US Open 2015: Novak Djokovic talks to Sky Sports about his game
Sunday 6 September 2015 00:49, UK
World No 1 Novak Djokovic joined Marcus Buckland and Greg Rusedski in the Sky Sports studio at Flushing Meadows to talk about how his all-round game has improved.
The top seed also revealed his desire to add to his 2011 title at Flushing Meadows and looked ahead to taking on his fourth-round opponent – the dangerous Roberto Bautista Agut.
The Serb eased past Italian Andreas Seppi 6-3 7-5 7-5, but admitted he was struck by the intensely humid conditions on Arthur Ashe Stadium after winning the first set.
Five breaks of serve and 37 winners were testament to a dominant, if unspectacular, performance from Djokovic, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament.
"The conditions were not easy, but I didn't warm up just before the match outdoors because I stayed indoors and all the indoor facilities in the United States are air conditioned, but really, really cold so you kind of shock your body when you go out in such humid and warm conditions," he said.
"The important thing was that I was able to break through it and felt better afterwards."
Rusedski feels Djokovic has improved his serve and is more willing to come forward with some "Boris Becker forehand volleys".
Asked whether it is an area of his game he has worked hard on, Djokovic said: "Yes, I've tried to improve certain aspects of my game and one of them is to use the short ball to come in, which is not a natural environment for me being at the net.
"But over the course of the last couple of years being with [his coach] Boris, he encourages me to use the short ball to try to finish off the point earlier.
"Also [working on] the serve, mix it up, some to the body and go for efficiency rather than speed. We're working on it – it changes day-to-day – but I'm pretty pleased with the way I've served in the first couple of matches."
Djokovic has also improved his game on his forehand side with the nine-time Grand Slam champion hitting through the ball, getting more depth, and more weight of shot when stepping into the ball.
"In Cincinnati it wasn't working that well but I worked on it during the practice week [in the lead up to the US Open], trying to penetrate through the ball and through the court on the forehand side.
"I feel that my backhand is pretty solid – I can hit angles – but with the forehand you win points, you open up the court so I try to use flat and spin as well variation on the forehand side so it was working pretty well."
The 28-year-old says he is determined to add to his 2011 title at Flushing Meadows and next faces Spain's Bautista Agut in the fourth round.
Djokovic, who has lost just five times this calendar year, admits he will try and impose his game on the world No 23, who is known for hitting the ball flat.
"I need to play the way I want to play – very aggressive and impose my own rhythm on the court – and hopefully I'll be able to win it.
"It's a little bit of a tricky game that he possesses because he can step in and flatten the ball down the line with the forehand, backhand as well. He tends to stay back and doesn't make many unforced errors so you have got to be really careful and construct the point. You can't go lights out. I know what to do and will prepare myself for that match."
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