Novak Djokovic’s semi-final win over John Isner was a masterclass in making the most of what few opportunities come your way on the tennis court when facing one of the game’s biggest servers. The 7-6, 6-2 win earns the world No.1 player of the day.
Novak Djokovic looked to be in some danger before his Miami Open semi-final against 22nd seed John Isner. Isner had beaten Grigor Dimitrov, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori on his way to the last four, and was playing some of his best tennis. Isner’s best tennis had troubled Djokovic in the past, too- the American had two wins over Djokovic on American Hard courts in Indian Wells 2012 and Cincinnati 2013.
Djokovic was also not at his best coming into the last four. He had dropped sets to Klizan and Dolgopolov, and gone a break down in the first set to Ferrer.
However, against his toughest opponent, and before that opponent’s home crowd, Djokovic came up with his best tennis, like you would expect of a man on the brink of winning the Indian Wells-Miami double for the third time (2011, 2014).
The first set was close, going to a tiebreak. Djokovic got an early mini-break at 1-1 when he struck a backhand return off a second serve at Isner’s feet and the Amercian netted an awkward sliced backhand.
Djokovic got his second mini-break at 4-1. Isner was attacking him, coming in and hitting a huge forehand down the line, but Djokovic’s defense came to his rescue as he got the ball back in play and forced the American to go for too much on a short forehand down the line to the forehand side, missing the tram-line by some way.
Defense and return- those were the weapons Djokovic had in his favor against Isner, and they were what had given him a 5-1 lead in the breaker.
Djokovic earned three set points with an ace, a sliced served out wide to the advantage court.
At 6-3, returning, Djokovic blocked a forehand into play, and then unleashed on his ground strokes, a forehand heavy on top spin pulling Isner out wide. All the American could do was get his racket on to the ball and send it right into the hitting zone of the Djokovic backhand. The Serbian, in his element, took his time, took a long back-swing and then rotated himself into the shot, hitting the ball cross-court for a winner.
Smart serving, touch on the return and depth and spin on his ground strokes had completed the hard work of edging Isner in a tiebreaker, and the Serb was now a set up.
Djokovic then ran away with the match, taking the second set 6-2. 25 winners to 8 errors, fifty percent of break points won, 76 % of second serves won, it was a formidable display of tennis from a player performing at his best against one of his most dangerous opponents.
Watch highlights of Djokovic’s win over Isner below
Commentary by Christian Deverille @thetennisreview
Follow the Miami Open and The ATP Tour with The Tennis Review
Liked this article? Please share it 🙂
Do you agree with our choice of player of the day? Please share your thoughts below.
thetennisreview 
Leave a comment