Novak Djokovic has been advised that he has an uncommon edge over his rivals that enables him to take issues to a different degree. Mark Philippoussis counseled the world No 1’s devoted method which included what he ate, what he did earlier than matches and “his stretching”.
Djokovic made historical past this 12 months when he turned the primary participant within the Open Period to win a twenty fourth Grand Slam. Rafael Nadal was the lads’s singles file holder when it got here to Main titles going into 2023, having 22 trophies to his identify.
However his long-time rival managed to match and surpass him as a part of a dominant season. The world No 1 has misplaced simply 5 matches to this point in 2023 and he additionally managed to degree his lifetime head-to-head file towards Alcaraz at 2-2, profitable two of the three matches they performed this 12 months.
And Philippoussis believes that stretching might be a part of the explanation why Djokovic has an edge over his rivals each previous and current. “As extremely skilled as you’ve seen Rafa be or [Roger] Federer, the place they’re competing and ensuring that they’re going into grand slams mentally and bodily the fittest, Djokovic (has) taken that to a degree and it’s simply superb,” the Australian advised Neos Kosmos.
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With Djokovic already holding a number of information – Open Period Grand Slam titles, most Masters 1000s and all time weeks at world No 1 – Philippoussis admired his method to maintain enhancing each facet of his sport and his physique. The previous world No 8 continued: “It’s important to eat, breathe and sleep tennis to be profitable a number of Grand Slams.
“Not solely has he received 24, which is a loopy quantity, he’s nonetheless persevering with to see the place he can enhance. Like, the place can he get his one per cent right here, one per cent there. Is it on the consuming, which we all know he does every part on the consuming facet.
“What he places into his physique, what he does earlier than the match, the way in which he warms up, his stretching. He seems at one per cent, all over the place, as a result of that counts within the Grand Slams.” Philippoussis is already backing Djokovic to win January’s Australian Open because of his professionalism.
