Novak: I don’t need to win tennis matches anymoretobehappy
WIMBLEDON
OAT WIMBLEDON N the eve of his sport’s biggest championship Novak Djokovic was celebrating a longawaited victory but as he did so, the Serb seemed at least as focused on winning the game of life.
The 30-year-old former world No.1 has suffered an astonishing slump in form since arriving at Wimbledon last year as the holder of all four Grand Slam titles.
So much so that there has been speculation about his state of mind, fuelled by the overhaul of his entire backroom staff in recent months.
However, having won a tournament for the first time since January, after surprising and delighting organisers by asking for a late wildcard entry to Eastbourne’s Aegon Championship, he indicated that he has been going through a period of reflection.
“It’s always, I guess, figuring out what’s the right balance and right formula to be completely, I guess, in peace and satisfied with yourself and everything that you do,” he said.
Part of that process has been seeking to place the sport that has earned him fame and fortune, into a different perspective. “I used to base all my happiness on winning a tennis match,” Djokovic admitted.
“I think many athletes today are doing that, so I try not to do that any more because it’s not like I don’t care, but winning and losing a tennis match, absolutely not.
“Of course, I would love to win every single tennis match I play in, but I don’t try to take that as very essential, you know, moment in my life which determines my happiness.
“It’s a different approach, but I’m still here and I’m still motivated, I still keep on going. I’m still glad to experience whatever professional tennis career has for me.”
His mood seems very different from a year ago when he was the dominant force in the sport and was expected to complete a calendar Grand Slam, yet appeared ill at ease during his week at Wimbledon as he repeatedly seemed to indicate that he felt he deserved greater support from spectators.
He noted that the attention paid to successful sportspeople can make it difficult to focus on themselves, because the nature of what they do sees them presented as role models.
“People relate to athletes and what they do, because of the sacrifice, because of the fight, because there is no way around it,” said Djokovic.
“Basically you have to earn the respect and earn the trophies and success by yourself, especially in tennis, but it seems to me that, especially nowadays, everything is observed through the lens of material success, who lifts more trophies gets more respect, more fame, more money and a better status in the society.
“But, it’s equally important, even more important, to take care of myself as a human being. What goes around off the court, too. In the process, I believe that that’s going to positively affect my own tennis career, as well.”
After many years of choosing not to play competitively in the week before Grand Slam tournaments, Djokovic has also demonstrated a willingness to change his ways in pursuit of renewed success.
HIS latest trophy is reward for that and he was refreshed by the English seaside experience. “I felt like this time I needed a proper tournament rather than just playing a couple of ex- hibition matches,” he explained. “I’m glad I’ve made that decision and that I went to Eastbourne, because it was a very positive experience on and off the court as well.
“People were very kind. It was a great week with a lot of good, positive energy.
“A lot of time spent on the practice courts, four quality matches. I’m just overall very happy with the way it went and where my form is at.”