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Miomir Kecmanovic, 23, says there is a lot one can learn from Novak Djokovic in both the physical and mental aspects of tennis. Kecmanovic, who is currently the second highest-ranked Serbian male tennis player, has played against Djokovic a couple of times and he also knows the 23-time Grand Slam champion off the court.
"Nothing can get to Novak and the way he prepares for matches is just on another level. I just love the way he competes on the court and fights through everything, it’s really inspirational. Physically, I admire that he can get to any ball and it doesn’t matter where he is, that thing is going to go in no matter what and then mentally, he’s just so much stronger than everybody," Kecmanovic said of Djokovic on the ATP Tennis Podcast.
Djokovic praised Kecmanovic
Against Djokovic, world No 46 Kecmanovic has had zero wins and three defeats. In 2021, Djokovic ousted Kecmanovic in straight sets when they met for the first time in Belgrade. Last year in Belgrade, Kecmanovic and Djokovic met again but this time Kecmanovic won a set before Djokovic staged a 4-6 6-3 6-3 win.
At 2022 Wimbledon, Kecmanovic and Djokovic met for the third time, with Djokovic ending up on the winning side again. After their 2022 Belgrade meeting, Djokovic praised the improvement that Kecmanovic was making in his game. “The progress Kecmanovic has made in his game is obvious.
In the first place his progress refers to how he moves on the court. His strokes have always been good but he lacked movements, frontside running, backwards running, transitions from defence to offense. I believe he has made substantial progress there.
I’ve seen that his game has become much more aggressive. Kecmanovic has spent a lot of time in the US and he grew up as a tennis player at a hard court. He is an all-around player and he can adjust to different surfaces," Djokovic said of Kecmanovic in Belgrade last year.