'His game shouldn't work as well' - Andrea Petkovic highlights how Novak Djokovic can maintain such a high level on grass

Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic is widely regarded as one of the greatest grass court players of all time, and retired WTA pro Andrea Petkovic has shed light on why the former World No.1 is so successful on the slippery surface.

The 38-year old has won seven Wimbledon singles titles, second only to Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer, who has eight. Djokovic's most recent title at SW19 came in 2022, with Djokovic falling to rising Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the final of both the 2023 and 2024 edition.

Djokovic's unique movement gives him an advantage, says Petkovic

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has come close to winning his 25th Major title on two occasions this year, falling in the semifinals of both the Australian Open and French Open. With Djokovic having such success sliding on hard courts and clay, one would expect him to experience some difficulty on the grass courts.

However, Petkovic pointed out how Djokovic's style of play allowed him to dominate on all three surfaces, giving him a competitive edge over the rest of the field. The former WTA World No.9 alluded to the manner in which Djokovic bends his knees during play, enabling him to move more freely on all court surfaces.

"That’s why Novak Djokovic is one of the best when it comes to lawn tennis," said Petkovic. "On first glance, his game shouldn’t work as well but he moves on grass like he does on any other surface and that gives him the advantage over players like me who either slip every time the try to sprint or break a hip every time they try to change directions."

Djokovic won his 100th career ATP title at the Geneva Open in May, and will enter Wimbledon without having played any grass warm-up tournaments.