SBS will broadcast all US Open men’s and women’s singles quarter-finals, semi-finals and both finals LIVE, FREE and in HD, and live streamed via SBS On Demand from September 8-13
Australian strategist Craig O'Shannessy is plotting against his former pupil Djokovic’s campaign to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar-year grand slam with victory at the US Open in New York.
Djokovic would be the first player ever to achieve the fabled feat on three different surfaces.
O’Shannessy was the man who was by Djokovic’s side in 2017 as he battled a form slump before winning his 20th grand slam.
However, O’Shannessy will be in the opposite coaches box on Thursday with the esteemed analyst sitting in Matteo Berrettini's corner assisting head coach Vincenzo Santopadre for the US Open quarter-final.
The Aussie has drawn up the perfect gameplan for Berrettini who he believes is capable of an incredible upset on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
O'Shannessy believes winning the short points is key to stopping Djokovic.
"It's the first four shots, then daylight in New York City," he said.
"Don't be seduced by the longer rallies. This match will be decided by the first two times each player touches the ball more than anything else.
"The first four shots are comprised of the serve, return and the serve plus one and return plus groundstrokes that subsequently follow."
O'Shannessy, who is also coaching emerging Australian grand-slam force Alexei Popyrin, noted that in the Wimbledon final Djokovic dominated the short exchanges of no more than four shots against Berrettini by a margin of 17 points.
In the Olympic semi-final, Djokovic lost the exact same contest by 17 points to Zverev.
"When it all boils down, that means Berrettini must serve and return better. It's not rocket science but it is critical to the Italian's chances," O'Shannessy said.
"Zverev committed only 12 returning errors against Djokovic, while Berrettini made 31. Return errors stop you in your tracks.
"Berrettini has got to tighten this part of his game up."
O’Shannessy says the other major battleground will focus on forehand performance.
"Berrettini struck 20 forehand winners in the Wimbledon final but yielded an eye-opening 64 forehand errors," he said.
"Djokovic's defiant defence turned Berrettini's forehand from an asset to a liability. Zverev got the mix right against Djokovic with 16 forehand winners and just 24 forehand errors.
"Berrettini needs to use his forehand weapon as much as possible but that's easier said than done. Novak will know that and will look to starve Berrettini of forehands.
"That's why it's so important for Berrettini to strike first as much as possible to gain initial control of the flow of the point."
Thursday, September 9
Thursday, September 9
2021 US Open - singles quarter-finals: Emma Raducanu (GBR) v Belinda Bencic (SUI)[11], Alexander Zverev (GER)[4] v Lloyd Harris (RSA)
02:00 - 06:00 (AEST)
LIVE on SBS and via SBS On Demand
2021 US Open - singles quarter-finals: Karolina Pliskova (CZE)[4] v Maria Sakkari (GRE)[17], Novak Djokovic (SRB)[1] v Matteo Berrettini (ITA)[6]
09:00 - 14:00 (AEST)
LIVE on SBS and via SBS On Demand
