After a tough US Open semi-final win over Richard Krajicek in 2000, Pete Sampras famously observed: “You’re only as good as your second serve.”

So true. Today, there’s perhaps no better example of that than Novak Djokovic, who has no peer when points begin with a second serve. As you’ll see in the chart below, the streaking Serb is ranked No. 1 in second-serve points won at 60 per cent (1,469 of 2,571) in 2015. But this is no one-off. Djokovic has consistently ranked among the ATP World Tour leaders in second-serve points won throughout his career. In fact, since his historic run of 2011, the first time he won three majors and five ATP World Tour Masters 1000s in one season, he has never ranked outside the Top 5 in that category.

What’s truly remarkable is that Djokovic is just as potent on the second serve when it comes to his return game. In 2015 he tops the charts on second-serve return points won at 58 per cent (1,317 of 2,289), and he’s been a Top-10 mainstay in that category in this year-end Infosys ATP Scores & Stats category dating back to 2007. Djokovic’s return game dominance was on display during his run to the Shanghai Rolex Masters title. Not once in his five rounds at the Qizhong Tennis Center did the World No. 1 register a losing percentage on his own second serve, and not once did an opponent enjoy a winning percentage on their second serve.

As far as career numbers are concerned, Djokovic ranks right up there with the best, too. He has won 55 per cent of his second-serve points in 788 career matches (fifth overall), and his second serve return points won are on par with one of the greatest returners the sport has ever seen: Andre Agassi. In 1,108 matches, the Hall of Famer won 16,704 of 29,909 second serve return points (56%). Djokovic, by comparison, has won 13,857 of 25,276 (55%).

A LOOK AT DJOKOVIC’S SUPERB PLAY IN CHINA

Djokovic left China with two more titles, winning the China Open in Beijing for the sixth time and the Shanghai Rolex Masters for the third time. He won all 10 matches in straight sets. Here’s a look at several InfoSys ATP statistical categories in which Djokovic ranks among the Top 10 in 2015, compared to averages in each tournament:

DJOKOVIC DOMINATES POST-US OPEN

Over the past four years Djokovic has compiled an outstanding 66-2 match record after the US Open, capturing 12 titles in 14 tournaments played:

Note: In 2011, when Djokovic finished No. 1 for the first time, he had a 6-4 post-US Open record.