Novak Djokovic kisses his medal after winning the Men's Singles event at the Paris 2024 Olympics Victory Ceremony. (REUTERS)
“I may burst, I scream on the court, whatever happens. And then I’m able to bounce back and reset,” said Novak Djokovic.
“I might appear locked in, but trust me, there’s a storm inside. The biggest battle always is within,” said tennis champion Novak Djokovic in an interview with Vala Afshar. When asked about how he trains his mind for discipline, focus, and success, Djokovic said it isn’t just a gift he’s blessed with; it comes with a fair amount of hard work.
Revealing one of his go-to techniques, Djokovic said, “Conscious breathing is a big part, especially in the moments when you’re under tension.”
In a conversation with counseling psychologist Srishti Vatsa, indianexpress.com explored how this technique can help with regulation of emotions.
Vatsa explained that conscious breathing is the mindful practice of being lightly aware of the breath entering and exiting the body. “This technique is often practised when one is experiencing anxiety or faced with a challenging situation, where the mind perceives a potential threat,” she said.
According to her, there are various somatic breathing techniques that can help ground oneself, and conscious breathing helps one bring their “mind back” and focus on the present, establishing a “mind-body connection”.
Revealing the second technique, Djokovic said, “I may burst, I scream on the court, whatever happens. And then I’m able to bounce back and reset. The difference, I guess, between the guys who are able to be the biggest champions and the ones that are struggling to get to the highest level, is the ability to not stay in those emotions for too long. So for me, it’s really relatively short. As soon as I experience it, I acknowledge it.”
Vatsa noted that the tennis star is talking about acknowledging the emotion, anger or frustration in this case, physically venting it with a loud shout, resetting, and continuing. “The point is he is acknowledging it, venting, and letting go, which is a valid expression of one’s feelings and does not indicate anything destructive,” she said.
According to Vatsa, anger is a universal human emotion. However, she stressed on the importance of striking a balance between expressing and suppressing feelings, making emotional regulation key. “You can’t talk yourself out of your emotions, and regulating your emotions comes with practice,” she said.
“While it’s a natural reaction to frustration, acting it out can have significant consequences, such as damaging racquets, etc. In the context of tennis, where focus and calm are paramount, anger can be a hindrance,” she explained. “Anger and frustration can have ripple effects in our personal relationships, and to maintain healthy interpersonal dynamics, it is an integral skill to learn,” Vatsa said.
