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via Reuters
Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Italian Open – Foro Italico, Rome, Italy – May 16, 2021 Spain’s Rafael Nadal shakes hands with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic after winning the final REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
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via Reuters
Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Italian Open – Foro Italico, Rome, Italy – May 16, 2021 Spain’s Rafael Nadal shakes hands with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic after winning the final REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
The current world No.1 Novak Djokovic is one of the most celebrated names in the tennis world. The Serbian international has won almost all the major trophies and is still hungry for more. Djokovic is now fighting it out in the French Open, hoping to clinch another Grand Slam title. But it won’t be easy for him, as the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, is still a big roadblock on the way to the French Open title.
While Novak will face the Italian wonder kid Lorenzo Musetti in Round 4 of Roland-Garros, Rafa will face another Italian sensation, Jannik Sinner.
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Novak Djokovic calls himself a student of the game
During a recent interview, Novak Djokovic was asked about learning from Nadal, the master of clay. The Serb was quick to admit that he is a student of this sport, and his successful career doesn’t stop him from wanting to keep learning.
He said even though he observes and learns from other players, it does not hamper the authentic style he has developed over the years.
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via Reuters
Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Italian Open – Foro Italico, Rome, Italy – May 16, 2021. Spain’s Rafael Nadal shakes hands with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic after winning the final REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Djokovic also revealed that one can always learn something from a player like Nadal.
“I have my own authentic style I have developed over the years, but definitely when you watch him play, particularly on clay, there is always something that you can learn from.”
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Keeping an open mind
Despite being a legend in the sport, Nole keeps an open mind while watching other players. This helps him to analyze the sport much more, which can help better his overall game.
“Sometimes just watching videos of random players and random matches can trigger something in you that you can see, that you can observe, that you can implement later on in your game. So I try to have an open mind always when I watch tennis.”
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via Reuters
Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Italian Open – Foro Italico, Rome, Italy – May 16, 2021. Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action during his final match against Spain’s Rafael Nadal REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Djokovic’s approach to learning just goes to show his dedication as a tennis player. His successful career and his vast match experience have not become an arrogant hindrance for his learning process that helps him evolve and remain one of the best in the game.
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