Djokovic lights up Leno's show

Leave it to Novak Djokovic to corral Jay Leno and Katie Holmes into a traditional Serbian group dance last night.

It wasn't the current king of the court's first foray into the world of late-night American TV, nor his first take with Leno, who gleefully (d)joked that his guest had bypassed the No. 2 ranking before coming to see him again.

Watch the first part of the interview here:

And here's the conclusion:

Scattered thoughts:

—Djokovic comported himself well and stuck to his prepared huckster bits.
—The yarn about aggressively grazing on the grass court upon winning Wimbledon had some deft comic timing.
—Leno was adequate and did his research, but Djokovic might be best matched with David Letterman. Guess Novak need only win the U.S. Open now. (Roger Federer: been there, couched that—and with some odd awkwardness in talking about John McEnroe with Letterman at the 3:20 mark.)

—Quips about bedroom antics are a bit boring from Djokovic now. In the context it didn't quite click for a bit with the audience, but Leno sort of saved it. So quite the stretch by Novak, which says something coming from the Gumby-like No. 1.
—Kudos to Katie Holmes for being game to take part in the dance. We can almost forgive her for that weakest-link performance in Batman Begins. And smart of her to wear sensible shoes for the episode.

On the whole, the appearance was a great victory for tennis. And once again no small coup for Djokovic, should he desire Federer- or Nadal-esque Western endorsement dollars. And we know he does.

—Jonathan Scott (@jonscott9)