Novak Djokovic just keeps raising the bar, doesn’t he? Whether it’s his jaw-dropping performance on the court or his astounding fitness—especially at an age when most athletes start to wind down—Djokovic continues to leave fans in awe. And now, he’s done it again, pulling off a Jean-Claude Van Damme-style split during training that has the sports world buzzing! And it didn’t take long for fellow sports legend Tom Brady to chime in, adding his voice to the chorus of amazement.

The Serbian Maestro has remained away from action for quite some time now and played his last tournament at the Shanghai Masters. He also decided to withdraw from the ATP Finals, due to unspecified injury issues. But now, he seems to be gearing back to action and the latest video is proof. In the footage that is now going viral on the internet, Nole can be seen performing a straddle split meditation on the court during a practice session. This, meanwhile, has surprised not just the tennis fans, but followers of other sports as well and Brady is the latest to join the fray. 

Responding to the video on Instagram, the 47-year-old wrote, “YESSSSSSS!!!!!,” signifying his exuberance over the flexibility and fitness of Nole. Interestingly, this flexibility depicted by the Serbian star quickly reminded fans of a similar meditation depicted in Van Damme’s 1988 movie Bloodsport where the now-54-year-old can be seen performing a similar straddle split meditation. The latest video also highlights Djokovic’s determination to bring a perfect balance between mind and body which he has spoken about on several occasions, including at the US Open this year. 

Djokovic baffled Radu Albot in his first match at the US Open in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. When quizzed about the secret to his fitness, Nole revealed that there is not just one mantra that determines his success. “The body is one part. The mentality and emotional, mental aspect is something on the other side. You’ve got to find the optimal balance between the two,” he said. And it seems that Djokovic has found this balance in his life as was evidenced by his quick recovery after he tore the medial meniscus in his right knee during the French Open. The 37-year-old surprised many in the community and quickly recuperated to not just return to courts in a couple of weeks, but also advance to the finals of the Wimbledon. 

Coming back to his latest footage, Novak Djokovic earlier revealed that his association with Yoga and Meditation is not new and helps him a great deal in his career. 

When Novak Djokovic revealed the reason behind performing yoga and meditation

Novak Djokovic is not just known for his remarkable skills but also for his fiery actions that he has demonstrated time and again. However, fans have witnessed him returning to a calm and composed state soon and taking on his opponents with determination. A major factor behind this attitude can be attributed to his practice of Yoga and Meditation, which Djokovic himself acknowledged earlier. 

In an interview with Amuse in 2018, Djokovic said, “I do [meditation and yoga] out of a need to have an optimal state of mind and peace and calm, and at the same time happiness and joy. Everybody has their ways to reach that state of consciousness where you’re in a good mood and you feel love towards yourself, towards people around you, towards the planet.” He also highlighted that it helped him overcome some tough phases of his life. 

“It was definitely not an easy period for me in the last seven to eight months. The results were not there in the big tournaments. But more than results, it was that lack of balance on the court emotionally,” he said back then. His latest video, meanwhile, has continued to depict the legacy that Novak Djokovic has maintained. It would be interesting to see if more such videos emerge, thereby inspiring budding players.