Tennis Prose




Jul/21

3

Djokovic Inspired By Wolves

Following his tough, three-set win vs. American Denis Kudla, ATP world no. 1 Novak Djokovic was asked on court about his extraordinary drive and determination to reign supreme in the tennis universe.

Djokovic paused and revealed an unexpected answer: “I think part of it is genes. My family, the way I’ve grown up in difficult times during the 90s for my country and I think failure was never an option for me or anybody from my family. We just had to find basically the basic needs for us to survive during those times. It was difficult, and I think that has strengthened my character, I would say.”

“Part of it I think also comes from my upbringing in the mountains. I spent a lot of time in the mountains with wolves, so this is a wolf energy.”

“I don’t consider myself an underdog. I just had a journey that is probably different from most of the other players that are on the tour and upbringing. I’m not complaining about it. Actually I’m not regretting anything. I am grateful that I’ve been through that journey because that helped me to become a man and a player that I am today. It allowed me to learn things about myself and how to have a strong character, how to fight, how to never give up in very difficult circumstances when I face adversity on the court to come out as a winner.”

“It doesn’t always happen, of course. That’s life. But I feel that has greatly influenced my development as a player and who I am today.”

Djokovic is now four matches from equalling the monumental 20 Grand Slam singles major titles won by Nadal and Federer.

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6 comments

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2021 at 9:36 am

    An interesting fact about wolves are the alpha and beta male aspects in the wolf pack. The alpha male of the pack rules the pack but when his inevitable alpha successor emerges, the leader notices it and quietly departs the pack and lets the new alpha take over without a fight.

  • Gaurang · July 5, 2021 at 3:42 pm

    Yeah this was a very interesting comment. And I can see it now. The ferociousness with which he fights — shows his primal drive to survive, to win.

    I am already a die hard Djoko fan… but this made me like him even more. Feel like I know him even more.

    I always appreciate honesty he brings to the press conferences — nowadays its been even more. For example, he openly spells out the goals he is aiming for; he talks about his mental training of replace “Roger” with his name when crowd cheers for his opponent, he talked about how he silences the negative thoughts during set breaks, etc.

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 5, 2021 at 6:13 pm

    Gaurang, we feel similar sentiments about Djokovic. He is a different kind of champion, the likes the sport has never seen before. Federer and Rafa tried to murder his career, all his hopes and dreams and reduce him to a Monfils or Gasquet second rate player. Fed and Rafa absolutely tried to destroy Djokovic. But they failed too. They actually made him stronger, smarter, tougher. They unwittingly created the greatest tennis champion of all time. It’s destiny and fate that Djokovic is going to break the record. He has to assassinate any player who steps in his way Fed and Rafa included. It’s not personal it’s business. He is the alpha wolf of the ATP pack, just the way it is. The way it was intended to be by the tennis gods. Nothing but respect for how Djokovic is going about fulfilling his destiny. He’s nice about it, he tries to be nice about it, he tries to do his job the right way, he tries to say all the right things, he tries to be as honest as possible. Nothing but respect.

  • Gaurang · July 6, 2021 at 5:17 am

    Completely agree with all that you said!! (except i wouldnt use strong words like “murder” lol)

    Yes the competition between the Big 3 — I would say Big 4 as Murray was very prominent in final stages of tournaments for a long time as well — boosted each of their games. Novak’s level is high because he had to beat Rafa and Roger on a consistent basis, and the crowd not favoring him was a boost as well.

    In fact I am happy that crowd liked Roger and Rafa much more than him — they provoked him to prove to them he is better — if the crowds had liked Novak from the beginning he may have not been as motivated to break all the records…

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 6, 2021 at 9:01 am

    Gaurang, tennis is life and death! It’s a sport of grace and elegance and artistry but it’s a blood sport and a violent sport. Federer and Nadal tried to assassinate Djokovic before he could become the all time king he is now. Tennis is a duel to the death!

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 6, 2021 at 9:06 am

    Gaurang, Djokovic is driven by his own vision and goals, crowd support helps but it doesn’t really matter when it comes to destiny. Does the wolf care about the opinions of sheep? No ) Djokovic gets enough support all over the world, it’s not like he’s the total villain like Marcelo Rios was. The rabid Federer and Nadal fans on the lunatic fringe are the only ones who try to bother Djokovic and what they do is clearly failing. Like you say, it may even make him meaner and more focused and driven.

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