Anyone who has watched Novak Djokovic successfully work his way through six rounds at the US Open knows that the world No.1 is employing every single ounce of his being as he continues his quest to achieve one of the most prestigious milestones that the sport of tennis has to offer.
The 34-year-old, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, has always been a student of the sport, as well as a student of life.
After he notched a gripping five-set victory over Alexander Zverev in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday to reach a record ninth US Open final and move one victory from becoming the first male player to win the Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969, Djokovic gave reporters a few kernels of insight into his manner of thinking. He referenced some of the sporting icons that he is using as inspiration in New York, and detailed his unique mental approach to chasing a tennis record that has been virtually untouchable for the last 50 years.
After locking down his 27th consecutive Grand Slam victory of 2021, Djokovic told reporters about his decision to leave the talking to pundits. There’s a logical explanation for that, he says. Djokovic says he was paying close attention in 2015 when Serena Williams came within two victories of claiming the Grand Slam, and based on what he witnessed, and the conversations he had with the 23-time major champion, he learned first-hand that there is an altogether different level of pressure that comes with the territory.
“I was talking to Serena,” Djokovic said of the 2015 US Open. “She was very emotional about everything that was going on. I can relate to what she's been going through right now. I understand it now. Obviously, once you're in that situation, you can really comprehend what a player goes through.”
Djokovic tucked that experience in his pocket at the time, but now he is drawing from his interaction with the American legend as he plots his own path to the Slam.
“I understand why she wanted to avoid all the questions about it because at the end of the day, you have to go out on the court and deliver,” he said.
“You're expected to always win. For a great legend that she is, she always has that expectation from everyone, including herself. It's no different with me. We all have different formulas that work for us in terms of how we want to feel on the court, how we prepare ourselves, how we recuperate.”
Watch: Djokovic's Post-Semifinal Press Conference
Djokovic has been forthcoming with the press, while at the same time admitting that he would prefer not to talk too much about the Grand Slam. Just like he controls the run of play on the tennis court, he is steering the conversation in the pressroom, ending points, as they say, on his terms.
He assured reporters that there will be plenty of time to talk about the Grand Slam after Sunday’s final against Daniil Medvedev. In the meantime, there is nothing to celebrate.
Djokovic also spoke about another memory that struck him, of watching a press conference that the late Kobe Bryant gave during the 2009 NBA Finals, when his Los Angeles Lakers led the Orlando Magic two games to none.
A reporter asked Bryant if he was happy, and he famously replied: “What’s there to be happy about? Job’s not finished.”
The now-viral clip from Bryant made a big impression on the Serbian star.
“He's been someone, probably millions of athletes and people around the world have been looking up to him, admiring him,” Djokovic said. “That's the kind of an attitude I have. Job is not done.
“Excitement is there. Motivation is there, without a doubt. Probably more than ever. But I have one more to go.”
Watch: Final Preview
