How Novak Djokovic Turned His Forehand Into a Weapon
Learn how Djokovic’s junior coach transformed his forehand from a weakness into a weapon—using inside-out drills, footwork, and aggressive point construction.
Key Points
- Initial Strength Was Backhand: When Dejan began coaching Novak in 2004, Novak had a world-class backhand—so strong that his default attacking shot was often an inside-out backhand.
- Tactical Shift to Forehand: Dejan instructed Novak to develop an aggressive forehand, particularly the inside-out and inside-in forehand, to become a more dominant and offensive player.
- Drill Focus: Dejan ran intense drills pushing players wide on the backhand side, forcing them to recover quickly and run around to hit aggressive inside-out forehands—training both footwork and shot selection.
- Transition in Novak’s Game: This change helped Novak dictate points more consistently. Dejan emphasized using forehand to open the court, then following with inside-in or going back behind opponents.
- Long-Term Impact: The shift from relying on a strong backhand to making the forehand a true weapon was a pivotal step in Novak’s development into a top player—and it remains a central part of his game today
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