Second serves to the forehand.

Gamers usually avoid this higher-risk technique and kick the second serve to the much less potent backhand return.

Not Novak Djokovic. Not by an extended shot.

An Infosys ATP Past The Numbers evaluation of 41 matches in opposition to right-handed opponents this season exhibits that Djokovic really prefers to hit second serves to the forehand wing. By going in opposition to the grain, he collects extra second-serve aces, extracts considerably extra return errors and wins the next share of second-serve factors general.

Opponents are sitting on a heavy kick to the backhand return. A tough slider to the forehand is what comes at them most of the time. Djokovic hit 55 per cent (382/690) of his second serves on the forehand corners versus backhand corners in each service packing containers, whereas opponents solely hit 26 per cent (164/622) to the forehand corners in opposition to him. Apparently, Djokovic served extra to the backhand return in opposition to left-handers.

Djokovic is main the Tour in 2023 with second-serve factors gained at 57.91 per cent (816/1409). It’s his third-highest season whole after 2015 (60.2%) and 2013 (59.61%). Directing second serves out huge within the Deuce courtroom and down the T within the Advert courtroom is powering these Tour-leading match metrics as a lot as anything.

Deuce Courtroom: Second Serves Extensive To The Forehand Return
The numbers that present the distinction in how nicely Djokovic utilises the huge second serve in comparison with his opponents are dramatic.

Second Serves: Deuce Courtroom Extensive

The efficiency hole is staggering. Djokovic goes to this location nearly thrice as a lot as his opponents (174-60) and has gained 100 extra factors (130-30). He extracts an error when concentrating on this location 29 per cent (50/174) of the time. His opponents solely profit from a return error 18 per cent (11/60) of the time.

One in every of Djokovic’s superpowers seems hidden in plain sight.

Advert Courtroom: Second Serves T To The Forehand Return
Serving second serves down the T within the Advert courtroom additionally clearly catches opponents off guard.

Djokovic collected 13 aces to this particular location, whereas opponents solely managed a solitary ace. Djokovic gained exactly 100 extra factors (130-30) than his opponents within the Deuce courtroom out huge and gained nearly 100 extra (146-52) with the slider down the T within the Advert courtroom.

At some stage, you’ll suppose opponents ought to choose up on this shock serve and shut it down. However Djokovic has been using variations of this technique for a number of seasons, and he retains taking it to new ranges. The explanation why it really works so nicely are four-fold.

1. Djokovic wins the psychological recreation of peculiar his opponent. He reads the opponent’s thoughts higher than they do of him. He is aware of when they aren’t anticipating it.
2. The bigger dimension of the forehand return backswing could be instantly attacked.
3. He hits this particular serve significantly quicker than his common kick second serve to the backhand. A number of speeds to a number of instructions create confusion in opponents’ minds.
4. He receives extra Serve +1 forehands. He hit 50 per cent (473/945) Serve +1 forehands in these matches behind second serves, successful 57 per cent (271/473). Opponents solely hit 44 per cent (514/1171) Serve +1 forehands, additionally successful simply 44 per cent (227/514).

Djokovic’s favorite second-serve location seems to be a thriller to his opponents. He backs himself in opposition to their perceived power by benefiting from a number of weaknesses.