Djokovic Shares Champion’s Secrets

The Californian desert has been a happy hunting ground for Novak Djokovic. The World No. 1 is a four-time champion in Indian Wells and is looking to make it three titles in a row at the year’s first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event.

But how does he do it? For the Serb, it starts with preparation.

“All the tennis players are required to acclimatise as soon as possible because that’s part of what we do, and you can’t afford to waste too much of your time,” Djokovic said. “I heard about the theory of necessity for the body to get acclimated to a certain time zone, that you need as many days as the time difference in hours. So basically, if you’re going to Australia, a ten-hour difference in relation to Europe, then you need 10 days to really get your body used to it.

“But from my personal experience, you can do it much quicker. I believe in nutrition and hydration and the mental side of it. If you prepare yourself for going to that place, you set your clock, and you really devote yourself to that part of the world, then it seems easier.”

Djokovic has been in Indian Wells for nearly a week after helping Serbia advance to the Davis Cup quarter-finals, and he feels ready to defend his title.

“The conditions are pretty suitable to my style of play,” he noted. “I like to have a little bit more time to construct the point. I feel comfortable with the speed of the court and the surface. Especially in the afternoon and night matches, when it’s a bit slower.

“The ball bounces high. I grew up on clay. I grew up with a high bounce. I feel comfortable playing on these courts.”

The top player in the Emirates ATP Rankings has 61 tour-level titles and admits that playing in front of a large crowd on a big stage provides him with an additional jolt of energy.

“[The BNP Paribas Open is] setting a really high standard in attracting more fans and increasing the attendance each year,” Djokovic said. “The fans are truly great. You can see how much they love tennis. Every practice session is full. Every match that you play, they are there from the very beginning.

“[I look] forward to performing in such circumstances in front of people who really appreciate me being there.”