Don’t Lose Your Cool: Djokovic vs Medvedev

The recent Djokovic vs. Medvedev semi-final at the China Open ended with a spectator injury and a player disqualification. Medvedev was out, and Djokovic moved on to the final, where he went on to win the title.

Daniil was down 7-5, 5-3, with Novak serving for the match. After a ball rebounded off the advertising boards toward him, Daniil appeared to hit it in frustration, sending a backhand into the front row and striking a spectator in the left eye. He was disqualified. Novak went on to win the title, beating Alex de Minaur in the final when de Minaur retired injured, and he extended his perfect record at the China Open to 34-0.

Novak himself experienced a similar situation at the 2020 US Open, when he was disqualified from the tournament after his ball hit a line judge in the throat. This kind of incident isn't unfamiliar in the tennis world. In 2017, during a Davis Cup match, a frustrated Denis Shapovalov of Canada hit a ball that struck the umpire in the eye, fracturing his orbital bone. Denis, too, was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, was known for his remarkable self-control, rarely breaking a racquet or acting out during a match. Nadal credited his training, specifically the training he received from his uncle and longtime coach, Toni Nadal. Rafael was not allowed to break a racquet or have outbursts. Instead, he trained for mental fortitude. Every tennis player gets angry, frustrated, and confused during a match. The difference with Nadal was that he could step back and reset. He did it physically, and we all saw him go through his pre-serve ritual. Nadal followed a "Next Point Rule," resetting his mind with a repetitive sequence of physical actions. This helped him focus on the action rather than replaying the lost point in his head, so he could move forward in the match instead of spiraling. He focused on the things he could control, not the mistakes of the past.

It's no wonder, given the strength of Nadal's psychological game, that he's considered one of the greatest of all time. Tennis is a tricky game, and it's important not to lose your cool, or you could lose the match or, in Daniil's case, be disqualified.