Novak Djokovic Reveals the Two Greatest Shots of All-Time

Published 01/24/2019, 2:37 PM EST

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Recently, Novak Djokovic revealed what he believes are the greatest shots in tennis. He primarily spoke of two main candidates for the honor of being called the greatest shot.

The Serbian World number 1 was speaking ahead of his semi-final match against Lucas Pouille

Roger Federer – 2009 US Open

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Roger Federer’s 2009 US Open tweener in the semi-finals against Novak Djokovic is still in many people’s minds. Was that the best shot Djokovic has ever seen in his life? The Serbian player largely reflected on it. ‘I have seen a couple of incredible shots in my life.

The shot came with Djokovic serving at 6-5 down in the third set. At 30-0 up Federer scampered back to the baseline and hitting a winner through his legs that flew over the net and past Djokovic into the corner for match point.

Coming at such a crucial stage of the match made the shot all the more remarkable and Federer said: “That’s why it’s the greatest shot I ever hit in my life.

“I was in a difficult position, I had nothing to lose. We (practice that) a lot actually but it never works.”

via Imago

Janko Tipsarevic – Davis Cup 2007

One of them was Janko (Tipsarevic)’s in the Davis Cup, I think, Serbia against Australia in 2007, when he hit – he was playing (Lleyton) Hewitt. He was on the forehand side, kind of stretched out of the court. Hewitt hit an approach shot to his backhand side.

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There was no way he could make that ball. So he kind of played it behind like that, played a cross-court winner. It was incredible. There are a couple of shots that just come up for you in the right moment. You just close your eyes and hope for the best.

The odds of hitting those shots that well are not that bit. If you try 10 out of 10, I don’t think you would make it. But still, from my perspective, wasn’t fun seeing Roger doing that shot in 2009. That’s definitely a fact, yeah.

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But it was great. It was a fantastic shot, definitely. For me, unfortunately, I was across the net.’ Does Novak Djokovic has a personal favourite shot among the ones he has hit? ‘I did have some great passing shots, a couple of those that I hit.

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This one tonight, you know, from the backhand was quite good. Through the legs, not yet. I guess I have to work on that.’

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Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.
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