sports
Smash and grab: Wimbledon’s big hitters fear the overhead like no other shot
It is the stroke that looks easy but can be a nightmare for some of the world’s top players – even Novak Djokovic has the Djokosmash
TL;DR
- Novak Djokovic, despite his all-around game, struggles with the overhead smash, calling it the 'Djokosmash'.
- The smash is considered by many to be a simple shot, but players find it complex due to elements like sun glare, wind, and lob depth.
- Players like Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev acknowledge the difficulty and debate the role of natural talent versus coaching in mastering the smash.
- Jack Draper experienced a significant miss of the smash, highlighting the importance of focus.
- Rafael Nadal is cited as an example of a player with an excellent smash due to his ability to get behind the ball.
- Leylah Fernandez notes that the extra time to prepare for a smash can lead to overthinking.
- Diana Shnaider avoided hitting smashes until she was 14, practicing extensively to improve.
- Karolina Pliskova and Flavio Cobolli believe smashes close to the net should always be made, but acknowledge that deeper smashes can be tricky.