The greatest champions in tennis history find a way to win when they are not at their best, with Novak Djokovic the ultimate warrior when the chips are down.
Djokovic has come back from the match point down to win titles on seven occasions, with the most famous of those coming in the 2019 Wimbledon final, as he saved two match points to deny Roger Federer what would have been a final Grand Slam title.
The Serbian spoke about how he controlled his emotions at an ASICS event attended by Tennis365 last year, as he put part of his success down to his ability to control his breathing.
“Mental wellness is an area people are paying more attention to and deservedly so,” began Djokovic.
“In an individual sport like this, you are on the court yourself and there is no one to help you when things go south. Of course, you have a team supporting you in the stands, but you have to work it out for yourself.
“I believe half of the mental work you need to put in is done before you even set foot on the court. If you fail to prepare, it is going to be a much more difficult mountain to climb and succeed on the court.
“You need to have a long-term and short-term strategy to find a way to win in the end and you understand that process more when you play for a long time.
“You need to be physically, mentally and emotionally stable to have a chance and I have to understand my body is responding differently than it was 10 years ago.
“This holistic approach is vital for all parts of your life. You need the right people around you, to eat well and if you try to suppress emotions, it will almost certainly surface on the court for me.”
Now Serena Williams’ former coach and the newly appointed coach of four-time Grand Slam champions Naomi Osaka has given his insight into how the great champions succeed.
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Patrick Mouratoglou is in Asia for his first tournaments as Japanese superstar Osaka’s new coach and he has taken to LinkedIn to highlight how the tennis great find a way to win when they are not playing at their best.
“How do you win when everything feels off on the court? I have an answer for you. It has been given to me by the greatest of the sport,” wrote Mouratoglou.
“On your worst days, the mindset makes the champion. The difference between champions and the rest lies in their ability to win even when they’re playing their worst tennis.
“They don’t chase the feeling of playing great—that’s a mistake most players make. Instead, they focus on what’s in their control.
“My number one advice: stop focusing on yourself and your struggles. Shift your attention to the strategy needed to win points with the game you have today.
“The moment you dwell on your own problems, you lose focus on your opponent. Winning isn’t about feeling good – it’s about staying tactical and precise with what you have at the moment.
“Second, the way you talk to yourself, your body language and attitude are everything. The way you carry yourself comes directly from your internal dialogue.
“Champions find ways to talk to themselves in a way that fuels positive body language, which keeps their mindset sharp and focused. By mastering these two things—strategy and inner talk—they rise above the bad days and find ways to win.
“Control what you can, and let go of what you can’t. That’s how champions prevail, no matter how they feel on the court.”
Mastering the mind is just as important as perfecting your forehand and backend, with the comments from Djokovic and Mourtoglou suggesting finding the perfect balance is the secret to success.
