Djokovic: "Young rivals awaken a kind of beast in me"

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Every time Novak Djokovic gives a calm and comprehensive interview, he clearly demonstrates how special he is and those characteristic traits that only a few athletes in history possess. The Serbian recalled his worst moments during COVID and reputation crises related to the vaccine issue, analyzed how his mental strength works, and agreed to talk about other delicate topics.

A genius of Novak Djokovic's caliber always has interesting things to say and, with both his example and words, is able to inspire millions of people worldwide. Some of the confessions he makes on the program 60 Minutes, with Jon Wertheim as the interviewer, help better understand the character of a fierce competitor who aims to continue achieving success in his professional career. His words deserve to be analyzed.

- Mental strength and what it takes to succeed in tennis

"My ability to perform in crucial moments and be mentally strong is not a gift but the result of hard work. There are various techniques to improve in this. From conscious breathing to meditation. It may seem that I remain calm in tense situations, but believe me, inside me, a storm of emotions is unleashed. The biggest battle a tennis player has to fight is against himself," he explains.

"I feel doubts and fear in every match I play. I don't like the way many people view things, constantly telling you to be positive, be optimistic, and that there's no room for doubts. It's impossible. We are human beings. The difference between great champions and legends who reach the next level is the ability to spend little time in that state of nervousness, doubts, and fears. In my case, I have learned to spend little time with those kinds of thoughts. When I am there, I get frustrated, shout, lose my composure, but quickly, I am able to reset and regain normalcy," he reveals, in what is a master class in sports psychology.

- Wimbledon 2019 final, an example of his mental ability

There are many matches the Serbian has won displaying a level of tennis lower than his opponent and being able to prevail due to his intangibles and competitive character. One of them is particularly unforgettable for him. "That's what happened in the Wimbledon 2019 final I played against Federer. It was a great battle, epic. I remember very well his two match points. I think he was the better player throughout the match in every aspect, but I won," he acknowledges.

- Turbulent relationship with the public and outbursts on the court

"When I lose my temper on the court and end up breaking a racket, something I have done on several occasions, I do not feel proud, I am ashamed of myself, but I accept myself as an imperfect human being. The stress and nervousness experienced on the court are very high, even more so when you have the audience against you. Many think that I raise my level when people are against me, but definitely, I prefer to compete in an environment where I feel the support of the people," he declared.

- Reflecting on the reputation crisis he faced during the COVID times

"I was declared the world's villain; I felt like the majority was against me. I had experienced something like that while competing on a court, but I never felt I had the whole planet against me. I had the necessary exemption to travel to Australia, but things didn't go as they should have. People have labeled me as an anti-vaxxer, but that's not the case. I am only in favor of freedom to choose," stated the Serbian tennis player, who ended up missing Grand Slam tournaments due to his decision not to get vaccinated.

- Motivation to defeat the young players and praise for Carlos Alcaraz

"Young players are hungry and determined to show their best tennis against me, which gives me extra motivation, awakens a kind of beast in me. For instance, losing the Wimbledon 2023 final against Alcaraz hurt me a lot. I consider the Spaniard the most complete tennis player I have seen in a long time. That defeat angered me so much that I found the necessary energy to then win in Cincinnati and the US Open. Having these types of rivals is a great opportunity to continue reinventing myself and making an effort every day," he concluded.

- Involvement to improve economic conditions for modest tennis players

If there is something that characterizes Djokovic, it is his constant concern to make tennis a more egalitarian and economically profitable sport for more players. To achieve this, he embarked on creating the PTPA, an organization he wants to continue promoting to enhance all areas of this sport. "I want to do this because I feel I have much more than I need, but the men and women outside the top 200 face many difficulties. They cannot afford to hire coaches, have to skip tournaments due to the challenges of facing travels. I believe many of them are super talented, but their careers are hindered by these adversities," a inspiring Novak Djokovic argued.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic: "Los rivales jóvenes despiertan una especie de bestia en mí"