Djoker’s Relief

Though he pulled it out in the end, Djokovic’s semi-final win against Grigor Dimitrov presented yet another example of the strange state of the Serb’s game.  His movement clearly hampered by the unsure footing on Centre Court, Djoker looked to have come out on the court with a strategy that included mixing up the pace of his shots quite a bit, making a consistent effort to bring Dimitrov to the net or at least reach for a dying ball, and not to go for his normal share of winners.  To wait out his opponent in the anticipation of an error from the other side.  Djoker also seemed to be almost instructed by BB to move to the net as often as possible.

The net result of the strategy was to produce a player that barely resembled what we have come to expect from the former Wimbledon champion.  He looked almost passive out there.  He seemed willing if not entirely comfortable to rush the net as often as he did, and though many times the tactic worked, it did indicate a large departure from his game.  Opportunities that he’d normally smack for a winner or at least a winning shot, he eased up on and simply continued to rally through the point.

The biggest difference between the Djokovic of today and, say, the breakout Nole of just a couple years ago, however, is in his energy on the court.  Where is the fire that we’ve seen in the past?  The primal screams after big points, the chest-thumping and shirt-ripping, the near fury that he would bring to the court during big matches?  Could it be that the failure to get through Rafa at the French and possibly the loss this year to Wawrinka in Melbourne have sapped him of his intensity?  Is it the impending fatherhood that has tempered his temper?

I suppose it’s natural to come down emotionally after such a long stretch of dominance and playing at such a high level, and as is the case in most walks of life, it’s twice as hard to stay at the top as it is to initially reach the top, as tough as the latter is.  Still, it’s just odd to watch Djokovic play with such medium-level energy.  I found myself wishing he would even just grunt a little during a point or two to sort of wake himself up.

Perhaps this is all a sign that he’s maturing and now thinking his way through matches rather than powering his way through them.  After all, he did win this one in four.  But it’s inarguable that he doesn’t look nearly as dangerous out there as he once was.  If the thought bringing BB on to coach was to help give him the mental edge that he needed to get back through to the dominant ways of his past, it hasn’t worked so far.  Doughy Becker sits in his box and looks distressed and sunburned and Novak seems almost lost at times out there, frustrated, edgeless.  It’s a testament to Djoker’s otherworldly talent that he continues to contend and remain in the top of the rankings despite seeming chronically fatigued.

This final, regardless of his opponent, will reveal much about their relationship, and should Djokovic falter, I would look to see the end of this particular coaching relationship soonish.