Novak Djokovic shared his philosophy of life and addressed personal vulnerabilities in a wide-ranging conversation with CBS’s John Worthheim.
“I was fortunate to have several primes during my career. 2011 was the first best year where I had a run of over 40 matches won without any loss,” said the 36-year-old, who is in yet another one of his “primes.” He is currently top-ranked by the Association of Tennis Professionals in men’s singles.
Djokovic views challenges as stepping stones, not obstacles. That way of thinking contributes to resilience and adaptability, two characteristics displayed during his illustrious career. “Mentally, I’m stronger now than I was ten years ago. I think I was slightly faster ten years ago, but I’m probably able to play smarter today,” he told Worthheim.
With a record 24 Grand Slam men’s singles titles–including a record ten Australian Open titles–the Serbian tennis maestro talked about managing the intense, high-pressure environment of professional tennis. Responding successfully requires continuing personal development, mental fitness, and rising to meet the game’s physical challenges.
“It’s normal to experience doubts and fears, and whoever says, ‘I have no fear,’ is lying. I feel it every single match. It is important to acknowledge and accept what is happening inside of you, but not let that carry you too much astray,” said Djokovic.
