The Tennis Psychology Blog
Today's Tennis Psychology blog comes as Novak Djokovic defeats Roger Federer in the Australian Open semi-final.
Tennis Psychology: Novak Djokovic - No Fear!
So Novak Djokovic is through to the final of the Australian Open. The Serbian, immense in his defeat of Roger Federer. Immense in his shot-making. Immense in his mentality. For in defeating Roger Federer, you don't just have to beat him physically. You have to beat him mentally. In your own mind.
Federer has come through so many games, when his opponent has not got to grips with the possibility of beating him. Opponents consumed by fear. Consumed by the uncertainty of whether they were really good enough to beat the greatest player to ever play the game.
And that is what made Djokovic's tennis psychology performance special. He showed no fear of Federer. No fear of his legend. No fear of reputation.
At a stroke he removed one of Federer's secret weapons. For by removing the smokescreen of fear, Djokovic was able to see right into Federer's eyes. Right into his game. And there he saw nothing to fear. For he knew he had the measure of Federer this day. And Federer's iconic status was not going to save him.
Fear is a powerful weapon that many great champions have going for them. The fear that exists in the mind of their opponents. The fear that their legend creates. But Novak Djokovic had no such fear. Only a total belief in himself, And his game. Pure tennis psychology.
And with it, he may have broken Federer's spell. The tour's young gunslingers now know that Federer can be beaten in a big Grand Slam match. And that knowledge is powerful currency in the mind-games of top level tennis.
