World Tennis Magazine

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Maria Taylor

Novak Djokovic Provides Glimpses of Champion Mindset In Historic Roland Garros Win

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Novak Djokovic continues to prove that he is one of the greatest athletes in the history of sport. He moved to the mountain top of men’s professional tennis by winning his record breaking 23rd major singles title with a 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5 victory over Casper Ruud at Roland Garros.

But how does it do it? It’s not just talent alone.

Djokovic does not spare any detail with regard to preparation and training and mindset to ensure that he is competing at his ultimate best. There has been much written and discussed about his gluten-free diet, his sleep and recovery habits and stretching exercises, but after his win in Paris, Djokovic revealed more about his unwavering confidence and visualization that he helped guide him to unprecedented success.

When asked by Maria Taylor of NBC Sports if he had in his heart that he would be victorious and re-write the record books, Djokovic exclaimed, “Mamba Mentality, Kobe Bryant.” It was a nod to the deceased Los Angeles Laker basketball star and friend and mentor to Djokovic who invented a “Mamba” alter ego to help him have the mentality to achieve his massive successs.

“You know it’s going to happen already before it actually happens,” he continued. “So I truly believe in that power and mental power, projecting your thoughts and creating your future. It’s easy to talk now, but I was really, really, really believing to my core that I can achieve these (accomplishments) So I keep growing and I look forward to the next Grand Slam already.”

In the post-match on-court speeches, Djokovic used his platform to share some of his mentality to the youth who were watching. He said he likes to convey some values and messages in inspiration and mind set to others to also motivate them for greatness. “Whatever you’re pursuing in the world, whether it’s tennis, sports or anything else. I was a seven-year-old dreaming that I could win Wimbledon and become No. 1 in the world one day. As I said, I’m beyond grateful and blessed to be standing here with so many incredible achievements, but one thing is for sure, I feel that I had the power to create my own destiny. I try to visualize every single thing in my life, not only believe it, but really feel it with every cell in my body. And I just want to send a message out there to every young person: Be in the present moment, forget about what happened in the past. Future is something that is just going to happen, but if you want a better future, you create it. Take the means in your hands, believe it, create it.”

As for the next Grand Slam tournament, confidence remains high at Wimbledon for Djokovic where the Serbian has an opportunity to extend his Grand Slam tournament title record and win the third leg of a potential Grand Slam.

Said Djokovic to Taylor. “Let me enjoy this success first, but definitely Wimbledon, US Open, those are the two big ones till the end of the season that I really want to do well in. Of course, when you are on a high, when you are feeling invincible on the Grand Slam courts, you want to keep going. You want to carry that run. I think, of course, nobody’s invincible, but the more you win, the more confident you feel. So I want to carry this into London. I’ve won the last four Wimbledon’s in a row, so I really look forward to more competition, but I’ll enjoy it first. I’ll enjoy it.”

Casper Ruud: Novak Is Just Not Human Sometimes

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by Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Casper Ruud has reached three major singles finals. He lost his first at Roland Garros in 2022 to Rafael Nadal. He lost his second at the U.S. Open to Carlos Alcaraz. Now he lost his third in the 2023 Roland Garros final to Novak Djokovic. After leading by a service break 4-2 in the first set, Ruud was unable to sustain in his 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5 loss. The win gave Djokovic his men’s record 23rd  major singles title, moving him past Rafael Nadal, who won his 22nd major singles title beating Ruud in Paris just a year ago.

Ruud put the match in immediate perspective in his post-match interview with University of Georgia graduate Maria Taylor of NBC Sports.

Said Ruud, “I think I started well, maybe the best start that I had, and then unfortunately stumbled on the break back there at 4-2. And then the first set was really tough, both tennis-wise, physically it was close to one hour and 20 minutes or so. Novak is just not human sometimes. It’s just scary how good he can play and how well he reads the game, how much he sort of makes you work for every point. So yeah, it was tough. I’m a bit disappointed that I let him sort of get away in the second set. I wasn’t able to keep it close in the beginning and then just did my best from there. I mean, what else can you do? I mean, of course there are always some things here and there that you can try to change and do better, but in the end I had a game plan. It worked well in the beginning, but then he sort of had the answers and was just too good in all the sets.”

Taylor, then asked Ruud about the aura of the fact that Djokovic was gunning for his 23rd major singles title and how that historic achievement hovered around the match.

Said Ruud, “Well, I mean was maybe hoping he would feel the pressure, be a little nervous, but at the same time he has probably more motivation than ever playing to get a new record 23 Slams is just a ridiculous number. And yeah, it’s tough to describe how incredible it is. It’s another day of history in the tennis world. And he has set the bar high now. And yeah, it’s inspiring to see how much someone can achieve in a career.”