Novak Djokovic once again tops the men’s Grand Slam rankings with 22 major titles, tied with Rafael Nadal, thanks to his success at the Australian Open earlier this year.
But with a year less than his Spanish opponent, he seems to be in a better position to break and maintain the absolute record. In an interview with The National, the Serb understands the mentality that made basketball player LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers player, say: “I feel like the best basketball player who has ever played in this game. It’s just my confidence, it’s just what I bring to the table”.
Djokovic pointed to the number of athletes in their thirties and forties who are still at the top of their game in all sports, from Tom Brady to Serena Williams and Roger Federer, and confirmed: “Yes, I can relate to this because I believe that what has worked for me and still works for me is self-confidence and the level of trust, of course always balanced with respect for the opponent, the game, the appreciation of the time and what you are going through.”
“But I know when I’m ready, when I’m on the pitch, on any surface, against anyone, I’m better, I’m the best. And I don’t think there’s anything arrogant or pretentious about it. I see nothing wrong with that.”
“To be as hungry as a wolf”
At the same time, the world number one maintains he would be satisfied if he and Nadal finished their playing careers with the same number of Slams. Hard to believe it all the same as the Serb has always put his quest for a Grand Slam above everything else.
“I would like to have more than my biggest rival, but when that moment comes, when I have to draw a line and look at the history of my career and what I have achieved, even if I stop here and he wins another 10 Slams, I should be satisfied overall. There may be a small part of me that will regret not having had more than him, but in the end, how much is enough? You see what I mean ?” explained the main interested party.
“I also ask myself this question because it is a balancing act as a professional athlete, in a very demanding sport, with a very long season and a lot of opportunities. There are four Slam tournaments every year, so you have opportunities. Of course, you have to be competitive, you have to have this ferocity, the mental approach of a wolf in a way, to always be hungry, because that’s what drives you, at least in my case ”.
“But at the same time, there’s also time to put things in perspective and say to yourself, ok, wow, we’ve done a lot of things, you have to be proud, you have to be grateful for all these things, to be present and be humble. They are two types of personalities that you have to deal with and live with at the same time.”
Novak Djokovic returns to competition in Dubai next week, undefeated so far in 2023. Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, has not played since his elimination in the second round of the Australian Open, in three sets, against at Mackenzie McDonald. The Majorcan injured his iliac psoas on the left side during this meeting, which forced him to be away from the pitch for a minimum of ten to eight weeks.
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