By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, June 11, 2023
Peaking in Paris inspires Novak Djokovic to scale another major summit in the sport.
Moments after Djokovic conquered Casper Ruud 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 in the Roland Garros final today to capture his men’s record 23 major championship, he shared his goal for the rest of the season: win the calendar Grand Slam.
More: Djokovic Conquers Cramping Alcaraz for 34th Major Final
The man who owns three of the four major titles is aiming to make more massive history and become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar Grand Slam.
If Djokovic completes the calendar Slam it would also propel him past Margaret Court as the undisputed Grand Slam ruler with 25 major championships.
“I keep growing and I look forward to the next Grand Slam already.,” Djokovic told NBC’s Maria Taylor moments after winning his third French Open championship to become the oldest men’s singles champion in Roland Garros history.
“Definitely Wimbledon and the US Open are the two big ones the rest of this season that I really want to do well.
“Of course, when you are on a high when you are feeling invincible on the Grand Slam courts you want to keep going, you want to carry that run. No one is invincible, of course, but the more you win the more confident you feel.
“I want to carry this into London. I won the last four Wimbledons in a row, so I look forward to more competitions, but I’ll enjoy it first.”
Two years ago, Djokovic nearly pulled off the improbable coming within one win of the 2021 calendar Grand Slam until Daniil Medvedev defeated a depleted Djokovic in the 2021 US Open final.
“Mamba Mentality, Kobe Bryant.”
Novak Djokovic shares what was going through his mind before today’s final at #RolandGarros. pic.twitter.com/nIRUb7O58S
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 11, 2023
Every elite champion has a vision and Djokovic said he prepared for today’s final tuning into the mantra of his former mentor, the late, Lakers star Kobe Bryant envisioning this historic victory before realizing it.
“Mamba mentality—Kobe Bryant—you know it’s going to happen already before it actually happens,” Djokovic told NBC’s Maria Taylor. “So I truly believe in that power and mental power, projecting your thoughts and creating your future.
“Easy to talk now but I was really, really believing to my core that I can achieve these limits, actually there are no limits.”
“One GOAT to another.” 🐐
Tom Brady and Novak Djokovic shared a moment after @DjokerNole won his historic 23rd Grand Slam title. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/TTs5orc2cq
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 11, 2023
From Boris Becker to Pete Sampras to Andre Agassi to Goran Ivanisevic to NFL legend Tom Brady, Djokovic has spent time picking the brains of champions in all sports and selectively applying what he’s learned to his career. Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, a big Djokovic fan, sat in the front row of Court Philippe Chatrier cheering the Serbian on in his semifinal conquest of Carlos Alcaraz.
This is the second time Djokovic has cited Kobe Bryant’s influence on his mindset in a major run.
At the 2020 Australian Open final, Djokovic wore a “KB” logo along with the numbers 8 and 24 on his green warm-up jacket to honor his departed mentor, Bryant, and went on to defeat Dominic Thiem for his eighth AO championship.
My heart truly mourns over the news today. Kobe was a great mentor and friend to me. You and your daughter will live forever in our hearts. There are not enough words to express my deepest sympathies to the Bryants and every family suffering from this tragedy. RIP my friend pic.twitter.com/VRmgaOaITT
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 27, 2020
During the 2020 Melbourne major, Djokovic called Bryant his “mentor” and credited his insight and wisdom with helping the Serbian return from injury and surgery earlier in his career.
“When I was going through the injury with my elbow and struggling to mentally and emotionally handle all of these different things that were happening to me and dropping in the rankings and then having to work my way up, he was one of the people who was really there for me to give me some very valuable advice and guidelines to kind of believe and trust in myself, trust the process that I’ll be back,” Djokovic said of Bryant’s influence. “I’m very grateful to him for being there for me, for being very supportive.
“I love Kobe, who doesn’t? He’s an amazing guy and one of the best basketball players and athletes of all time.”
Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty
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