Novak Djokovic is wild about his inner game: ‘It’s a question of mind over chatter’

On the eve of the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic discusses wanting to recreate his 2023 form, life with two kids, and the mental side of the sport.

Novak Djokovic practises his tweener shots at Melbourne Park on Thursday as he prepares for the start of the Australian Open next week. Picture: AFP

In the tumultuous, record-­breaking, controversial world of Novak Djokovic, there has always been a sense of wanting to be the “cool one” – but this is next-level, entering absolute-zero territory.

On the eve of the Australian Open, the Serbian fantasised about being cryogenically frozen back in the Australian summer of 2023 – to be released now in the same blistering form as he was back then.

As Djokovic bids for a record-extending 25th grand slam title, the 37-year-old reminisced of that time on Rod Laver Arena when everything went right.

“I wish I can play always like I played in 2023 Australian Open where I was smacking every ball and was not missing a lot and won the whole tournament just dropping one set,” Djokovic said at the ASICS Tennis Summit at Kooyong Tennis Club on Thursday.

“Yeah, I want to freeze myself in that moment and it’s like in that movie (Demolition Man) when (the cryogenically frozen) Sylvester Stallone wakes up.

“But you can’t be frozen, you’re ever evolving … and I’m also a young parent of two wonderful children, and they trigger me as well a lot. So I have to be performing my best at home as well, and for my wife, which is of course ­another challenge, so all in all, it’s a really interesting life.”

Djokovic then laughed: “I am feeling a bit braver because my wife is not here.”

And it was his family, his wife Jelena and two children Stefan and Tara who were in the stands just a few months ago at the Paris Olympics when he delivered an extraordinary performance to beat 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz to win the men’s singles gold medal.

Djokovic likened the whole experience of winning Olympic gold with his family by his side as a “fairytale”.

Djokovic with coach Andy Murray. Picture: AFP

At Melbourne Park, Djokovic partners with a new coach – and former foe – in Andy Murray, and is on the same side of the draw as world No.3 Alcaraz, with the pair seemingly on a collision course to meet in the quarter-finals.

Djokovic also spoke about dealing with “pressure”, stating the key was having that ability to keep a focus on “the next move” rather than spiralling into despair.

“I feel like this is where the secret lies when it comes to the mental strength and capacities and abilities to really deal with pressure,” he said.

“I mean, there’s so many different factors and challenges that are involved in the one single match of a tennis player, because you are by yourself.”

He added: “I haven’t slept very well last night. My stomach felt a little bit strange. So this morning, I felt quite sluggish in the practice, but you kind of push through it … and because maybe you’re not getting what you want from your game in that practice, but you are getting those bonus points mentally that you’re kind of stacking on the side, that you can use as a reserve when it matters, because you prove to yourself you can over­come certain moments that seem very difficult to overcome in terms of a mental challenge.”

Despite all the injuries and pressure, Djokovic told fans he plays for the love of the sport and he says mental toughness is the key to longevity.

“I feel like it’s a constant battle within, and that’s why training yourself mentally and emotionally is as important as physically, because there’s no one that can replace you once things start to go south, right?” Djokovic said.

“And that’s why the sound mind, sound body analogy, really resonates with me. When you are feeling present in this moment, then you are able to get the most out of that moment.”