TheOneAndOnly
02-27-2009, 08:12 AM
We're all talking about how good Nadal is, how good or bad Roger is or becoming.
What about Novak?
Novak's got the goods. If he'd just let his racket do the talking (rather than his mouth and head), like Sampras did, I think Novak can have a nice run at #1 for a good 2-3 Years.
He probably won't have the long streak like Roger because Novak's strokes are too limited. He doesn't have a 1 handed backhand, and his slice backhand looks a bit constrained. Whereas a 1-handed backhand (if a good one) can be much more versatile and can save a LOT of energy for a player.
Novak is young, and thus has lots of energy.
Nadal will probably be Novak's biggest obstacle. Why? Nadal's hunger to stay #1, and that's a big big obstacle. Also, Nadal just will not make mistakes.
Novak's got to 'bring the game to them' and start attacking more.
My main point here is that Novak's got the goods, but not such that it can carry him for 5 years as #1. I'd say about 2-3 years at #1.
However, unless Novak calms his mind, bites his tongue during inflammatory comments against him, or any mild or harsh mannered jokes towards him, his place as #3, #4, or #2 may be just that.
To become #1 AND SUSTAIN this position, a tennis player must be able to provide the goods and maintain a calm, quiet mind. Kinda like Borg. Kinda like Sampras.
This is important 'on' the court and 'off' the court, as long as the person is a professional tennis player.
In other words, Novak MUST let his racket do the talking, and start maturing up, not in the sense of immaturity and maturity from adolescence to adulthood, but simply 'maturing' in the game of tennis.
The #1 spot is not that that difficult to attain. Hewitt did it. Agassi did it. Mats Wilander did it. Stefan Edberg did it. Boris Becker did it. EVEN Patrick Rafter did it! But not for too long.
They are not Lendl. They are not McEnroe. They are not Borg. They are not Sampras.
Therefore, what's the prescription for Novak Djokovic?
ANSWER: Calm His Mind, and Keep His Mouth Closed EVEN IN THE MIDST of what he may think is UNJUST or UNFAIR.
What I mean by keeping his mouth closed is not in a literal sense. It basically means that he can, of course, air out his opinions, but if he does so, to do it in a well-mannered, quiet, calm, unnerved way -- definitely something opposite of his attitude at the US Open. Definitely not like that.
Novak can, therefore, be #1, but if he wants to sustain it for 2-3+ years, he must learn to quiet his mind, and start developing (or 'practicing') an air and attitude of calm and, of course, humility.
For Pride and Humility are enemies.
Just watch the post-match conferences, and interviews of him, as well as other players, and you'll know what I'm talking about: The traits of a champion by the way they are during these times.
What about Novak?
Novak's got the goods. If he'd just let his racket do the talking (rather than his mouth and head), like Sampras did, I think Novak can have a nice run at #1 for a good 2-3 Years.
He probably won't have the long streak like Roger because Novak's strokes are too limited. He doesn't have a 1 handed backhand, and his slice backhand looks a bit constrained. Whereas a 1-handed backhand (if a good one) can be much more versatile and can save a LOT of energy for a player.
Novak is young, and thus has lots of energy.
Nadal will probably be Novak's biggest obstacle. Why? Nadal's hunger to stay #1, and that's a big big obstacle. Also, Nadal just will not make mistakes.
Novak's got to 'bring the game to them' and start attacking more.
My main point here is that Novak's got the goods, but not such that it can carry him for 5 years as #1. I'd say about 2-3 years at #1.
However, unless Novak calms his mind, bites his tongue during inflammatory comments against him, or any mild or harsh mannered jokes towards him, his place as #3, #4, or #2 may be just that.
To become #1 AND SUSTAIN this position, a tennis player must be able to provide the goods and maintain a calm, quiet mind. Kinda like Borg. Kinda like Sampras.
This is important 'on' the court and 'off' the court, as long as the person is a professional tennis player.
In other words, Novak MUST let his racket do the talking, and start maturing up, not in the sense of immaturity and maturity from adolescence to adulthood, but simply 'maturing' in the game of tennis.
The #1 spot is not that that difficult to attain. Hewitt did it. Agassi did it. Mats Wilander did it. Stefan Edberg did it. Boris Becker did it. EVEN Patrick Rafter did it! But not for too long.
They are not Lendl. They are not McEnroe. They are not Borg. They are not Sampras.
Therefore, what's the prescription for Novak Djokovic?
ANSWER: Calm His Mind, and Keep His Mouth Closed EVEN IN THE MIDST of what he may think is UNJUST or UNFAIR.
What I mean by keeping his mouth closed is not in a literal sense. It basically means that he can, of course, air out his opinions, but if he does so, to do it in a well-mannered, quiet, calm, unnerved way -- definitely something opposite of his attitude at the US Open. Definitely not like that.
Novak can, therefore, be #1, but if he wants to sustain it for 2-3+ years, he must learn to quiet his mind, and start developing (or 'practicing') an air and attitude of calm and, of course, humility.
For Pride and Humility are enemies.
Just watch the post-match conferences, and interviews of him, as well as other players, and you'll know what I'm talking about: The traits of a champion by the way they are during these times.