By S.T.

THE PEDIGREE: Like many young pros, Serbia’s Djokovic has a parent who was a top athlete in another sport. His father, Srdjan, was a skier for the former Yugoslavia, but no one in his family played tennis, Djokovic says. When he was 4, three courts were built in front of the restaurant that his father owned above Belgrade. By 7 Novak had decided he was going to be No. 1, a goal set with the encouragement of his fi rst coach, Jelena Gencic. “Whatever she told me, I did,” Djokovic says. “She kept telling me I had the talent to be No. 1. I believed her, and I still believe her.”

THE PERSONA: Anyone that driven since age 7 will ruffle a few feathers. Last year, Djokovic’s mother said he was interested in obtaining British citizenship not because of any connection to the country, but because she and Djokovic wanted to secure training for his younger brothers and further Djokovic’s sponsorship opportunities. Perhaps the most ruffled feather belongs to Roger Federer. After beating Djokovic, who has earned a reputation for taking dubious medical timeouts, in September, Federer said, “I think he’s a joke when it comes down to his injuries. The rules are there to be used, not abused. . . . I was happy to beat him.”

THE GAME: Djokovic is a “players’ player,” a guy with an unfl ashy devotion to his craft and nothing extraneous in his textbook ground strokes. Take a look at the shoulder turn on his two-handed backhand: Djokovic never cheats himself out of a full rotation and knee bend, and it makes his shot consistent and penetrating.

THE PROGNOSIS: Djokovic is not the most spectacular or daring of the young guns, but he may have what it takes for the long haul and a top ranking. He’s effective from every part of the court and on every surface, and he has confidence to spare. He certainly has Federer’s attention. But is that a good thing?