Novak Djokovic was first taught by a woman. He emerged out of war-stricken Serbia, did hilarious imitations and practices a gluten-free diet.
More recently, he has worked with a Spanish teacher, Pepe Imaz, and is meditating, looking within and seeking deeper values. That’s a big ask for a guy who is always competing and always in the spotlight.
On the eve of Wimbledon, Inside Tennis and one other media outlet asked him to open up about his inner journey. He did.
Q: You’ve talked openly about finding a new balance and not depending so much on results on court. Do you think you have been progressing on this over the past few weeks?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It’s not a process that’s only lasted the last few weeks, it’s lasting a whole lifetime. It’s a constant evolution. When things are going your way – in this case in a professional tennis career, [I mean] I was winning constantly and being dominant in the tennis world – you are happy and are content and…you feel everything is kind of revolving around tennis. But some other things are suffering during that time.
So, I guess, it’s always figuring out what is the right balance so that you are satisfied with yourself and everything that you do.
I used to base all my happiness on winning a tennis match and I think many athletes today are doing that. [But] I don’t try to make that as essential, you know, [for it to be the] moment in my life which determines my happiness.
It’s a different approach, but I’m still here and I’m still motivated, I still keep on going. I’m still glad to [have this] kind of experience [and] whatever professional tennis has for me.
Q: I think it’s fair to say that throughout your career you have been known as a pioneer, someone willing to take sensible risks. Now you’re on a journey here to try and win the Wimbledon trophy. And you’re also on another journey, which some people would say is intriguing and self-empowering. Talk about the process of an elite athlete trying to go inward, [and trying to] focus on the inner self. You’ve also said through this work you get to focus on the emotions and thoughts you wish to dwell on.
DJOKOVIC: Well, thank you for the question, but it’s kind of hard to simplify that and to say even though life in general is simple…[But] in my opinion, people try to complicate it.
But it’s hard in professional sport to go through that kind of process. Because sport is one of the fields of life where there are many [values], characteristics, features and virtues [of life] that are presented to people in the best possible way. That’s why people relate to athletes and what they do, because of the sacrifice, because of the fight, because there is no way around it. Basically you have to earn the respect and earn the trophies and success by yourself, especially in tennis.
But it seems to me that, especially nowadays, everything is observed though the lens of material success – who lifts more trophies, gets more respect, more fame, more money, and a better status in society.
It’s hard…[with] this set of values, to go through that kind of process. But for me, it’s equally important, even more important to take care of myself, as a human being. What goes around off the court, as well.
In the process, I believe that that’s going to positively affect my own tennis career, as well.
Q: Do you think that empowers you?
DJOKOVIC: Of course, it does.
