Even though most sports differ from each other in terms of technicalities, the core essence and strategies remain the same. In an interesting episode of the popular podcast ‘Kick-Serve Radio’ by Andy Zodin, retired tennis champ Mats Wilander made an interesting comment. He mentioned the current World’s No. 1 Novak Djokovic and his stature as a tennis player. Wilander also name-dropped the all-time champion Roger Federer during his explanation.

Over the years many veterans have tried to analyze Djokovic’s game plan. They have compared him to Federer countless times and it is still an ongoing tradition. Wilander alongside his friends had an amazing discussion about the ebbs and flows of tennis.

Wilander explains how Novak Djokovic perceives the game

It was quite evident that Wilander was impressed with Djokovic. Throughout the podcast, he remained adamant on his stance regarding the Serb. Wilander even went further and detailed exactly how Djokovic is a step ahead of the Swiss tennis legend.

Wilander, in his articulate manner, said:  “Novak Djokovic’s rhythm is easily the best rhythm that I’ve ever seen on a tennis court.” This statement unveils the core of Wilander’s analysis. He then draws attention to the distinct rhythm that sets Djokovic apart. As per him, Djokovic’s rhythm in contrast with the elegance of Roger Federer’s play is a tad bit better. In his words: “Federer was more graceful. But Djokovic, the way that he hits the ball and how early he takes it, he has to find his rhythm of knowing when do I take a 45 degree angle to attack the ball? When do I realize oh, I don’t have time to do that? Well, the time to realize is actually before my opponent hits.”

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Wilander’s words provide a glimpse into the intriguing world of tennis strategy. It looks like the essence of rhythm takes center stage when it comes to the court. He also compared this to soccer and how a goalkeeper has to stay ahead of the match.

Wilander’s soccer analogy

Wilander draws a parallel between the world of tennis strategy and the precision required in soccer goalkeeping. He addresses the significance of anticipatory decision-making. In tennis, timing must be realized before the opponent strikes the ball. This key insight mirrors the split-second judgments made by soccer goalkeepers when facing a penalty kick.

Much like a goalkeeper must commit early to have a chance at making a save, a tennis player, too, must find their rhythm and strategy before their opponent’s shot is executed. In his words: “So it’s a little bit like the soccer goalie at a penalty kick, you got to go early because you go late, you can still get the ball back and play most of the time.”

This segment of the podcast perfectly showcased how champions like Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer master the art of anticipation. What do you think about Wilander’s statement? Let us know in the comments.

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