Djokovic back in ‘Serbinator’ groove

Hubert Hurkacz looked to be the sort of menace any serious contender would fancy avoiding as his first test in a Grand Slam. Someone young, hungry, with a big game, soaring form and burgeoning reputation, someone recently profiled as a new “silent assassin” of the men’s game.

So Novak Djokovic came forewarned and forearmed against a man he predicted would be a top-tenner sooner rather than later. Then, with an efficiency that suggested he may just be peaking perfectly for his shot at another ‘Novak Slam’ and major number 16, the world No.1 picked apart and dissected the young Pole’s game 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

It was like watching some virtuoso surgeon at work. 

Remember the Djokovic who was outgunned by the little-known Marco Cecchinato here last year? Struggling after elbow surgery, out of the top 20 and downcast, muttering about how “many things in life are difficult”, looking anything but the perfectly-oiled machine of legend?

Well, er, this wasn’t that Djokovic.

No, a year and three Slams later, this was ‘Serbinator’ Djokovic, the one playing the assassin, even if not of Hurkacz’s silent variety. Indeed, even when at two sets and 2-0 up, he plonked a rare errant backhand into the net, he was still screaming in fury at himself. Yes, perfectionist Novak too.

It’s early days, naturally, but you would have to say on this initial evidence that the 2016 champion looks as if he is going to be a very different proposition to the rather weary-looking version of Nole who lost to Rafael Nadal in the Italian Open final eight days earlier. The one man who can topple Rafa? It feels that way.

“I think Hubert's got a really good chance to reach the top of the tennis. Even though I never played him before, I still felt he can be a great threat if I allow him to play his tennis," said Djokovic, with some high praise for the 22-year-old.

"So I like that I had a very good quality opponent in the first round because that gets me going with the right intensity from the start."

The art of pacing yourself for a Slam assault demands energy-saving despatching of opponents like this. Hurkacz had nothing to berate himself for; the man who reached his career-high ranking of 41 earlier this month never stopped trying and demonstrated his promise but it was still a painful lesson.

“Playing against him for the first time was an amazing experience,” sighed the Pole. “I didn’t return as well as I can but he played a really great match.”

Actually, he played a typical Djokovic match, the sort of excellence that we’ve begun to take for granted for 12 months.

At one point in the second set, Hurkacz played a lovely drop shot. Djokovic not only sprinted to chase it down but then, astonishingly at full stretch, responded with an ever better rubber man version. Extraordinary. A double fault from the Pole followed; Djokovic in full cry can do that to anyone.

“I actually thought I played well. All the elements in my game worked well, so I'm very pleased,” smiled the silent assassin’s assassin. "You know, I'm focused, I'm determined, and sharp from the blocks."

The rest of the snipers have been warned.