Novak Djokovic: A role model for upcoming tennis players

After overcoming another early scare in the final of the recently concluded Roland Garros, there is a lot for young tennis players to learn from Novak Djokovic.

The Serb found himself in trouble on Sunday. However, he fought back from two sets down to beat Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the French Open.

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He had suffered the same problem in the quarter-finals against Italian, Lorenzo Musetti, who had to retire from the game due to a stomach upset. Novak Djokovic didn’t make the same mistake against clay master, Rafa Nadal.

As Djokovic became the only player to have stopped the Spaniard on clay twice, many were expecting the number one ranked player to easily dispatch.

But Tsitsipas, who earned more match wins than anyone else on the ATP Tour in 2021, and who has enjoyed clay-court success with titles in Monte Carlo and Lyon gave Novak a run for his money.

Djokovic’s resilience was the answer

The question many have been asking is whether the younger generation can translate tour-level talent into success on the biggest stage of all. Djokovic answered that with resilience on the court.

Being a player who has mastered a five-set, the format is long and arduous on body and mind. Djokovic once again proves that he has the physical and mental ability to outlast even the most talented opponents.

Although, he felt the effects of the intense semi-final win over 13-time champion Nadal, he still pulled through. After looking weary and bothered by the bright Paris sun, Djokovic struggled on serve.

But Djokovic is not one to give up. It would have been foolish to write him off, having won five times in his career before facing Tsisipas. After a bathroom break before the third set, Djokovic changed the game and got back on track to win his 19th Grand Slam.

The turning point was the pressure of a fifth breakpoint when he took Tsitsipas’ serve for a 3-1 lead. As momentum suddenly shifted, Djokovic remained calm and his shots were precise as his rhythm returned. He was able to ease through the fourth set and that put him in control of the decider.

With another break early in the decider, he got the opportunity to serve out the championship. Surviving over four hours on the clock means is a clear lesson in resilience. Upcoming tennis players have a lot to learn from the 19-time Grand Slam winner.

This latest victory leaves Djokovic one grand slam title behind Rodger Federer and Rafa Nadal. Therefore, Wimbledon is looking like a very interesting prospect.