Bobo Doll

 Bobo Doll

World tennis number one Novak Djokovic’s performance yesterday at Rolland Garros reminded me of this toy. Djokovic just kept bouncing back! Djokovic and Tsitsipas, the two gladiators, were battling for the French Open title and history would have been made with either result. Tsitsipas would have won his first grand slam if he was able to defeat Djokovic and the champion would achieve the distinction of having won each of the four grand slams twice. Djokovic has now joined the august company of Rod Laver and Roy Emerson. Djokovic is now one title behind Nadal (19 to Nadal’s 20). Nadal is one title behind Roger Federer (20-19).

We are fortunate to be living in an era where these all-time greats of Tennis are active and demolishing all kinds of opposition.

Tsitsipas was playing an inspired game yesterday and clearly appeared to be the better player in the initial two sets. Djokovic lost the first two sets against a supremely talented opponent. But the champion that he is, he kept on chipping away. Djokovic never lost sight of his goal and kept playing his natural game methodically. Never once did he lose his cool or berate the umpires. In fact this kind of dignified play is common among the ruling trio. They seldom get ruffled by what happens on the court.

Djokovic kept coming back at whatever Tsitsipas had to offer. These days games are analysed threadbare by experts with the help of videos. But all this analysis cannot assure victory. We have no answer to human ingenuity, steadfastness, discipline and more importantly hope.

Losing the initial two sets and then going on to winning the next three seemed impossible but Novak did it. In the semi-finals he came back one set down against the king of clay, Rafael Nadal. Djokovic today is the undisputed king of tennis and will go down as one of the all-time greats when he hangs his boots.

What can we learn from yesterday’s match? There are many, many takeaways. We might as well make the Bobo Doll our deity of success!! Just keep coming back, whatever might be the adversity. Keep doing what you know the best. Never lose sight of your objective, however improbable or distant it might seem. Learn to master your emotions. Anger and frustration do not help. If you are facing a setback, analyse where you went wrong rather than blame any third party. Analyse, correct and repeat what you do best. Mental strength is more important than physical strength. Optimism is fine but if not coupled with ability will lead to calamitous outcomes. Concentrate on the process, not on the outcome.

Tsitsipas is a player to be watched. He has very good technique and seems to have mastered the drop shot. He was so elegant yesterday!  But at the end experience won.

The month of June is full of sporting action. India meets New Zealand for the world test championship which commences on the 18th. Wimbledon will begin in a few days. For football enthusiasts a lot is going on at the moment. Let us cherish these moments.

We also have the World Yog Day on 21st June. Let us pledge to participate in our group suryanamaskar session on that day and make yog a routine part of our lives.



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