The Confidence Battle

July 4, 2011

It wasn’t so long ago that Rafael Nadal was an automatic pick versus Novak Djokovic when the two faced each other in a final.  Today, that scenario has been turned around in stunning fashion as Djokovic is 5-0 against his former nemesis in 2011.  The difference?  Belief and confidence.  One player’s got it and the other one’s lost it.

Turn the clock back a year and consider what we would say about this head-to-head matchup.  Rafa’s physical game from the ground was so intimidating and exhausting for most players that he knew he could break them mentally simply by fatiguing them.  The thought of entering a protracted battle with Nadal would be enough to make opponents lose belief, and in the big moments, Djokovic was among that group.  Novak’s results clearly made him the third best player in the world,  but he still didn’t seem ready to crack the Nadal-Federer stronghold on the game.  He had some success versus Federer, probably due to Roger’s own mental issues in tight matches, yet the success in majors wasn’t flowing as expected.  Where would the belief come from?

Enter 2011.  Djokovic had just led Serbia to a Davis Cup victory in December and his game was riding high.  He was in great shape and his groundstrokes were clicking.  He sailed through the Aussie Open and in the process chalked up another victory over Roger Federer.  Both winning and being in top condition are factors in improving confidence.  Yet he hadn’t passed the Nadal test in a final.  Rafa sustained an injury in Melbourne that didn’t allow him to reach the final.

Novak’s chance to pass the Rafa test came in March at Indian Wells.  Till this point, Djokovic had never defeated his Spanish rival in the final of a tournament – always losing the physical battle.  This was the source of Rafa’s confidence when it came to playing Novak (and most everyone else).  He knew that Djokovic didn’t have the same taste for the battle and he exploited that.  Play long exhausting points and defend the court like a maniac – that was the formula.  Unfortunately for Rafa, Novak was ready this time.  Not only did he not mind playing the long points, he started winning the majority of them.  All of a sudden, doubt was creeping into the mind of the world’s number 1.  He was getting beaten at his game and there was nothing he could do about it.  Novak had gone to a new level with his physical conditioning and his ability to transfer from defense to offense in long rallies.  Rafa’s shots weren’t having the usual physical impact so he went for more – and he started to miss.

That pattern continued in Miami, Madrid, Rome and once again yesterday in London.  Novak Djokovic has become the number one player in the world and the Wimbledon champion because of belief.  He’s become the best player in the world because of the little things he has changed in his game – conditioning, diet, footwork, serve, etc.  All of that has built up tremendous confidence and belief.  And at the same time, now HE is in the head of his main rival.  How things have changed!

What’s the lesson here?  Work on your confidence by improving your conditioning and making corrections to your game.  Play for the long term and believe in your ability to achieve your goals.  You can always be better so don’t let a negative self-image impose a lower ceiling on your potential.  Go out there and make it happen!