Wimbledon 2012: Djokovic Versus Harrison - Preview

Ryan Harrison takes on Novak Djokovic on the centre court in the second round. They have met once before at Cincinnati where Djokovic prevailed in straight sets. Harrison defeated Yen-Hsun Lu in four sets in the first round whereas Djokovic had easy straight sets victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Harrison has an excellent first serve and one of the best second serves. His second serve clocks 175 kmph which is not much below the first serve of many higher ranked players. He served at 70% in his first round match which he has to maintain since Djokovic is the best returner in the game. When they met in Cincinnati in August last year, Harrison could not hold his serve even once in the first set which he lost 6-2. Djokovic exerts that type of pressure on whosoever is the opponent. Djokovic served very well in his first round firing one ace per service game and many of his 66% first serves unreturnable.  

Harrison has a respectable forehand which holds well in a medium range rally. However, when put under pressure, it tends to return high balls to remain in the rally. This may not be enough with Djokovic which even players like Rafael Nadal have learned. Harrison would have to finish the point with a winner. However, his forehand tends to overhit when he goes into extra aggression. The numbers of forehand winners tend to cancel out with errors against elite players.

Harrison does not as much rely on backhand to win the point. His backhand is something like that of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, which is mainly to return the ball safely. If Djokovic chooses to play to Harrison’s weaker flank, it would be the backhand. Djokovic has the best backhand in the business and therefore, any routine cross court backhand exchanges would go in favour of Djokovic. Any attempt to convert backhand into forehand might prove to be suicidal.

Djokovic can hit an imaginary twelve inches corridor at the sidelines with regular precision. Even fast movers like Rafael Nadal have been reduced to chasing their shadows when Djokovic played acute angles. Harrison may move well for his weight, but he is not in the list of the best movers. He will not be prepared to cutting out the angles with swift movement to the net. He is not a natural volleyer, though playing doubles has improved his volleying skills. However, volley in doubles is different from creating volley position on an approach shot and executing it in singles.

           It is an uphill task for Harrison to defeat Djokovic. However, Djokovic will not have it as easy as in the first round.