Serena Williams’ ex-coach reveals Serena-like approach Novak Djokovic is taking

Rennae Stubbs thinks Novak Djokovic is taking a Serena Williams-like strategy in prioritizing Grand Slam tournaments within the latter levels of his profession. This yr, 36-year-old Djokovic appeared in simply 12 tournaments and 4 of these tournaments have been Grand Slams.

That tactic labored out extraordinarily effectively for Djokovic, who gained three Slams and ended as runner-up solely at Wimbledon. After Wimbledon, Djokovic solely appeared in 4 tournaments and gained as many titles – the US Open, the ATP Finals, and the Masters occasions in Cincinnati and Paris.

Djokovic additionally represented Serbia within the Davis Cup Closing 8 however that is a workforce occasion. Stubbs, a former five-time Grand Slam champion in doubles, labored with Williams through the American’s farewell on the 2022 US Open.

Stubbs: Identical to Williams, Djokovic is prioritizing Slams at this stage of his profession

“Take a look at Serena, Serena did not play after the US Open for like seven years perhaps.

Within the later a part of her profession, she did not even play the WTA Finals. She was like ‘Eh I am executed.’ After the US Open she used to actually dangle her rackets up for the yr, which lots of people have been like ‘you were not supporting the tour.’

I am like she was supporting the tour for nearly 20 years, like give me a break. If she desires to take two months off of competitors she will come again and win the Australian Open, good for her. A variety of gamers nonetheless clearly proceed to play after the US Open as a result of they wished to make the championships, the WTA finals they usually need the cash and it helps their rating.

And Serena’s like ‘My precedence is to win Grand Slams so for me to enter the Australian Open being rested after which profitable Wimbledon and the whole lot else is my precedence’ and that is what Novak’s doing proper now,” Stubbs mentioned on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.

All through 2023, Djokovic highlighted a number of instances that at this stage of his profession his largest precedence is being at his greatest come Slam time.