1. Vicario, Arantxa. The Young Tennis Player. London: Dorling, 1996.
2. Solomon, Harold and Brandi ,Andy. "Game Plan." Tennis October 2007: 26-27.
3. "Biography." 2 Feb. 2009.
<http://www.novakdjokovic.rs/bio_profile.php>
4. "Novak Djokovic" 1 Feb. 2009
<http://www.tennischannel.com/game/players/PlayerProfile.aspx>
5. "History" Tennis. 4 Mar. 2009.
<http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/WAKI-ViewArticle.aspx>
6."Novak Djokovic's Drop Shot." 21 Mar. 2009. <http://www.tennis.com/yourgame/instructionarticles/backhand/backhand.aspx?id=145332>
Sunday, February 8, 2009
How To
How to Hit a Two Handed Backhand
Step 1. Wind up and get in a ready position
Step 2. Bring your racket forward and get ready to make contact
Step 3. Make solid contact
Step 4. Keep your eye on the ball
Step 5. Finish with both hand on your racket and right above your shoulder
This is a good shot because you can get more power with your left hand.
How to Hit a Drop shot
Step 1.Get into continental grip
Step 2. Come down on the ball
Step 3. Get under the ball
Step 4. Make soft contact
Step 5. Have a short front swing
This shot is very good if your oppont is very far behind the baseline.
Questions I Have about Novak Djokovic
What was his first major title?
He won Amersfoort in 2006. (http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/1/en/home/default.asp)
When did he start playing tennis?
He started when he was four. (http://www.novakdjokovic.rs/bio_profile.php?jezik=2)
Who inspired him to be a tennis player?
Pete Sampras was his idol because of his behavior on the court. (http://www.novakdjokovic.rs/bio_profile.php?jezik=2)
Did he ever think about doing something else other then tennis?
No, because he wanted to be a tennis player when he was four and you don't really think about what you are going to before that. (http://www.novakdjokovic.rs/bio_profile.php?jezik=2)
He won Amersfoort in 2006. (http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/1/en/home/default.asp)
When did he start playing tennis?
He started when he was four. (http://www.novakdjokovic.rs/bio_profile.php?jezik=2)
Who inspired him to be a tennis player?
Pete Sampras was his idol because of his behavior on the court. (http://www.novakdjokovic.rs/bio_profile.php?jezik=2)
Did he ever think about doing something else other then tennis?
No, because he wanted to be a tennis player when he was four and you don't really think about what you are going to before that. (http://www.novakdjokovic.rs/bio_profile.php?jezik=2)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
More history on Novak Djokovic
http://www.novakdjokovic.rs/bio_profile.php?jezik=2
Four years on, he has come tantalisingly close to realising his life’s dream - he is already the world’s third best player: Novak Djokovic! I shall never forget the day when a four year old boy came to my tennis camp with a bag neatly packed, as if for professional training. I asked him who packed it for him, and he replied he did it himself. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, without hesitation he said: “number one in the world”, the same answer I was given many years ago by Monika Seles when she was a little girl - said the legend of Yugoslav tennis, Jelena Gencic.
This took place in the Kopaonik tennis camp, whose head coach at the time was Jelena Gencic, and the boy was none other than Novak Djokovic.
The Djokovics can be said to be a family of sportsmen and women. Novak was the first of three sons. He was four when he took up tennis, while living in Kopaonik. Racquet in hand, he would run after the older kids at summer tennis camp, attempting to get the ball over the net. This went on for a while. He was eight when he was spotted by the eagle-eyed Jelena Gencic. Ever reserved in her statements, this time she could not but comment: ‘This is the greatest talent I have seen since Monika Seles.‘
Jelena began to follow his progress and look after little Nole. He took to tennis easily. As they say, he was a natural.
