By Scoop Malinowski
Novak Djokovic is 35 years old and still finding new, different ways to improve himself and his athleticism.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion has recently begin training “Capoeira” – the Brazilian martial art which combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music.
In case you don’t know what Capoeira is (wiki)… “It was created by enslaved Africans in Brazil and developed by their descendantsĀ at the beginning of the 16th century. It is known for its acrobatic and complex maneuvers, often involving hands on the ground and inverted kicks. It emphasizes flowing movements rather than fixed stances; theĀ ginga is a rocking step, is usually the focal point of the technique…”
I know of pro tennis players doing yoga, boxing training, soccer, golf, cycling, hockey, basketball, ballet to diversify their athleticism, but I have never heard of a player doing Capoeira.
Watching video of the stunning moves and strikes of the Capoeira fighter, one instantly thinks how genius brilliant it is for a tennis player to train in this activity. It’s so easy to envision Capoeira having a profoundly edifying effect on the already incredible athleticism and agility of Djokovic. He will have improved range of motion, core strength, striking power from awkward position and of course the added confidence element from having learned a new skill.
It will be very interesting to see the impact and influence these new training exercises will have on the future tennis performances of the greatest tennis champion of all time.
And then, most likely, how many other players suddenly get the “new” idea to try Capoeira to improve their tennis.
Asics · Brazil · Capoeira · Head · Lacoste · Novak Djokovic · Wimbledon
Scoop Malinowski · August 2, 2022 at 9:58 am
Djokovic is a unique champion, always striving to improve, outside the box creative thinking.
Bill McGill · August 2, 2022 at 10:39 am
Forget training regimens. Let’s talk about the fact that Federer is probably going to announce his retirement in September at Laver Cup. Pretty sure that’s why Nadal, Djoker and Murray are all playing (and why Team Europe even wants Murray at this point). Federer has said in past interviews he won’t do the farewell tour, playing a season of tournaments after announcing his intention to retire because Edberg advised him against it, as it becomes too much of a circus. He has also commented in the past he would retire at a tournament that is special to him, but it’s not necessarily the tournament you would assume. I wish Laver Cup was in the U.S. this year. Would go to see him play one last time.
Scoop Malinowski · August 2, 2022 at 2:49 pm
Bill, Federer said at Wimbledon he wants to play Wimbledon again, he is not retiring this year. He will play Wimbledon in 2023.
Cyndy · August 4, 2022 at 12:13 pm
Scoop Malinowski I didnāt know what āCapoeiraā was so it was nice to read your article that gave me a general idea on itā¦ very great of Djokovic to have started this new training that he is doing which I am sure will help him in future tournaments and slams going forwardā¦and,undoubtedly heās the greatest player that tennis has.. Iām still hopeful that he will be playing at the upcoming US Openā¦
Scoop Malinowski · August 4, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Cyndy, I talked with a S American coach last night about tennis and capoeira and he said he used it with Beatriz Haddad Maia in October. He said it “works well for the elasticity of the body and the focus of the mind.” And guess what… Haddad Maia is at her career best singles ranking now at 25 and her record on the year is 36-14 and she won her first two wta singles titles this year. In doubles she is also ranked 25 and has a 24-10 record for two more wta doubles titles. The capoeira clearly helps players play better tennis. I think we will see more players doing capoeira now that Novak has popularized it.
Cyndy · August 4, 2022 at 10:13 pm
Scoop Malinowskiā¦. If you have seen that Isner and Millman too have spoken up for Djokovics entry into the US Openā¦. Makes me wonder why not a word yet from Nadal or Federer to show solidarity and support!!! Hmmmmmā¦if either of the two as to just says a word to show their support the whole so called blind herd mentality will shift in an instantā¦right now there is silence though..
Scoop Malinowski · August 5, 2022 at 7:56 am
Cyndy, it’s disturbing that Fed and Rafa will not voice any support for Djokovic to play us open especially now that he’s agreed to be their laver cup teammate. federer and nadal are losing an awful lot of respect as human beings. their silence makes them look like pathetic cowardly backstabbers.
Cyndy · August 5, 2022 at 10:47 am
Exactly and very right you are Scoop Malinowski on the Laver Cup agreement that Djokovic has been included to play ā¦. Againā¦ makes me wonder why call them the Big Four (with Andy in the mix too) when none of them so called Big Four havenāt shown any US Open support for Djokovic. It really (as you rightly termed it!) makes them look like a bunch of pathetic cowardly backstabbersā¦.as Ivanesevic mentioned in his interviews that there is no real friendship among the tennis circle as compared to his time when there was a sense of genuine camaraderieā¦.too bad and too sad.
Scoop Malinowski · August 5, 2022 at 11:46 am
Cyndy, It’s a very bad look on Fed, Rafa and even Murray on how they all betrayed Novak in one way or another, it’s obvious if you pay attention but the crooked fake news agenda media won’t tell this story. Friendships in tennis are rare because of how competitive it is but I do know of some good friendships – Arias and Macpherson, McEnroe/Borg, Paire/Wawrinka, Nadal/M Lopez, Djokovic/Goran, Fritz/Paul/Opelka/McDonald, Graf/Stubbs, Hsieh/Mertens.
