On Concentration, Fear, and Motivation

from 

Novak Djokovic, Tennis Champion

The game of tennis is as much mental as it is physical. 

Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player. (More on him at this link.)

His interview with the Financial Times was published in that newspaper on October 17, 2015. Here are some excerpts. 

They shed light on the mental aspect of the game and carry over to other parts of life.

(Blue font text has been copied verbatim from the article.)

On Concentration

So what does it feel like for him in the "clutch" moments, which have rather more at stake?

"The first thing is to make sure you are in the moment," he answers calmly. "That is much easier to say than to do. You have to exclude all distractions and focus only on what you are about to do. In order to get to that state of concentration, you need to have a lot of experience, and a lot of mental strength. You are not born with that. It is something that you have to build by yourself."

"If you can channel it the right way, fear will turn to strength."

On Fear

Did he ever actually feel fear on the court?

"Absolutely. Absolutely. Everyone feels fear. I don't trust a man who says he has no fear. But fear is like a passing cloud in the sky. After it passes, there is clear blue sky."

On Motivation

I [the interviewer] ask him how he keeps himself motivated.

"I can carry on playing at this level because I like hitting the tennis ball," he says simply. Are there players who don't, I ask? "Oh yes. There are people out there who don't have the right motivation.... You don't need to talk to them. I can see it. But I don't judge."

On his Record

His 10 Grand Slam career wins  put him seventh in the all-time list. At the age of 28, he is at the peak of his powers; in form, in demand, and in relentless pursuit of the two contemporary players who hold more titles than him: Rafael Nadal (14) and record holder Roger Federer (17). 

The thought occurs to me [the interviewer] that, rather than go down in history as the third man, he may actually transcend the archetypal qualities of both of his rivals: even more gracious than Federer, still steelier than Nadal.

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