Novak Djokovic’s silent swagger and clean bill of health are making Nick Bollettieri think he has a good shot at winning the Wimbledon title.
Novak Djokovic is one of the hottest players entering the semifinals of this year’s Wimbledon Championships. I know people expected the Serb to explode to No. 1 back in 2008 after he captured his first and only Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, but he was too young and immature to handle the spotlight. After dealing with breathing issues and making racquet changes, I think his time has finally come here in London and his confidence seems to be growing with each round. Apart from his first-round battle with Olivier Rochus, Djokovic has earned a spot in the final four with relative ease.
His semifinal match shouldn’t be so easy, though. His opponent, Tomas Berdych, has also been one of the in-form players coming into this year’s Wimbledon, reaching the Roland Garros semifinals a couple weeks ago. Coming off a win against Roger Federer in the quarters, Berdych is poised to reach his first-ever Grand Slam final, but I think the semifinal against Djokovic will be a huge challenge for him. Despite flat winners and booming serves, Djokovic will use his experience and consistency to break down the big Czech. There are a few changes I’ve seen in Nole’s game that I think will serve him well against Berdych and into the championship match.
Health
I’ve been keeping my eye on Novak’s progress for years. Beyond his funny off-court antics, the 23-year-old is one of the best talents off the ground our game has seen since Andre Agassi. But his health has always been an issue late into majors. Whether it’s a case of muscle cramps or breathing problems, there has always seemed to be something hindering his performance. But Novak is looking healthy this tournament. Since his first-round encounter with Rochus, Lleyton Hewitt is the only player to take a set from the Serb. His high level of conditioning and clean bill of health should help him through his final two matches.
Confidence
Watch one interview with Novak and you’ll see immediately that he has no problems with confidence. The young man from Belgrade is outspoken and wears his heart on his sleeve, but he seems to be changing his ways. At the 2010 Championships, he has walked around with a quiet confidence that you can see—not hear. There is a certain swagger in his step. He finally believes his game can earn him a Wimbledon crown and a No. 1 world ranking in the future.
Knockout Punch
Playing three out of five sets is a challenge unlike any other, and Djokovic realized that in the Roland Garros quarterfinals when he blew a two-sets-to-love lead against Austrian Jurgen Melzer. Nole used that match as a wakeup call, as he has been closing out his opponents the first chance he gets at Wimbledon. His confidence and health have allowed him to go for the knockout punch. The ability to shut the door on his opponents will be crucial in his pursuit of the Wimbledon crown as the other three players remaining will capitalize on the slightest opening.
Nick Bollettieri of the IMG/Bollettieri Tennis Academy has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking. Matthew Manasse contributed to this article.