It takes a lot to impress the 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, but his recent serving performance in Miami has left even him in awe. The Serbian superstar, who has dominated the tennis world for years, continues to reach remarkable milestones, and now, his serving precision is setting a new benchmark in the sport.
At 37 years old, Djokovic has reached 142 career finals, won 99 ATP titles, including 24 Grand Slam victories, and holds the record for most weeks ranked World No. 1 (428 weeks). Additionally, he has earned a staggering $182 million in career prize money, making him one of the most successful players in tennis history. But his recent serving performance has left even him impressed.
In his most dominant service display of the year, Djokovic served at an incredible 87%, winning 31 out of 39 first-serve points, firing five aces, and facing just two break points in a 70-minute semifinal victory over Grigor Dimitrov. This followed an equally astounding performance in his quarterfinal against Sebastian Korda, where he served 84% and blasted 11 aces.
“This is a whole different level of serving,” Djokovic said, acknowledging the remarkable standards he’s set. He explained, “I did not expect myself to top the serving performance of last match, where I had 83%, and I had 87% today. I missed five or six serves in the whole match. That’s really amazing, amazing standard, really high standard.”
Djokovic’s Service Stats: Top of the ATP Tour
Currently holding serve at a rate of 88.19% this season, Djokovic ranks seventh on the ATP Tour. However, explosive Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard leads the pack at 93.86%, followed by Matteo Berrettini (90.91%) and American Taylor Fritz (90.37%).
Djokovic’s newfound serving precision has given him a taste of what it feels like for big servers like Reilly Opelka and Nick Kyrgios. Competing in his first Miami Open since 2019, Djokovic credits the faster serve speed and his ability to find rhythm quickly on serve for his success in reaching the final. He joked with Tim Henman, saying, “Now I know how it feels like to be Isner or Opelka, just make most of your first serves.”
The Evolution of Djokovic’s Serve
Despite being known as the greatest returner of all time, as dubbed by Andre Agassi, Djokovic’s serve has often flown under the radar. Early in his career, Djokovic struggled with double faults, but through hard work and collaboration with coaches like Goran Ivanišević, Boris Becker, and Todd Martin, he refined his service game.
Djokovic has consistently emphasized the importance of placement over raw power. He shared, “I’ve always liked my serve, particularly when it comes to accuracy and precision. I was never really looking to ramp up the miles per hour on the serve.” He added that his work with new coach Andy Murray has further improved his serving performance.
Stay updated with Djokovic’s progress on Instagram:
Novak Djokovic’s serving precision is reaching a new level at the Miami Open. With 87% first-serve success and 5 aces, Djokovic is showcasing a new dimension to his game.
pic.twitter.com/iAE4isDnWw— Tennis Now (@Tennis_Now) March 29, 2025
Do you think Djokovic’s serving precision will lead him to more Grand Slam titles?