WATCH: Novak Djokovic defensive masterclasses
What makes Novak Djokovic such an exceptional player? Is it his athleticism, his return or his backhand? Or is just his sheer bloody-mindedness when it comes to getting himself out of sticky situations during a rally?
Djokovic has all the shots in the tennis manual and perhaps he doesn’t have the elegant one-handed backhand of Roger Federer or the forehand and slice of Rafael Nadal, but he has that little bit of everything turns him into a bloody good player.
Yet you can have all the talent in the world and all the shots in the playbook, but if you don’t put in the hard work or have that sheer bloody-mindedness to turn a lost cause into a win, then you won’t ever reach the peak.
That has been Djokovic’s forte over the past two decades, just ask any of his opponents.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner often appears to be fighting a losing battle during a rally and then bam, before you blink he is back in the point and usually ends up winning the point, the match and the tournament.
Here is a nine-minute compilation of Djokovic at his very best when it comes to turning a losing cause around during matches on the ATP Tour.
Back in 2022 during an interview with L’Equipe, the Serbian highlighted the importance of hard work, which definitely includes going that extra mile during a point.
“People tend to include everything in the definition of talent. I believe in talent, let’s say it’s a genetic advantage, but it’s only a small part of the final result,” he said.
“The rest is achieved through work. Hard work always beats talent.”
And sometimes talent and hard work won’t be good enough, but then the mentality comes into play.
After his victory over Casper Ruud in Sunday’s record-breaking French Open final that saw him win a 23rd Grand Slam, Djokovic referenced the Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality” as a pivotal to his success.
“Mamba Mentality, Kobe Bryant,” he told NBC Sport. “You know it’s going to happen before it actually happens.
“I really believe in that power, mental power, projecting your thoughts and creating your future.”
It’s a lot easier said than done, but Djokovic has proven over the years that he is the master when it comes to defensive clinics.
READ MORE: How many Grand Slam titles will Novak Djokovic win before he retires?
