“There is no such number,” Novak Djokovic comments on his Grand Slam titles goal and being inspired by Kobe Bryant
Novak Djokovic makes his Grand Slam titles ambition clear while remembering dear friend Kobe Bryant for his training regime.
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Kobe Bryant and Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is the winner of 22 Grand Slam singles titles. It is the joint-highest trophy cabinet on the ATP Tour while being the third joint-highest in the history of tennis. While many just dream of winning one, Djokovic is still not satisfied with 22 of his. Another Major and he can go past Rafael Nadal in the race.
Serena Williams with her 23 titles in the Open Era and Margaret Court’s 24 combined in the Amateur and Open Era are the only two ahead of Djokovic. As three more Majors remain for the season, Djokovic was asked what the ideal number for the current World No. 1 and the answer was that of a hungry champion.
“There is no such number. I don’t have an end number or a limit to the years until I will play tennis, although people automatically start asking after the age of 30 when it’s over. Federer, Nadal, and I were the ones who faced these questions the most. However, for sure is that this hunger is present, and I would describe it more as a passion for sports and competition.
“I love this sport, I like to play with my children and anyone recreationally, so it’s not that I feel an aversion to sports because it takes so much of my life. In professional tennis, I have a huge desire to prove myself and to continue recording historic results, and I have always said that clearly. To some, it is arrogant and pretentious, but I really feel that way and everyone who is in such a position wants to achieve such results,” said Djokovic speaking in his press conference in Belgrade.
Kobe Bryant continues to inspire Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic has worked a lot towards maintaining fitness. Even at the age of 35, he was able to win the 2023 Australian Open nursing a hamstring injury. Djokovic underwent a massive change in his fitness routine in the early 2010s and is on a vegan diet for a long time. Apart from this, the burning desire to compete and practice has seen Djokovic perform wonders on the court and he drew comparisons to Kobe Bryant.
“What message to send? I try to be directed toward the current challenge as much as possible because it keeps bringing me back to the past or sending me to the future. I am looking at how to win the first next trophy, which is Dubai. Of course, there is a long-term plan, we often think up to six months in advance because it also affects short-term goals, but I focus most of my energy on the next challenge first, and I think that this has largely contributed to the results I have achieved.
“This also applies to training, which I approach as well as matches. And it’s not easy with me because I know how to ask a lot from my team, but that intensity is also needed in matches and is recognizable as with, say, Kobe Bryant. It’s a mentality of a positive obsession with sports and everything that sports entails.
“I believe in that approach because it has proven to be good and I will continue to do so. I don’t have any pressure, I’ve always been myself and I’m glad because I feel freedom. This is what is the basis for further playing sports at this level,” said Djokovic further.
Djokovic confirmed his plans to return to action in Dubai where he made his season debut last year. With doubts over his chances in Indian Wells and Miami, he will look to win as many points as possible given Carlos Alcaraz is back on track in the race for the World No. 1 rank.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)