Until recently, the leader of the men’s ranking – Novak Djoković – spoke to the press a few years ago during the preparation for the Davis Cup clash about what is very important in his starting routine and how he trains:
„Training and practice are the most important elements. It is very important to stay disciplined, striving to do what needs to be done step by step. Practice is the most important part. Personally, I don’t like training very much, but it is something that has to be done in order to perform well in matches at the highest level of my skills, so I train hard and with commitment. For example, even during tournaments, I practice and train when I have a day off for an hour or more to raise my energy level.”
„During the break before the season starts is a good time of the year when we train the hardest and most. This is when I normally train on the court for 3-4 hours and 1-2 hours dedicated to physical preparation depending on how I feel. I run, lift weights, and do Yoga exercises. Yoga helps me to concentrate in important moments and relaxes me. It is also very important to have fun while working out, even when you are not feeling your best. Sometimes ten minutes of exercise with joy is much better than one hour of training when you are not feeling well.”