- It was hard then, but even now it is difficult - admits mum Dijana. - Novak was developing, he needed to be accompanied everywhere, and we weren’t rich. Jelena is our family coach - says Srdjan, smiling. Novak embarked on his stellar career path when he was 14, in 2001, a year he finished as European champion (singles, doubles, team). He won gold in San Remo with his national team (‘the Blues’) that year, while they came second at World Championships. The following season he continued to impress with great matches and became the best under-16 player of the old continent, having won the prestigious ‘La Boule’ and ‘La Poet’ tournaments in France, previously won by today’s great tennis stars such as Hewitt, Grosjean, and Roddick. He was also victorious at the prestigious Prince’s Cup in Miami, as well as the ITF tournament in Pancevo (under 18) where he beat rivals up to three years older than him. After five ITF tournaments played, he became the 40th best junior tennis player in the world.
In the 2003 season he continued to impress with great results and titles. It began with his appearance in the final of the Nurnberg ITF tournament, a match he was unable to finish due to injury. He then went on to win another gold medal for his country. In the French city of Latne he competed together with his team mates, under the leadership of selector Jovan Lilic, and became Europe’s best under-16 player. He won all of the six matches played.
He found himself part of the SCG Davis Cup selection in matches against the Ivory Coast and Bulgaria. He will remember the summer of 2003, not only by the gold won in Latne, but also by his first professional tennis match. At the Futures tournament organised by TK ‘Red Star’ he beat the fourth seed in the first round, earned his first ATP point and went on to defeat all who stood in his way to the title.
Novak scored the winning points for Partizan against their eternal rivals from Karaburma.
He decided to devote his time and efforts to playing professional tournaments and pave the way towards becoming one of the world’s best tennis players.
That same year he successfully qualified for Grand Slam tournaments in Melbourne, Paris and London. Following this, he entered the main draw in New York where he reached the third round. This result saw him move up to number 80 in the world. At his last tournament in 2005, in Paris (the Masters Cup), he reached the third round, on route ‘banking’ his first win over a top 10 ATP player, Mariano Puerta from Argentina (9). He finish the season ranked 78th.
The following year (2006) he won his first ATP tournament in the Dutch city of Amersfort, immediately after which he took another title in Metz. . Djokovic also played his first ever
Grand Slam quarter-final that year at Roland Garros. He finished the season ranked a brilliant 16 in the world.
And then the dream year arrived. In the first week of 2007 Novak was victorious at the start of the Australian summer season in Adelaide. This was to be just the start of the incredibly successful season that followed. His first stop was the semi-final in Rotterdam, after which his career really took off and so began his rise to the very top. After losing in the final at Indian Wells, Djokovic won his first ever Master Series title at the ‘fifth Grand Slam’ in Miami. A few weeks later the Serbian tennis player won the Estoril tournament. He played in the semi-finals of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and in mid-August he won the Montreal tournament beating the top three players on his way to the title: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick. At the US Open he made his first Grand Slam final appearance, which he lost to Roger Federer. Later that season, Novak secured Serbia’s historic place in the World group of the Davis Cup, after which he won his fifth title of 2007 in Vienna. In mid-November this amazing season was crowned with his first ever appearance at the Masters Cup in Shangai, even though he failed to reach the semi-final. Even so, Djokovic finished the year as number three in the world! 2008 will see him set his sights on even bigger goals - the second, and then first position in the ATP rankings. Everyone has their idol, and so does Novak Djokovic. His choice is American Pete Sampras one of the best players of all time, and lately he has mentioned Andre Agassi as an inspiration. He speaks Serbian, English and German. His favourite surface is hard-court. In those rare moments of free time, Novak likes surfing the net, watching films, listening to relaxing music, and sometimes he even manages to find time to go out with friends and his best friend Vuk. From mid-2006 Nole has been coached by the Slovak Marian Vajda, and this collaboration has proved to be a big hit!
