Novak Djokovic reveals how he slays his demons in intimate interview

Novak Djokovic has developed a reputation for boasting the most unbreakable mental strength in tennis and now he has revealed some of the secrets behind his success.

While his rivals wilt on the court under the pressure of playing against the 23-time Grand Slam champion, Djokovic’s ability to eradicate his demons and find a way to overcome the challenges in front of him has been a huge part of his success.

Tennis365 was present at an intimate interview hosted by ASICS at Wimbledon with Djokovic, as he explained how he controls his emotions in a conversation with former world No 2 Alex Corretja.

“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.”

Djokovic has often been criticised for screaming abuse at members of his team who sit in his box during matches, but he suggests that is a result of his failure to confront his inner demons.

“When I scream at members of my team during a match, that is because I am not dealing with the situation well and the monster that is coming behind you is getting bigger,” he continued.

“You have to deal with your opponent, the crowd and so many other things, so you have to deal with your demons.

“It is not possible to stay in the present all the time. Our mind wanders to past experiences and takes you in different directions, so you have to contend with that. On a tennis court, it’s even more intense. And if someone tells you not to think about something negative, you will inevitably think about it.

“If you lose your focus, things can start to go wrong quickly, but you have to accept it. If you do that, you can recover quickly and come back. Conscious breathing is the most important way to move on from a day moment.”

Djokovic also claimed reflecting on past disappointments is counter-productive during a match, as he tries to steer his mind away from negativity.

“If there is something that makes you feel comfortable and good in life, we always want more of that,” he added.

“As a sportsman, you sometimes have to play a game with your brain at times and convince it that things are okay.

“We are all human beings, we all make mistakes. We will all make a million more mistakes until the last day of our lives and you cannot look back and think too much about a mistake that doesn’t have too much of an impact.

“Instead, you have to count your blessings. I’m so privileged, so honoured to be a successful tennis player and play the sport I fell in love with when I was four-years-old.
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Novak Djokovic was speaking at an ASICS event in London

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