Why Novak Djokovic’s New Mindset on Winning Won’t Last Long

Novak Djokovic is back competing at this week’s Shanghai Masters after recovering from injuries that had racked him through the summer and through his loss to Stan Wawrinka in the U.S. Open final. The world No. 1 is vowing a new mindset in his return.

“I don’t think about any trophies or number ones in the world, rankings, anything like that. It’s completely different,” Djokovic said to the AFP media via the Hindustan Times. The Serbian star expressed his difficulties since Wimbledon admitting that his “must-win mindset… is not working for me any more.”

It’s a surprisingly candid look inside tennis’ most dominant player, who had come off the greatest 18-month stretch in the Open era as the only male player to ever win the Grand Slam on three different surfaces.

It’s been four months since Djokovic won the French Open and reached the pinnacle of his career with his 12th major title. Since, he has descended to Earth with an exhausting series of trials—ranging from personal problems, significant injuries and upset losses to spirited opponents.

Djokovic is, perhaps, the most complete player to ever play tennis—maybe the greatest of all time—but he’s recalibrating his approach to playing and winning. One way or another, he’s going to pay the price.

Unrelenting Pressure

Within every legendary champion is a person. Yes, Djokovic, like his legendary equals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, has his own special qualities that have made him into a terrific athlete and human. He’s gracious to fans, takes time to appreciate young kids and is polite to the crowds that either cheer or root against him all over the world.

In particular, Djokovic has built his superstar against the blessings of tennis fans who would have preferred that Federer or Nadal extended their reigns. He’s often been unappreciated, and despite his willingness to reach out, he’s had to battle for major titles with unbelievably fierce poise. Could anyone else have fended off the collective resistance of patrons at Wimbledon 2014, Wimbledon 2015 and U.S. Open 2015 who cheered resoundingly for the immensely popular Federer?

Djokovic has built his legacy through adversity, pressure, heartache and relentless attention to improving the details of his game. The years have been fruitful, but they’ve also tormented his best efforts, such as watching his Roland Garros title bids end in anguish while Nadal …

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