I got these stats from: http://www.thetennischannel.com/game/players/PlayerProfile.aspx?id=1312
Novak Djokovic Country: SRB Birth Date: 5/22/1987
Birthplace: Belgrade, Serbia Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 6' 2'' (1.88 m) Weight: 176 lbs. (79.8 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Year Turned Pro: Pro (2003) See all of Novak's Career Highlights at the official site of the ATP. Current ATP Champions Race Position: 3
Current Doubles Rank: 571
Career titles for singles: 11
Career titles for doubles: 0
Career matches won: 202
Career matches lost: 72
Year to date matches won:17
Year to date matches lost: 7
Career prize money: $10,656,963.00
Year to date prize money for singles: $149,336.000
Tennis History
I got this from the book The Young Tennis Player
From the Greek paintings of Themistocles we know an old form of tennis was played in 500BC. In the 15th century modern tennis was played in France and was called the game of the palm. Lawn tennis became popular during Queen Victoria reign. The first championship was played at Wimbledon, London in July 1877. Some 200 people came to watch the first men's final. More then 15,000 can fit Center Court now.
http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/WAKI-ViewArticle.aspx?pin=x-te030020a&article_id=617&chapter_id=13&chapter_title=Sports&article_title=Tennis_History
The game was introduced into Bermuda the in 1873, and from Bermuda was brought to the U.S. by an American, Mary Ewing Outerbridge, of Staten Island, N.Y. The first game of lawn tennis played in the U.S. took place on the grounds of the Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club in the spring of 1874. Australia was the second place to have the championship in Melbourne.
Four years on, he has come tantalisingly close to realising his life’s dream - he is already the world’s third best player: Novak Djokovic! I shall never forget the day when a four year old boy came to my tennis camp with a bag neatly packed, as if for professional training. I asked him who packed it for him, and he replied he did it himself. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, without hesitation he said: “number one in the world”, the same answer I was given many years ago by Monika Seles when she was a little girl - said the legend of Yugoslav tennis, Jelena Gencic.
This took place in the Kopaonik tennis camp, whose head coach at the time was Jelena Gencic, and the boy was none other than Novak Djokovic.
The Djokovics can be said to be a family of sportsmen and women. Novak was the first of three sons. He was four when he took up tennis, while living in Kopaonik. Racquet in hand, he would run after the older kids at summer tennis camp, attempting to get the ball over the net. This went on for a while. He was eight when he was spotted by the eagle-eyed Jelena Gencic. Ever reserved in her statements, this time she could not but comment: ‘This is the greatest talent I have seen since Monika Seles.‘
Jelena began to follow his progress and look after little Nole. He took to tennis easily. As they say, he was a natural.
- It was hard then, but even now it is difficult - admits mum Dijana. - Novak was developing, he needed to be accompanied everywhere, and we weren’t rich. Jelena is our family coach - says Srdjan, smiling. Novak embarked on his stellar career path when he was 14, in 2001, a year he finished as European champion (singles, doubles, team). He won gold in San Remo with his national team (‘the Blues’) that year, while they came second at World Championships. The following season he continued to impress with great matches and became the best under-16 player of the old continent, having won the prestigious ‘La Boule’ and ‘La Poet’ tournaments in France, previously won by today’s great tennis stars such as Hewitt, Grosjean, and Roddick. He was also victorious at the prestigious Prince’s Cup in Miami, as well as the ITF tournament in Pancevo (under 18) where he beat rivals up to three years older than him. After five ITF tournaments played, he became the 40th best junior tennis player in the world.
In the 2003 season he continued to impress with great results and titles. It began with his appearance in the final of the Nurnberg ITF tournament, a match he was unable to finish due to injury. He then went on to win another gold medal for his country. In the French city of Latne he competed together with his team mates, under the leadership of selector Jovan Lilic, and became Europe’s best under-16 player. He won all of the six matches played.
He found himself part of the SCG Davis Cup selection in matches against the Ivory Coast and Bulgaria. He will remember the summer of 2003, not only by the gold won in Latne, but also by his first professional tennis match. At the Futures tournament organised by TK ‘Red Star’ he beat the fourth seed in the first round, earned his first ATP point and went on to defeat all who stood in his way to the title.
