Djokovic: Federer’s Backhand Better than it Was Five Years Ago

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Djokovic: Federer’s Backhand Better than it Was Five Years Ago

Ahead of his 45th career meeting with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic gave a good scouting report of the 17-time major champion’s game to reporters on Tuesday night in Melbourne. The Serb knows Federer’s game as well as anybody, and he offered up some good insight on what makes Federer a terror to face, even for an elite, virtually unstoppable tennis machine such as himself.

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“I've played [Federer and Nadal] so many different occasions. I've battled them for biggest title in sport,” he said. “These two guys made me the player also I am today. I think these rivalries have allowed me to grow and to evolve and to get strong and tough and understand what it takes to be on the level that they are on.”

Djokovic acknowledged what we’ve all been pleased to witness in the last two years—the fact that Federer has taken his game up another level in the past two years.

“Roger is playing really terrific tennis in last two years,” he said. “We played two Grand Slam finals last year. I know very well how good he plays, especially in the later stages of a major event. He always makes you play your best. My best is what is going to be necessary to win against him. Hopefully I'll be able to deliver.”

Talking specifics, the Serb mentioned Federer’s ability to finish points at the net, and his improved backhand as keys to his continued success.

“It's obvious that he's a very complete player,” Djokovic said. “He's trying lately to come to the net more, kind of shorten up the rallies. I mean, he definitely has the game for that. He's got a great variation from the backhand side with the slice, short slice. He's got great defense, amazing offense. He's very complete. He puts constant pressure on the opponent. You have to be aware at all times. You got to be tough. You got to be concentrated.

“As I said, you have to be on the top of your game because he hasn't really dropped the level at all I think in the last seven, eight years that I've been playing against him on the top level. He's been playing always consistently well. I think his backhand is better than it was maybe five, six years ago. So, you know, he's playing some terrific tennis, as I said, on the hard court. This is going to be a big challenge for both of us.”

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