Novak Djokovic has recently opened up about his time working with coach Andy Murray in the United States, offering a deeper look into the preparation that has fueled his impressive resurgence at the Miami Open. After a shocking early loss to Botic van de Zandschulp in Indian Wells, questions were raised about Djokovic’s motivation and ability to find his drive for the season ahead. Yet, any lingering doubts about the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s commitment were swiftly erased as he cruised through the Miami draw with clinical efficiency, reminding everyone of his unyielding desire to compete at the highest level.
One standout element of Djokovic’s game in Miami has been his serve. In his semi-final victory over Grigor Dimitrov, he dropped only six first serves, a statistic he described as “incredible.” Despite the impressive numbers, Djokovic was quick to clarify that his serve wasn’t the focal point of his training sessions with Murray, acknowledging that it wasn’t his primary concern going into 2025.
“I wouldn’t say particularly we paid so much attention to the serve prior to this tournament that it needed to be worked on separately from all the other shots,” Djokovic explained. “I think I’ve been serving pretty well this year. Maybe some other elements in my game haven’t been working particularly well, but the serve was solid.”
Even so, Djokovic’s serve during this tournament has been at an entirely new level, with his first-serve percentage reaching a staggering 87% in his semi-final match. “I mean, this is a whole different level of serving, obviously. I did not expect myself to top the serving performance of last match, where I had 83%, and I had 87% today,” he said. “I missed, I think, five or six serves in the whole match. So that’s really amazing, amazing standard, really high standard.”
While Djokovic did work on his serve, he emphasized that it wasn’t the sole focus of his time with Murray. Instead, the pair dedicated more attention to various other aspects of his game. “We did work on the serve – don’t get me wrong – but we did not only work on that. We actually paid more attention to some other shots in the game with Andy,” he noted.
The fast Miami courts have also played a significant role in Djokovic’s successful campaign, providing the ideal conditions for his aggressive playing style. Reflecting on the court speed, he said, “It helps, I think the court is playing pretty quick here, compared to… well, I haven’t played six years. Six years ago I remember it was much slower. So it does really work great when you have a big serve and you get the free points off that first serve.”
In a lighthearted moment during his post-match interview, Djokovic joked with Tim Henman, saying, “Now I know how it feels like to be [John] Isner or [Reilly] Opelka, just make most of your first serves. Maybe not as many aces as these guys, but yeah, it does help tremendously.”
The speed of the court has allowed Djokovic to take control of his service games, easing the pressure on his other shots and giving him the chance to focus on exploiting his opponents’ return games. “It just releases that unnecessary pressure from all the other shots in your game. Then you can kind of put more pressure on the return games on your opponent,” he explained.
Djokovic’s game has often been defined by his relentless baseline play, with his return and backhand widely regarded as some of the best in the sport. He believes his serve has often been overlooked in discussions of his success, though he’s always valued precision over raw power. “I’ve always liked my serve, particularly when it comes to accuracy and precision,” he remarked. “That’s what either wins you a point or gives you an easy first shot in the rally.”
“I was never really looking to ramp up the miles per hour on the serve. I mean, it’s great if you can serve a 130-miles-an-hour serve, but I’d rather serve 120 miles an hour and hit the line and hit the perfect spot in the box because that’s what either wins you a point or gives you an easy first shot in the rally,” Djokovic added.
As he continues to impress with his high-level serving, Djokovic acknowledges that his serve remains a key weapon in his arsenal as he looks to accomplish the final milestones in his illustrious career over the coming months. With his recent return to form, it’s clear that his serve will play a pivotal role in any future success, as he seeks to secure even more titles and continue his dominance on the ATP Tour.