Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
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| Forgetting that he had lost his last match to Federer in the semi-final of the most recent grand slam and that he was down two sets to love; Novak Djokovic defeated Federer in this epic US Open semi-final and went on to win the US Open; capping one of the greatest years in men's tennis history. |
Prior to 2011 Novak Djokovic was the perennial #3. Though he could defeat Nadal and Federer on occasion, he was never able to defeat them on the biggest occasions on the biggest stages. Then, something changed. In reality, someone was transformed. 2011 was one of the most successful and surprising years by a single player in the history of tennis. Djokovic was 10-1 vs Federer and Nadal; 6-0 vs Nadal, including 2-0 in grand slam finals. What changed?
There are some technical, tactical, nutritional, and fitness reasons for his success. However, in my humble opinion, the most important improvement was his attitude. I really think it happened in the 2010 US Open semi-final when Djokovic defeated Federer in another five-set match. Down two match points, Djokovic chose to forget the former things; his perennial #3 status; Federer's dominance in the US Open; the previous hundreds of points; and the fact that he was down two match points to the greatest player in history. He hunkered down for those two points; played aggressively conservative; hit two monster forehands to win each of those points; and allowed the new thing to happen. Something new happened in those moments.
I believe that the single most important tennis skill is the ability to forget the former mistakes and to allow the new, better thing to happen. I believe this is the same in life. God says that He does not remember our sins as we confess them and give them to Jesus. Why do we? Unfortunately, our enemy tries to remind us and our human nature tries to remind us; but through Christ we can live above our enemy and our human nature. We can choose to proactively, diligently, joyfully, and relentlessly forget the past and focus on the new thing that God wants to do in and with our lives and during the next shot, point, game, set, match, and tournament we are about to play. See, God is doing a new thing and if we are too focused on the past, we will not be able to perceive it.
Prayer
Dear Father God, thank You that as I confess my sins to You, You do not remember them. Please help me to do the same with myself and with others. Please help me to forget the former things; to not dwell on the past; and to embrace the new things You are doing in my life and in my tennis. Amen in the Name of Jesus!
Drill(s)
1. One point tournament game.
2. Say something good about your misses.