Cyndy · August 5, 2022 at 12:20 pm
āFriendsā who speak up for each other should a situation/issues ariseā¦for sure Scoop Malinowskiā¦..Iām also thinking Kokkinakis/Kyrgios duo (the AO Open when Kyrgios spoke up for Djokovic)ā¦ now if anyone from the Big Four would have the clout to speak upā¦ although thatās wishful thinking at this stage..
Scoop Malinowski · August 5, 2022 at 2:42 pm
Cyndy, yes Kokkinakis and Kyrgios have a super close great friendship, Kyrgios and Sock too are very friendly for years. Playing this week together in DC too. I think Djokovic should either cancel out of laver cup last minute or use the event as a way to expose those backstabbers, turn it into a big drama show with federer fans left gasping in horror )
Cyndy · August 6, 2022 at 3:17 am
Scoop Malinowski! I will surely be for that second option/choiceā¦. Too funny on the gasping in horror!!! (Ahhhhā¦. āthe horror, the horrorā)ā¦ā¦ā¦As it is well known whatever Djokovic does thereās always negativity and hate in peoples comments against him and they just use the vaccination excuse randomly and oh not to forget that famous one ārules are rulesā ā¦ like everyone is on a straight path hereā¦
Scoop Malinowski · August 6, 2022 at 7:39 am
Cyndy, why didn’t they respect the rules of Serbia during Adria Cup? Because it’s all about hating Djokovic and making an example of Djokovic. He’s being crucified like Jesus Christ. But I think he’s going to win.
Cyndy · August 6, 2022 at 11:07 am
Scoop Malinowskiā¦.. yes so trueā¦ from all that Iāve been reading up in the news it does seem that way and he just seems to take it all in his strideā¦. Did you see that latest spat with Racquet magazine and Jelena Djokovicā¦. She doesnāt get the nice treatment like the other two wives (Federer/Nadal) ā¦. And itās like they are just pushing her into a cornerā¦ itās good that she is brave enough to confront them and speak out for Djokovicā¦ just canāt understand the mentality of these people who trample and speak in a snidey (?) manner to a lady specially and what have you..
Scoop Malinowski · August 6, 2022 at 8:24 pm
Cyndy, I’m really convinced racquet magazine is a hired attack dog by tennis deep state to harass, attack and take cheap shots at Djokovic and now his wife. It’s really sick. The big question is who at atp made the decision to fund racquet magazine to the tune of close to a million. the primary objective of racquet magazine now seems to be an all out attack on Djokovic and prevent him from playing us open. the only ones with that motive would be federer and nadal and atp. it really makes no business sense for atp to give racquet so much money, it doesn’t promote the sport in the right way, all it does now is attack Djokovic.
Cyndy · August 6, 2022 at 11:11 pm
āthe only ones with that motiveā¦atp..ā, for sure Scoop Malinowskiā¦. Like that magazine just āwokeā up ā¦ as Mrs Djokovic rightfully told them to stick to their tennis news rather than this particular topic.. those with millions to spare dont mind going for an all out smear campaign to suit their conveniences and oh maintain that supposedly clean image tooā¦ā¦.hopefully next week brings us good news eh!
Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2022 at 6:59 am
If Federer is behind this smear campaign against Djokovic he is the worst villain in tennis history.
Cyndy · August 7, 2022 at 9:56 am
Oh golly gosh ā¦ yea that would really be breaking (bad)news isnāt it Scoop Malinowski as presently (even though he hasnāt played for two years) he still has that aura about him on maintaining a squeaky clean image and itās almost impossible to fault anything horrendous about itā¦ heās the perfect gentleman so to speak as we all know isnāt itā¦. Hmmmm the plot thickensā¦..
Cyndy · August 7, 2022 at 10:00 am
If you had watched the both of them chatting amiably as well as standing together at the Wimbledon championship during the presentation ceremony with all the greats presentā¦. Who would have thought rightā¦. Or was it all an actā¦.
Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2022 at 11:20 am
Cyndy, it’s like Hillary Bill and prominent democrats who sold their souls, they are untouchable no matter what horror stories about their past activities come to light, they are protected and defended no matter what, and those horror stories are ignored. Federer and Nadal seem to have the same protection.
Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2022 at 11:22 am
Obviously an act for the cameras and image. Federer still will not speak a word of support for Djokovic and I’d be shocked if he ever does. I don’t think Federer is capable of forgiving Djokovic for what he did to him at Wimbledon 2019 final. I think their relationship is symbolized by that Djokovic forehand at laver cup which hit his doubles partner federer in the back.
Cyndy · August 7, 2022 at 12:59 pm
Too darn horrible on the āprotectedā armoury propagandaā¦.