Kralingen
Talk Tennis Guru
Mental strength, or lack thereof, is an elusive phrase to define, especially here where it’s used so heavily to explain wins and losses. Is it tactics? Being able to execute under any condition? Intelligence? Or, most commonly explained, is mental strength simply a synonym for self-confidence?
Observing the reactions of Djokovic/Nadal compared to their fans this FO has perfectly illustrated just what an outlier their mental strength is and why they are all time greats.
Flashback to the ides of May, when Rafa’s #21 was a constant subject of conversation and even most Djokovic fans wrote resigned comments about low expectations and an unbeatable Nadal. In the early rounds I even saw some say Djokovic should tank against Berrettini to avoid spoiling H2H, or after 2-0 vs Musetti he should focus on Wimbledon instead.
These aren’t nerves before a match, they’re avoidance techniques, negativity about an outcome in advance to lessen its blow. The same came from Nadal fans, most notably Mr. “Djokovic Open” using extreme avoidance techniques - although their player barely dropped a set, some were already a bundle of nerves manifesting in their posts.
As for Djokovic fans pre match, most gave him only a puncher’s chance and even then qualified this confidence with “Nadal will still win”.
I realized this disconnect most heavily after the Berrettini post match, no Djokovic fans were celebrating anywhere near the extent that Djokovic himself was. We laughed at his roaring but in general no fan matched the enthusiasm or effusion in victory of their favorite player, which seems unusual and rare. How are fans less excited than the player? “Doing all that just to lose” was the most common reaction.
The driving factor, of course was the mental and physical giant Nadal looming who had been beaten on Roland Garros fewer times than US presidential elections have been held in the past 16 years.
The match itself unfolded exactly like last year only entrenching this doubt. Go re-read the match thread at 5-0 and you’ll find not one post saying “Djokovic will still win” - pretty much all accepted it was over including me. In the world at that time, only one person actually believed Djokovic would win the next 3 sets, (outside of StrongRule) and he was holding a racket in a red polo on Phillippe Chatrier. The match unfolded with increasing intensity, and even I just hoping for a close match was pacing and unable to keep my nerves. Fans, former players, and commentators were emotionally fried by the 2nd set. Neither player flinched for really the entire match and kept their focus entirely on the next point.
I thought about myself, anxiety, all the things I’ve chickened out of doing and saying, then about all of you who I’m sure are calm and sensible in 99% of your IRL life but were emotional wrecks simply watching someone else swing a racket.
This is when it all clicked - with the celebration against Berrettini especially. Djokovic released this huge tension not as about beating Berrettini, but that he avoided a 5th set and so would be physically ready to play Nadal. Even though Nadal has a 7-1 record here and bagelled him just 8 months ago, Djokovic relished the chance that much to go into the Lion’s Den and beat Nadal. While his supporters were worried about clay skewing H2H he provided all the belief himself.
Not all players always approach tennis positively. They are realistic and understand beating Nadal on Chatrier is nigh impossible - Schwartzman who is a top 5 clay courter said he would do anything to avoid Nadal on clay. The Djokovic mindset of positivity and belief in the face of nothing but doubt is what separates him from others, and him from us. Even after taking the 3rd set, Nadal was still the favorite to us. To have supreme belief in your tactics, plan, and to trust fate either way is the highest order of mentality which both players demonstrate daily. This is why both are so consistent execution wise, they trust their shots as the best possible play and live with the results.
What was most amazing and telling about their mental strength is how they responded after what was surely an emotional haymaker. Neither too high neither too low, both giving composed and honest answers in 3+ languages while focusing on hydrating and physical recovery. I was a loopy mess for a good 20 minutes talking about the match, and they composed themselves to find equilibrium easily. This is the upper echelon of mentality, of self belief and trust in a higher plan which few, even successful tennis players, have ever shown. Hats off to them, they show their true greatness when compared to mere mortals like us.
Observing the reactions of Djokovic/Nadal compared to their fans this FO has perfectly illustrated just what an outlier their mental strength is and why they are all time greats.
Flashback to the ides of May, when Rafa’s #21 was a constant subject of conversation and even most Djokovic fans wrote resigned comments about low expectations and an unbeatable Nadal. In the early rounds I even saw some say Djokovic should tank against Berrettini to avoid spoiling H2H, or after 2-0 vs Musetti he should focus on Wimbledon instead.
These aren’t nerves before a match, they’re avoidance techniques, negativity about an outcome in advance to lessen its blow. The same came from Nadal fans, most notably Mr. “Djokovic Open” using extreme avoidance techniques - although their player barely dropped a set, some were already a bundle of nerves manifesting in their posts.
As for Djokovic fans pre match, most gave him only a puncher’s chance and even then qualified this confidence with “Nadal will still win”.
I realized this disconnect most heavily after the Berrettini post match, no Djokovic fans were celebrating anywhere near the extent that Djokovic himself was. We laughed at his roaring but in general no fan matched the enthusiasm or effusion in victory of their favorite player, which seems unusual and rare. How are fans less excited than the player? “Doing all that just to lose” was the most common reaction.
The driving factor, of course was the mental and physical giant Nadal looming who had been beaten on Roland Garros fewer times than US presidential elections have been held in the past 16 years.
The match itself unfolded exactly like last year only entrenching this doubt. Go re-read the match thread at 5-0 and you’ll find not one post saying “Djokovic will still win” - pretty much all accepted it was over including me. In the world at that time, only one person actually believed Djokovic would win the next 3 sets, (outside of StrongRule) and he was holding a racket in a red polo on Phillippe Chatrier. The match unfolded with increasing intensity, and even I just hoping for a close match was pacing and unable to keep my nerves. Fans, former players, and commentators were emotionally fried by the 2nd set. Neither player flinched for really the entire match and kept their focus entirely on the next point.
I thought about myself, anxiety, all the things I’ve chickened out of doing and saying, then about all of you who I’m sure are calm and sensible in 99% of your IRL life but were emotional wrecks simply watching someone else swing a racket.
This is when it all clicked - with the celebration against Berrettini especially. Djokovic released this huge tension not as about beating Berrettini, but that he avoided a 5th set and so would be physically ready to play Nadal. Even though Nadal has a 7-1 record here and bagelled him just 8 months ago, Djokovic relished the chance that much to go into the Lion’s Den and beat Nadal. While his supporters were worried about clay skewing H2H he provided all the belief himself.
Not all players always approach tennis positively. They are realistic and understand beating Nadal on Chatrier is nigh impossible - Schwartzman who is a top 5 clay courter said he would do anything to avoid Nadal on clay. The Djokovic mindset of positivity and belief in the face of nothing but doubt is what separates him from others, and him from us. Even after taking the 3rd set, Nadal was still the favorite to us. To have supreme belief in your tactics, plan, and to trust fate either way is the highest order of mentality which both players demonstrate daily. This is why both are so consistent execution wise, they trust their shots as the best possible play and live with the results.
What was most amazing and telling about their mental strength is how they responded after what was surely an emotional haymaker. Neither too high neither too low, both giving composed and honest answers in 3+ languages while focusing on hydrating and physical recovery. I was a loopy mess for a good 20 minutes talking about the match, and they composed themselves to find equilibrium easily. This is the upper echelon of mentality, of self belief and trust in a higher plan which few, even successful tennis players, have ever shown. Hats off to them, they show their true greatness when compared to mere mortals like us.
