The Demolition Man: Novak Djokovic pushes forward with his relentless approach to tennis and life

MELBOURNE–The worst athlete is the nervous athlete.

According to Novak Djokovic, this is very simple, but very sound, reasoning. He heard the viewpoint from a Serbian sportscaster whose father is a retired professional boxer. It would seem someone like Djokovic would be impervious to such thoughts. After all, he’s had arguably the most decorated career in men’s tennis history.

But even one of the game’s greatest big match players still gets anxious, even expressing himself in volatile ways.

“I don’t think it’s wrong if you experience those emotions,” he says. “I think it’s part of you, part of the competition, part of because you care about it. It’s difficult to always stay flat. I think what is important is how you bounce back. Always bring yourself back to that optimal state where you are focused on the next move, or the next point or the next moment.”

Bouncing back is what Djokovic plans on doing in 2025.

Although nothing to sneeze at, his 2024 Grand Slam results were well below his usual standard—primarily because it was the first calendar since 2017 he didn't win one. Prior to that, he had not been Slam-less since 2010. However, he did win Olympic singles gold in Paris, erasing one of the very few remaining gaps in his resume.

Judging from Djokovic’s feelings about the accomplishment, he would gladly make the tradeoff.

“Winning the gold medal at age\] 37 for Serbia, the last best chance to go for the gold, under the circumstances having the surgery not long before that,” Djokovic told assembled media at the [Asics Tennis Summit held at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne.

“It happened in almost a movie-like scenario for me, having my wife, my kids with me. Just incredible support, atmosphere. So the celebration was unlike any celebration for any of my other achievements before. It lasted for days, maybe weeks to be honest. Definitely the proudest moment I ever had, winning for your country.”

Since winning the first of five consecutive Aussie titles in 2011, this year’s event is probably the first that Djokovic enters Down Under without favored status. The No. 7 seed is looking at a draw that has him potentially facing Carlos Alcaraz in the quarters, Alexander Zverev in the semis, and Jannik Sinner in the final. He played one tune-up event in Brisbane, losing in straight sets to Reilly Opelka, whom Djokovic could play in the third round. He’s hardly an underdog—no one would be too surprised if he wins the title—but he’s no longer considered the man to beat.

Even still, Djokovic remains firmly in the crosshairs. As seasoned and statesmanlike as he can be at times, he also still manages to say things that stir controversy. Stories involving his claims that he was poisoned in a Melbourne hotel in 2022 during his visa detention, perceived slights he levied against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, and the benefits of an “energetic disc” he wears on his body to promote healing are just the latest.

Any potential distraction is unlikely to disrupt Djokovic’s focus. He’s adamant about pushing forward and having an openness to evolving as a person and a player. As his shoe brand of choice puts it: sound mind, sound body.

“That’s something I respect. I resonate with that philosophy,” he says. “I think it’s always important to progress in life and to invest energy and effort into being better. Because everyone else is doing it. So you are either going to progress or regress, there’s no such thing as stagnation.”

Which could be why Djokovic tapped Andy Murray to serve as his latest coach, a partnership that, more or less, came out of left field. The recently-retired Murray is exactly one week older than Djokovic. Even though the two have been friends since their time in the juniors, it’s a somewhat unprecedented move to ask a former rival to assume the role.

“When you least expect it, is when you most get the lesson. It’s when you’re really open. Ego gets in the way a lot of the time. Your ego, your conviction, your beliefs. It’s hard to learn something from someone when you’re stuck in your system.”

There’s a part of Djokovic that wishes he could be stuck in time: to be able to continually play at the same level he was at the 2023 Australian Open, when he felt he couldn’t miss, and dropped just one set on the way to winning the tournament. He references “The Demolition Man”, a 1993 futuristic, sci-fi action flick in which a renegade cop (Sylvester Stallone) is put in a cryogenic sleep because his take-no-prisoner’s approach is deemed a detriment to modern justice. He’s awakened decades later to help catch his former nemesis (Wesley Snipes) who is wreaking havoc in present day.

While Djokovic admits hoping for such time warps when he magically awakens in his physical prime is an impossibility, his current situation draws parallels with the final verse of the movie’s title track:

You come to me like a moth to the flame
It's love you need but I don't play that game
Because you could be my greatest fan
But I’m nobody's friend, I’m a demolition man