Novak Djokovic has always been one to push the boundaries of what is humanly possible but rarely has the 24-Grand Slam champion been so open about wanting to freeze time.
“I wish I can play always like I played in 2023 Australian Open where I was smacking every ball and was not missing a lot and won the whole tournament just dropping one set,” Djokovic said at the ASICS Tennis Summit at Kooyong Tennis Club, which coincided with the release of their latest Solution Speed FF 3 shoe.
“Yeah, I want to freeze myself in that moment and it’s like in that movie (Demolition Man) when (the cryogenically frozen) Sylvester Stallone wakes up.
“But you can’t be frozen, you’re ever evolving … and I’m also a young parent of two wonderful children, and they trigger me as well a lot. So I have to be performing my best at home as well, and for my wife, which is of course another challenge, so all in all, it’s a really interesting life.”
Djokovic, speaking in front of a packed audience hanging off every one of his words, was of course being playful at the end of his keynote speech.
“I am feeling a bit braver because my wife is not here,” he quipped.
Novak Djokovic was the keynote speaker at the ASICS Tennis Summit at Kooyong Tennis Club. Photo: ASICS
But as Djokovic moves deep into the twilight of his career, the 37-year-old, who is aiming for his 11th Australian Open crown that would elevate him into unchartered territory ahead of Margaret Court, gave a unique insight into his extraordinary mindset that saw him overtake Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as the game’s most successful player.
“I feel like this is where the secret lies when it comes to the mental strength and capacities and abilities to really deal with pressure,” he said.
“I mean, there’s so many different factors and challenges that are involved in the one single match of a tennis player, because you are by yourself.”
He added: “I haven’t slept very well last night. My stomach felt a little bit strange. So this morning, I felt quite sluggish in the practice, but you kind of push through it … and because maybe you’re not getting what you want from your game in that practice, but you are getting those bonus points mentally that you’re kind of stacking on the side, that you can use as a reserve when it matters, because you prove to yourself you can overcome certain moments that seem very difficult to overcome in terms of a mental challenge.”
After Nadal and Andy Murray put away the racquets late last year once and for all, Djokovic is the last remaining member of the big four still on the circuit.
It could explain why Djokovic turned to Murray – one of his fiercest rivals over the past 15 years – to jump on board as his new coach, as the Serbian great looks to snap his first season without a Grand Slam since 2017 immediately.
“I think that his unique perspective on my game is the fact that he has played me for 25 years,” Djokovic added on Friday.
“He knows the evolution of my game, I guess the weaknesses and strengths of my game.”
Novak Djokovic with his fellow ASICS ambassadors at Kooyong Tennis Club at the ASICS Tennis Summit in Melbourne. Photo: ASICS
Djokovic, who lost in straight sets to big-hitting American Reilly Opelka in the quarter-final of the Brisbane International last week, will take on a confident young opponent in Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round. Carlos Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam winner, stands to meet Djokovic in a blockbuster quarter-final.
Although Jannik Sinner is the tournament favourite after his breakout 2024 campaign, which included dismantling Djokovic in last year’s Australian Open semi-finals on his way to his maiden Grand Slam triumph, you’d be a brave person to write off the Serb.
“I feel like it’s a constant battle within, and that’s why training yourself mentally and emotionally is as important as physically, because there’s no one that can replace you once things start to go south, right?” Djokovic said.
“And that’s why the [ASICS] sound mind, sound body analogy, really resonates with me. When you are feeling present in this moment, then you are able to get the most out of that moment.”
Novak Djokovic celebrates winning the Olympic men’s singles gold medal. (Photo by Marijan Murat/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Djokovic, who joined Nadal and Andre Agassi by becoming just the third player to create a career golden slam after winning his first Olympic gold medal by beating Alcaraz in Paris last August, described the feat as his greatest accomplishment in his decorated career.
“Probably the highlight of my career, what I experienced in Paris last year,” Djokovic told fans at the ASICS Tennis Summit in Melbourne.
“Under the circumstances also of having surgery not long before that of the knee and coming back (with) really getting the highest possible motivation and inspiration for myself to represent my country and to really have a shot at gold.
“And it happened in almost a kind of a movie-like scenario for me really, having my wife and my kids with me and just incredible support atmosphere.
“The Olympic Games are unlike any other sports event.
“Most important, historic sports event. Happens every four years, so the opportunity is very rare.
“So it was just a wonderful fairytale.”