Tennis fans writing off Novak Djokovic as a spent force are not aware of the struggling Serb’s insatiable appetite for more grand slam spoils.
Without a major title since becoming the first man in almost half a century to hold all four slams simultaneously, Djokovic has drifted to 22nd in the world.
But, according to his Australian strategy analyst, the 12-times grand slam champion remains as hungry as ever.
“He is constantly being fed match data on his own game and his opponents,” Craig O’Shannessy, of Brain Game Tennis claim to fame, told AAP at Roland Garros.
“It’s one thing in tennis to know your own game, but Novak is always going the extra yards to intimately understand the nuances of his opponent’s game.
“He goes to great lengths to understand all his rivals’ strengths and weaknesses.”
O’Shannessy liaises with Djokovic and the Serb’s long-time head coach Marian Vajda to ensure there is a crystal clear game plan every time he steps on to the court.
“One or two points a match at this level defines careers,” O’Shannessy said ahead of Djokovic’s fourth-round clash on Sunday with Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
“Novak’s attention to detail is what is going to get him back on top.”
O’Shannessy, also the strategy analyst for the Australian Open and Wimbledon, breaks down serving, returning and rally patterns for all players he has advised, including fellow grand slam finalists Milos Raonic, Kevin Anderson and former women’s world No.1 Maria Sharapova.
“Tennis is incredibly mental and the more you can understand your opponents’ tendencies in the big moments, the more likely you are to win the critical points.”
The mastermind of Dustin Brown’s stunning 2015 Wimbledon take-down of Rafael Nadal, O’Shannessy is hoping Djokovic also gets a crack at the mighty Spaniard in next Sunday’s French Open final.
The Texas-based O’Shannessy, who learnt the game growing up on Albury’s grass courts before moving to the US to play college tennis, has been keenly studying Nadal’s form – and patterns – through the first week in Paris in anticipation of Djokovic’s potential final showdown with the 10-times champion.
If the blockbuster eventuates, O’Shannessy believes Djokovic will need to up the aggression in the first four shots of the rally.
“As Novak often says, playing Rafa on clay is the ultimate challenge in tennis,” O’Shannessy said.
“This clay-court season, Rafa’s backhand has found another level. It’s an illusion trying to play through it.
“Even though his forehand is more potent, playing him wide to that wing early in the point is the smarter option.
“Everyone focuses on Rafa dominating in the longer rallies, but it’s actually the short rallies where he cleverly crafts his advantage.”