Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘Pressure is a privilege’, says Novak Djokovic of life at the top
The South African via Msn ^ | July 28 2021 | AFP

Posted on 07/28/2021 12:13:31 PM PDT by SmokingJoe

Novak Djokovic said “pressure is a privilege” after keeping his Golden Slam bid intact at the Tokyo Olympics, where the decision of gymnast Simone Biles to withdraw from two events over mental health concerns has put the spotlight on athletes’ wellbeing. World number one Novak Djokovic is trying to become the first man to win all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold in the same year, and emulate the feat achieved by Steffi Graf in 1988.

The Serb is thriving on the Olympic experience, mingling and posing for pictures with athletes from all walks of life in the village, cutting an extremely relaxed figure as he goes in search of history.

“Pressure is a privilege. Without pressure there is no professional sport,” said Djokovic after his 6-3, 6-1 win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round on Wednesday.

“If you are aiming to be at the top of the game, you better start learning how to deal with pressure and how to cope with those moments.”

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: biles; djokovic; osaki; sports
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last
To: Toespi

That English girl could not handle the pressure during Wimbledon. John Mcenroe got blasted for pointing it out.


21 posted on 07/28/2021 12:59:56 PM PDT by RummyChick (To President Trump: https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3923111/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: SmokingJoe; All
Luke Skywalker Pulls Out Of Death Star Trench Run To Focus On Mental Health
Babylon Bee ^ | 07/28/2021 | Babylon Bee
Posted on 28/07/2021, 20:56:45 by DFG

YAVIN—In a shocking last-minute decision, talented young rebel pilot Luke Skywalker has pulled out of the Death Star trench run to focus on his mental health.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3980018/posts

22 posted on 07/28/2021 1:00:05 PM PDT by SmokingJoe ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RummyChick

Emma Raducanu.
Half Chinese, half Romanian.
Born in Canada.


23 posted on 07/28/2021 1:03:33 PM PDT by SmokingJoe ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: SmokingJoe

No, they don’t quit, but you’ll often see two guys in the final pairing, and one of the two will often end up winning or getting near the top, and the other guy may end up tied for 24th with a really horrible round. He didn’t quit; he just choked.


24 posted on 07/28/2021 1:05:24 PM PDT by Sans-Culotte (11/3-11/4/2020 - The USA became a banana republic.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Toespi

My nephew was the state singles & doubles champ junior/senior year of HS. I attended all his matches & pretty much all his ‘home’ collegiate matches - made it out of state a few times, too.

You and I have some shared ‘tennis experiences’ in a general sense for sure! As I said before, some of the best years of my life were spent watching him play ... you get fond of the teammates, too.


25 posted on 07/28/2021 1:16:06 PM PDT by Qiviut (Faith is the antidote to fear. Mindset: be a victor, not a victim.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Qiviut

That is quite an accomplishment for your nephew. Our daughter made it to the state semis, playing double but lost the match. Exactly the same feelings, you not only rooted for your own but the other kids on the team. Good years for sure. Although I might add, I didn’t handle the “pressure” very well, watching. LOL


26 posted on 07/28/2021 1:23:13 PM PDT by Toespi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: SmokingJoe

It looks like the best spokesperson job left for a quitter are, smoking and weight-loss


27 posted on 07/28/2021 1:24:26 PM PDT by Sgt_Schultze (When your business model depends on slave labor, you're always going to need more slaves)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Toespi

I didn’t handle the pressure well either - traveled with a big bottle of TUMS - told my nephew if I got stomach ulcers, it was all his fault LOL! Many of the parents knew I likely had a bottle of TUMS and if things got really intense, they’d come ask me for a few!!


28 posted on 07/28/2021 1:31:31 PM PDT by Qiviut (Faith is the antidote to fear. Mindset: be a victor, not a victim.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: SmokingJoe
Cough Greg Norman Cough
Cough Jordan Speith cough
Cough Padraig Harrington cough

Withdrawing in the middle of a round due to injury happens - and is considered OK. Choking in the middle of the last round at a Major happens and people talk but also don't call them a quitter or other names.

She fails to stick that landing and has a career-ending injury - or in the hospital with a broken neck. See Karrie Strug.

Biased memory and hypocritical standards are hilarious.

29 posted on 07/28/2021 1:33:53 PM PDT by Maigrey (Words mean things & words have power. Wield it responsibly.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: TonyinLA

Don’t underestimate “inat” in keeping a Serb going.

And everyone: the nickname is “Djoker”.


30 posted on 07/28/2021 1:47:20 PM PDT by Rinnwald
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Rinnwald

I prefer Joker..especially when he pulls the medical stunt when he is not doing well....or going to the bathroom only to come back out and decimate the person he was losing to before the bathroom break.


