“Novak was flawless mentally against Rune” – Ozmo on Djokovic
Serbian tennis expert Sasa Ozmo gives his views on Novak Djokovic’s win over Holger Rune to Tennis Majors
Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2024 (Chryslene Caillaud/Panoramic)
Serbian tennis expert and Tennis Majors journalist Sasa Ozmo says he was most impressed with Novak Djokovic’s display of mental strength in his Wimbledon fourth round against Holger Rune, as he said in our new mini-podcast Tennis Memos.
“That post-match interview from Novak was iconic. I really enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to all the memes incoming in the days and weeks. But I wouldn’t want that to take away the attention from the match that he played, which I think was pretty much flawless, especially mentally.
“In my preview of the match, I said considering the head-to-head and the matches Novak played with Holger, that Novak needs to have a mental approach like it was a semi-final or a final. You could see from the get-go, he won the first 12 points, he was stepping inside the court.
“One thing is what I like to say is a barometer of Novak’s confidence is how early in the rally he feels comfortable to go up the line. He did it a few times with his forehand early. He really dictated the points. Granted, Rune maybe lost a lot of points in the locker room already but I think it was more Novak playing really well than Rune playing dead badly.
Novak pushed in the beginning of the third, which is something we see quite often
“I say that mentally I’m most impressed with Novak because there are a few moments in the match of this level where we usually see some momentum shifts, for example in the early stages of the second set where it seemed that Rune was upping his level, really increasing his level, a couple of times 15-30. Novak always managed to stay focused and come up with a good serve, even with a good second serve. That was the most important stat, points won on second serve. I think Novak’s was 72 per cent, Rune 49.
“Of course the most decisive thing was the second set when Novak missed all those set points and then had to save a break point. That was a decisive moment. Holger felt he missed his chance there. Novak pushed in the beginning of the third, which is something we see quite often. Yes, maybe the most comfortable win, not maybe but surely, the most comfortable win Novak has ever had against Rune.
“Next up is De Minaur. Let’s see how he’s holding up physically because that look Alex gave to his box after winning his match against Fils was really worried. He’s definitely playing the tennis of his life this year, but I think Novak has the game to beat him. He did lose at the United Cup on clay this year. It will be their first meeting on grass, I think they both enjoy grass, they can both keep low, they can both go low in their knees, they both have a terrific return. De Minaur has improved his serve so much as well, but Novak likes to play those kinds of players. He will have rhythm. He won’t be frustrated in a way that he sometimes can become when he plays a big server.
“All in all, another great performance from Novak. Here he is, a little more than a month after surgery to repair his meniscus, he’s in the quarters of Wimbledon, so well done, Novak.”
