Sympathy: Novak Djokovic has revealed what sets Federer apart from many tennis stars
Novak Djokovic has revealed that he has benefited greatly from "watching" how Roger Federer plans his schedule to reach peak form at the top of his Grand Slam tournaments.
Federer is widely regarded as the first top tennis star to adopt a relatively easy schedule and give full priority to the top tournaments of the Grand Slams.
With this strategy, Federer was a huge success, winning 20 Grand Slam titles in his 24-year career at the age of 41, which ended in 2022.
Djokovic followed a similar strategy, which helped him reach a record 24 Grand Slam titles and remain at the top of his game at the age of 38.
Especially later in his career, Djokovic became less and less involved and more focused on his performance in the four Grand Slam tournaments.
In a podcast interview with Croatian football coach and former player Slavin Bilic, Djokovic spoke about his schedule strategy and pointed out that many players fail to prioritize Grand Slam tournaments.
Djokovic explains:
"For most of your career, when you're young, every event counts. Many people say that the Grand Slam is the most important thing, but in reality, they don't plan their lives and training according to the schedule to ensure that they are at their best and as full as possible in the Grand Slam. They didn't.
"Why? Maybe they don't believe they can go far in a Grand Slam tournament. It's normal that not everyone is fit to compete at the top level, but there's always a way to do it.
"Federer has helped me a lot in this regard, not directly, but indirectly. I watched how he planned his schedule and it taught me how to manage my form and when to rest – even if I didn't want to.
"I've made mistakes and didn't take a break when I should have taken a break, but most of the time, I made the right decision."
Djokovic also touched on this topic in an interview with ESPN reporter John McEnroe in 2023:
"He [Federer] was one of the first players to really take his schedule and preparation to the next level, so I was inspired to take notes with the team and take a lot from his schedule. I learned a lot by watching how he and his team worked. So thank you Roger. ”
Djokovic, as the "third man" of the "Big Three", has faced more difficulties in his career. These difficulties do not come from the game, nor just from the technical aspects, but more from the sidelines and fans. But Djokovic has always shown respect for Federer and Nadal, and at the same time created a tennis myth with his unwavering belief and perseverance. Even in the face of "embattled" sometimes, he remained steadfast and had the last laugh in the competition with Feiner.
On the other hand, he has always adhered to a humble attitude, but at the same time he has shown a strong spiritual world of his own. He has made more and more people let go of their prejudices and understand his ideals and pursuits, and at the same time moved by his selflessness and the kindness and dedication he has shown to the tennis world.
[Come and see me] [Zuoyi] [Send yourself a flower]
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