There are experts to write about technicals of this series, I just wanted to share the strategic take aways of Djokovic's game. I have watched the Tennis for some time but have not realized what it meant to me till I watched this final game of Australian Open 2012 finals. This game was different. I realized why I liked the Tennis. It's because it's 1:1 game. Straight efforts to results relation.
Quick read through wikipedia on biography shows both Nadal and Djokovic have had very early start. I have realized by now that chances of success rise exponentially if you have early start in life. It may be these players or Steve Wozniak of Apple all these guys had started very early. Part of the credit goes to their parents for creating such opportunity. I hope new parents pay attention to this point. A kid may or may not utilize the opportunity but it should not be denied. Its all the worth the efforts of parents to gift one such jump start to their kids.
I watched both Semi finals and final matches. There are two main components. Mental and Physical. I have always thought physical tiredness can be quick. One can degrade physically faster but not mentally. One can continue to be mentally fit.
Emotions drain energy. Lower energy affects the sharpness. I dont think all the four semifinalists lacked the skills to play good tennis game. They were all well matched with each other. Agreed each has one had some special unique move for himself. What they differed was how much emotionally they gave out themselves during match.
Semifinals:
Nadal Vs Federer is well known mental battle I guess. Nadal has probably mentally got the Federer. You can sense what is going on in the mind of Federer by just looking at his face. He was giving out his fears. This is not good. Nadal displayed positive aggression. He put some extra ordinary athletics to win some points meant more than one point he made. Winning such tough points makes opponent weaker. Winning few impossible points is not just about a point but it makes a statement to opponent.
This is good. Nadal is quick and makes his presence felt across the court and point to note is he also makes sure it shows up as his strength by his display of aggression and expression.
Djokovic vs Murray again Murray was so expressive. I thought he was displaying aggression. Aggression display is better than display of fear. But again hope it was not meant as cover for fear. Assuming it was display of true aggression still the energy leaks by such display. It showed up later and Murray looses straight 3 sets.
Epic Final : Almost 6 Hours. Hats off to both of you, guys.
Nadal Vs Djokovic, Among this pair as well Nadal was more expressive, He tended to give away himself more. Nadal has this true passion and purity. He plays at peak all the time. He tries the best of his physical skills and there by score the point. He is highly athletic and well versed with all the conventional tricks of tennis. You can't beat him at that.
If you noticed Djokovic he never leaked energy. In fact he at times displays weak body language by even limping at times. Very important aspect is I doubt he was in state as to limp. In very next minute he was ready to run across the court. What does it mean? My take is Mind game. I know you may not agree. But I have more, Just before serve observe him he will always bounce the ball for little extra. There are two advantages of doing this. One any periodic movements help focus. How? Remember one of the old method of hypnotism is swinging pendulam. Have you observed what do we do to put baby's to sleep for ages. Okay if you have not seen one, by swinging. Second advantage it also helps in breaking the concentration of opponent.
Djokovic does not play the physical best all the time. He conserves his energy and applies in burst when he sees a chance which he can convert it to point. If you looked at the statistics of distance covered on the court during match it might be surprising Djokovic covered more distance than Nadal. This means he was moving more without being obviously visible as moving. Contrast with Nadal, he moved quick and made it show that he was moving quick.
Djokovic played tennis like chess player and concurred pure tennis player Nadal. I am not down playing any one. Both played really great game and it was very inspiring to watch them. Its not easy to hold on for 6 Hours of play. It was extra ordinary and incredible. Both showed extreme resilience, passion and determination to win and towards playing great game.
Both gave all they had. Made me reflect when I did the same last? There was long silence....