Novak scored the winning points for Partizan against their eternal rivals from Karaburma.
He decided to devote his time and efforts to playing professional tournaments and pave the way towards becoming one of the world’s best tennis players.
That same year he successfully qualified for Grand Slam tournaments in Melbourne, Paris and London. Following this, he entered the main draw in New York where he reached the third round. This result saw him move up to number 80 in the world. At his last tournament in 2005, in Paris (the Masters Cup), he reached the third round, on route ‘banking’ his first win over a top 10 ATP player, Mariano Puerta from Argentina (9). He finish the season ranked 78th.
The following year (2006) he won his first ATP tournament in the Dutch city of Amersfort, immediately after which he took another title in Metz. . Djokovic also played his first ever
Grand Slam quarter-final that year at Roland Garros. He finished the season ranked a brilliant 16 in the world.
And then the dream year arrived. In the first week of 2007 Novak was victorious at the start of the Australian summer season in Adelaide. This was to be just the start of the incredibly successful season that followed. His first stop was the semi-final in Rotterdam, after which his career really took off and so began his rise to the very top. After losing in the final at Indian Wells, Djokovic won his first ever Master Series title at the ‘fifth Grand Slam’ in Miami. A few weeks later the Serbian tennis player won the Estoril tournament. He played in the semi-finals of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and in mid-August he won the Montreal tournament beating the top three players on his way to the title: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick. At the US Open he made his first Grand Slam final appearance, which he lost to Roger Federer. Later that season, Novak secured Serbia’s historic place in the World group of the Davis Cup, after which he won his fifth title of 2007 in Vienna. In mid-November this amazing season was crowned with his first ever appearance at the Masters Cup in Shangai, even though he failed to reach the semi-final. Even so, Djokovic finished the year as number three in the world! 2008 will see him set his sights on even bigger goals - the second, and then first position in the ATP rankings. Everyone has their idol, and so does Novak Djokovic. His choice is American Pete Sampras one of the best players of all time, and lately he has mentioned Andre Agassi as an inspiration. He speaks Serbian, English and German. His favourite surface is hard-court. In those rare moments of free time, Novak likes surfing the net, watching films, listening to relaxing music, and sometimes he even manages to find time to go out with friends and his best friend Vuk. From mid-2006 Nole has been coached by the Slovak Marian Vajda, and this collaboration has proved to be a big hit!
I got these stats from: http://www.thetennischannel.com/game/players/PlayerProfile.aspx?id=1312
Novak Djokovic Country: SRB Birth Date: 5/22/1987
Birthplace: Belgrade, Serbia Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 6' 2'' (1.88 m) Weight: 176 lbs. (79.8 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Year Turned Pro: Pro (2003) See all of Novak's Career Highlights at the official site of the ATP. Current ATP Champions Race Position: 3
Current Doubles Rank: 571
Career titles for singles: 11
Career titles for doubles: 0
Career matches won: 202
Career matches lost: 72
Year to date matches won:17
Year to date matches lost: 7
Career prize money: $10,656,963.00
Year to date prize money for singles: $149,336.000
Tennis History
I got this from the book The Young Tennis Player
From the Greek paintings of Themistocles we know an old form of tennis was played in 500BC. In the 15th century modern tennis was played in France and was called the game of the palm. Lawn tennis became popular during Queen Victoria reign. The first championship was played at Wimbledon, London in July 1877. Some 200 people came to watch the first men's final. More then 15,000 can fit Center Court now.
http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/WAKI-ViewArticle.aspx?pin=x-te030020a&article_id=617&chapter_id=13&chapter_title=Sports&article_title=Tennis_History
The game was introduced into Bermuda the in 1873, and from Bermuda was brought to the U.S. by an American, Mary Ewing Outerbridge, of Staten Island, N.Y. The first game of lawn tennis played in the U.S. took place on the grounds of the Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club in the spring of 1874. Australia was the second place to have the championship in Melbourne.
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