Novak Djokovic has made a career out of precision, patience, and poise but in Shanghai, it’s his serve that has become the ultimate weapon. After advancing to the fourth round of the 2025 Shanghai Masters, the world No. 1 revealed that his serve was the defining factor in his third-round victory, calling it *“the best shot in my game right now.”
Djokovic’s win came after a tricky encounter against Czech player Tomas Machac, who had pushed him hard in earlier meetings. The Serb dropped his serve early in the first set but quickly adjusted, using his delivery to regain control and eventually cruise to a straight-sets win. Reflecting afterward, Djokovic said:
“If I look at my matches so far here, the serve stands out. The conditions are slower, the balls are heavy, and still I’m managing to win a lot of free points. That’s huge.”
On a court traditionally known for rewarding baseline grinders, Djokovic’s serving performance was a statement of evolution. Long known as one of the sport’s most complete returners, he’s turned what was once considered a relative weakness into a dependable asset. His first-serve percentage hovered above 70%, and he delivered clutch aces at key moments — including two in a row to close out the first set.
Djokovic elaborated that the Shanghai courts, while slower than those in hard-court events like Cincinnati or Dubai, still allow for tactical serving if executed properly.
“Even on slower courts, if you hit your spots well, it’s tough for opponents to read and break serve,” he said. “That’s been working really well this week.”
While his groundstrokes particularly his backhand have long been admired for consistency, Djokovic admitted that they’re still not at full rhythm.
“From the baseline, I can still improve,” he noted. “But when the serve gives me a platform like this, it makes the rest of the game flow.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion also credited his meticulous offseason training for this newfound serving dominance. Under the guidance of long-time coach Goran Ivanišević, himself a former Wimbledon champion renowned for his serve, Djokovic has continuously refined his motion to blend precision with power.
“Goran has helped me see the serve as more than just a start to the point it’s a statement,” Djokovic smiled. “When I serve well, everything else follows.”
The statistics back him up: Djokovic faced only one break point after the opening game and won over 85% of points on his first serve. That reliability allowed him to dictate rallies and keep Machac under constant pressure.
As he looks ahead to the later rounds in Shanghai, Djokovic’s focus remains simple: maintain the rhythm, trust the serve, and build confidence point by point.
