• US Open, Day 15

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Novak Djokovic sits in his chair in a New York Fire Department hat © PA Photos

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Hats off to Novak
Novak Djokovic has found it tough to engage with the crowd at Flushing Meadows, but he went some way to winning them over with his display of emotion when saving match point in his semi-final with Roger Federer. He went a step further ahead of the final with Rafael Nadal by walking onto court wearing a New York Fire Department hat.

Delicious drops
In the early exchanges, Djokovic set his stall out to hit through the ball with great power and force Nadal behind the baseline. The tactic worked as Nadal was tracking a long way behind the baseline, leaving the court open for Djokovic to mix things up and he did so quite beautifully in the seventh game of the opening set. Not once but twice, the world No. 1 played beautiful drop shots that were so good that not even Nadal, he who would run through a brick wall if he felt he could get the ball back, did not even bother to make a play.

Double hit serve
Nadal is always keen to impart spin on his serve in a bid to make up for the lack of pace he generates. He went a bit too far in the fifth game of the opening set of his clash with Djokovic. In cutting across the ball he slightly mistimed the ball and struck the ball twice, with the frame and then the strings. The result was some sort of crazy boomerang swinger. If you could perfect that shot you'd be unbeatable.

Volley good show
Djokovic does not have much of a need to play doubles, such is his dominance on a singles court. But should he wish to give it a shot, he will not look out of place judged on the volleying skills he produced against Nadal. There were a number of times when he showed superb touch from around the net and during the third set, he toyed with Nadal. He stretched for forehand and backhand volleys as Nadal unleashed from the baseline before sliding a backhand volley into the empty court.

Oozing professionalism
Djokovic certainly is the ultimate professional. After winning his third grand slam title for the year, you could expect to see the Serbian letting loose and forgetting his troubles for a moment. Not Djoker. The world No. 1 went through his usual recovery process of sitting down, taking in fluids and recovery fuel before accepting the US Open trophy.

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