31 posted on 07/28/2021 2:18:12 PM PDT by RummyChick (To President Trump: https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3923111/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: RummyChick

Serena would lose 6:0 6:0 against Djokovic or any other top 10 male player.


32 posted on 07/28/2021 2:47:52 PM PDT by nosf40
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Maigrey
Cough Greg Norman Cough
Cough Jordan Speith cough
Cough Padraig Harrington cough

None of whom ever quit in the middle of a tournament citing “mental stress”. They fought on through rain, bad weather whatever.
Can you just keep coughing?

Withdrawing in the middle of a round due to injury happens - and is considered OK.

Neither Osaka nor Biles were injured when they quit.

Choking in the middle of the last round at a Major happens and people talk but also don't call them a quitter or other names.

Choking happens in every sport. Quitting when you are physically fit and letting your team down is another matter altogether.
They ARE quitters.

She fails to stick that landing and has a career-ending injury - or in the hospital with a broken neck.

Every single gymnast takes that risk every time they are training or competing. If you are constantly scared of getting injured, you shouldn't be in that sport. You can always go and grow flowers.

33 posted on 07/29/2021 4:08:05 AM PDT by SmokingJoe ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Maigrey
See Karrie Strug

That would be Kerri Strug to you, a real genuine American hero, who fought on DESPITE her injury and won the gold for America. And is still loved by America up till today.
Read this:

You see, back then, Team USA was not the juggernaut it is today. Russia and Romania were clearly the teams to beat. Then, the Magnificent Seven — comprised of Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Jayice Phelps and Strug — pulled off an incredible run to win the first team all-around gold medal for women's gymnastics in United States history.

Before the Atlanta Olympics, the Americans only had one silver medal in the team all-around in 1984, and two bronze medals, including the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. There's no doubt the team was getting better, but coach Bela Karolyi expected greatness and wasn't going to stop pushing until Team USA got the job done.

Strug left her family in Arizona to train with the team in Houston, Texas.

These are only part of what made the first gold medal over the Russians and Romanians so special. The rest of it belonged to 18-year-old Kerri Strug, her injured ankle, and the determination to never give up during the team competition, which included the uneven bars, vault, floor exercise, and balance beam.

The story from July 23, 1996, has been told millions of times, but it never gets old. That day, Strug, a Tucson, Arizona native, had the weight of the country on her shoulder

In the final event — the vault — and after 14-year-old Dominique Moceanu failed to secure the 9.430 needed to win twice, it was all up to Strug.

That's a lot of pressure for a teenager, to pull off the historic upset on your home turf, but Strug was ready.

Unfortunately, Strug landed awkwardly and fell to the mat on her first vault. Even more unfortunate, she heard her ankle pop.

As it turns out, she had torn two ligaments in her ankle. But one more vault was needed for that team gold medal, and Bela Karolyi looked to Strug to make it happen, despite the injury.

Strug somehow got set for a second vault, somehow how sprinted down the runway, somehow sprung off the board, and somehow stuck the landing to win the Olympic gold medal.

https://fanbuzz.com/national/kerri-strug-atlanta-olympics/

34 posted on 07/29/2021 4:19:14 AM PDT by SmokingJoe ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Maigrey
Biased memory and hypocritical standards are hilarious.

Nothing wrong with my memory. It's still better than an individual like you who keeps insisting that an unreliable quitter is somehow a hero.

35 posted on 07/29/2021 4:22:51 AM PDT by SmokingJoe ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: nosf40
Serena would lose 6:0 6:0 against

Probably. She may win a game or two if she is lucky.

36 posted on 07/29/2021 4:24:25 AM PDT by SmokingJoe ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: RummyChick
especially when he pulls the medical stunt when he is not doing well.

Taking bathroom breaks are totally within the rules. Everyone takes them in long matches at the Slams.

37 posted on 07/29/2021 4:27:07 AM PDT by SmokingJoe ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: TonyinLA
Djokovic’s mother is a really wonderful person. And pretty tough too.
38 posted on 07/29/2021 4:29:21 AM PDT by SmokingJoe ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Toespi
But, if there was ever a pro tennis player who thrives on pressure it would have to be Raphael Nadal

Djokovic vs Nadal head to head:

Djokovic 30 Nadal 28.

39 posted on 07/29/2021 4:33:53 AM PDT by SmokingJoe ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: SmokingJoe

He does more than take bathroom breaks. And it is often when it is going badly for him.


40 posted on 07/29/2021 4:45:28 AM PDT by RummyChick (To President Trump: https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3923111/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson