I would need to say, Novak (when asked to name the best mover)," added the Italian. I didn't have any extra motivation or increased desire to win because I was challenging an Australian tennis player. In connection with his performance on the same surface of this competition, Djokovic has a composed 240-32 record in the last years on hard. Neither fast nor slow, this intermediary surface presents very few disadvantages. You need a good combination of athletic abilities, tennis IQ, and skills. Serving incredibly well, he won all but. Daniil Medvedev won an ATP Tour-leading four titles on the surface this season, as well as emerging victorious in a Tour-best 46 matches. ", Novak Djokovic passes Rafael Nadal, matches Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal admits: 'I had a major breakdown', Stefanos Tsitsipas shocked by the train tragedy in Greece, Miami TD James Blake compares 'incredible story' Emma Raducanu to Maria Sharapova, ATP Dubai: Novak Djokovic falls to Daniil Medvedev and suffers first loss, Novak Djokovic on 2019 Wimbledon final: Statistically, Roger Federer was better, Maria Sharapova on how to build strong brand: Be smart with people you align with, Rafael Nadal: 'I'm doing my best, but we need patience'. You must log in or register to reply here. Novak started playing the game on clay as a child. Noleis able to crack the ball better in the hard-court tournaments, and his career win-loss record in them is staggering. The current era, dating back to 2000s, is one of the best baseline periods of modern history. Furthermore, he is catching up to two other grass court greats, Mats Wilander and Ivan Lendl. Medvedev has just one title to his name on grass but reached the championship match at both the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships in sHertogenbosch and the Halle Open. Rafael Nadal has achieved more on clay than I may be able to list in this slide (no pun intended). Many players have come and gone in the sport of tennis, but it seems some legends' records will never be beaten. I don't like it, honestly, I feel too much pressure.". In pics: When actress Srabanti Chatterjee stole hearts with her charm, Shah Rukh Khan, Dileep, Selena Gomez: When crazy fans trespassed into celeb homes, Steal-worthy saree collection of Meera Anil. While Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro round out the top 5, 24-year-old Russian Daniil Medvedev represents the younger generation in this list at No. What are the pros and cons of each tennis surfaces? I sincerely hope that this article helped clarify the differences between these types of tennis courts. Djokovic has a fantastic match record in the last 10 years having won 87% of his matches (503-74). 2011-2020 best winning % indoorFederer 83.50Djokovic 82.50del Potro 79.27Murray 76.56Nadal 75.47Nishikori 72.04Tsonga 71.01Medvedev 70.00Berdych 68.27Monfils 67.59Min 50 matches, How did Novak Djokovic meet Jelena Ristic? Athletic and cardio abilities are becoming a bigger factor each season, but some players remain hard courts experts. Speaking at his press conference after the 4-6, 4-6 loss, the 22-time Grand Slam champion revealed his plans for the coming days, stating that he was still waiting to hear whether he would be able to play in the upcoming Sunshine Double in the United States.