Before the French Open, Novak Djokovic spent a couple of days with Roland Garros legend Gustavo Kuerten to shoot some commercial videos for his sponsor Peugeot.
Djokovic and his coaches Boris Becker and Marian Vajda – an old friend of Kuerten’s from the days the Slovak used to coach Dominik Hrbaty – asked the Brazilian three-time French Open champion what advice he’d give them before the action kicked off in Paris.
“I said heart, man,” Kuerten revealed after Djokovic’s four-set victory over Andy Murray in the final on Sunday.
“And today you could see it, because in the end he got nervous and he needed to express himself a little bit. And that’s how you get the emotions to dissipate a little and you can survive the nerves.”
After pouring his heart into the match against Murray, Djokovic celebrated the same way Kuerten did in Paris in 2001 – he drew a heart on the clay with his racquet and lay on his back in the centre of it. “I suspected he would do it because he asked for my permission before the tournament. I said of course, but mine was a little bit better. I will tell him ‘you need to improve on this’,” laughed Kuerten.
Djokovic later explained: “Guga (Kuerten) drawing the heart on the court is for me personally the most memorable moment that I have ever seen from Roland Garros.
“It was something completely different. I asked him if I have that permission and honour in case I win to do that. So he gave me that permission.”
The Serbian world No1 made history on Sunday by becoming the eighth man to complete the career Grand Slam, and just the third man ever to hold all four grand slam titles at the same time – something that had not been achieved since the great Rod Laver in 1969.
“It’s incredibly flattering to know that Rod Laver is the last one that managed to do that, of course. There are not many words that can describe it. It’s one of the ultimate challenges that you have as a tennis player,” said Djokovic, who finally captured the French Open title on his 12th attempt.
“I’m very proud, very thrilled, obviously. But it’s hard for me to reflect on what has happened before and what’s gonna happen after. I mean, I’m just so overwhelmed with having this trophy next to me that I’m just trying to enjoy this moment.”
He may be trying to enjoy the moment, but Djokovic is quickly reminded that he is already halfway towards a calendar year Grand Slam. The last time a player won the first two majors of the year was Jim Courier 24 years ago.
Does Djokovic believe he can emulate Laver – who pulled off the Grand Slam in 1962 and 1969 – and win all four this season?
“I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I really think everything is achievable in life,” said Djokovic.
Kuerten believes the younger generation needs at least two more years to test the Serb and considers Djokovic the favourite for every major he enters at the moment.
“I’m not crazy to say otherwise,” the 39-year-old said. “Winning four slams in a row is one of the highest ever possible feats in tennis and that’s what he’s doing daily.
“He’s able to break all the records, he’s getting even close to Roger Federer now and perhaps in a year or two we’re going to see him with a real chance of getting the same number of grand slams (as Roger). He’s able to get better every single year and that’s scary.”
Djokovic’s career arc has seen him go from someone chasing people like Federer and Rafael Nadal to dominating them. He is now two slams behind Nadal’s 14 and five behind Federer’s record of 17.
Djokovic also holds the record for most Masters 1000 titles won (29), has spent more weeks at No1 than Nadal (currently in his 202nd week at the top) and has separated himself from the rest by completing the non-calendar year Grand Slam.
“At the beginning I was not glad to be part of their era,” Djokovic said. “Later on I realised that in life everything happens for a reason. You’re put in this position with a purpose, a purpose to learn and to grow and to evolve.
“In some ways I was comparing myself to them in terms of game and what I need to do to learn to get the best out of my abilities and try to overcome the challenge of winning against them and trying to break their dominance.
“I’m not comparing myself to them, as people, as persons. We are all different. We’re all unique in our own ways, and I have great respect for both of them.”
Kuerten identifies what makes Djokovic so special. He said: “He’s dedicating himself 400 per cent, he’s doing everything to play better and that’s how he’s improving.
“Even fitness and then you are better on the strokes and you are fast and your mind gets stronger, once you’re in that stage, every single move reflects in all the competence you have in your game.
“The hard thing is to wake up every day and give your best, while being the best. Sometimes you say it’s enough but for him, it’s his dream and he keeps going.”
