Novak's 'Impossible' Achievements...

Novak Djokovic...the greatest men's Grand Slam champion of all time.

In the end, I guess because we've grown accustomed over the years to epic Slam finals featuring 2 of the big 3, this one seemed like a slight anti-climax. Here's hoping that Alcaraz can get his cramp issues sorted so we can see some Djokovic-Alcaraz slam battles go the distance before Djokovic retires!

But as I reflect on Djoker's tournament, 2 things stand out...

One perhaps the most amazing stat I've ever seen, and one a reflection on Djokovic's genius.

1.) First the Statistic

When I saw it I couldn't quite believe my eyes... As I scrolled through my Instagram feed there it was. An image showing that in 56 tie-break points throughout his historic French Open run, Novak had not made a single unforced error!

Considering many of the points that he played in those breakers it really does seem impossible. In total he won a brain snapping 42 of 56 tie break points (75%). Incredible!

2.) You Just Never Know When They're Going to Break...

For me, the all important moment in Djokovic's tournament came at the end of the second set against Alcaraz.

As I watched, I thought it was very bad news for Djokovic. He had been playing incredible tennis, Alcaraz had started nervously, yet Alcaraz was about to even the match... I was convinced that Alcaraz was going to win.

I imagine at that very moment Djokovic was also concerned he wasn't going to be able to win the match...

Yet if I imagine what was happening in Alcaraz's mind in that very same moment it would have been something like this: "I'm in trouble here, I'm starting to cramp, there's no way I can beat Novak with cramps." Both players at the end of the second set would have been experiencing difficult mental conversations. Djokovic concerned he was in trouble...and Alcaraz convinced he was in trouble.

And this goes to demonstrate a vital lesson...

As we compete, it's so easy to get caught up in the conversations of our own mind which are often unhelpful, that we fail to look down the other end and consider one of the most important truths it tennis...

'You never know when the opponent is about to physically or mentally (or both) break'.

And so one huge key is to simply try to make it as tough as possible on the opponent for the next point...

And when Novak enters his tie-break Lockdown mode, that's exactly what he is doing :-)

I hope you enjoyed the tournament!