Djokovic Not Obsessed with Winning Roland Garros

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Djokovic Not Obsessed with Winning Roland Garros

Most of the tennis world is slowly becoming obsessed with whether or not Novak Djokovic will finally win Roland Garros this season, but the World No. 1 is comfortable living in the present. Ahead of this week’s Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters the two-time champion is happy to be back on the red clay and playing in an event that is just a few minutes away from where he nests with his wife Jelena and baby boy Stefan.

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As far as Roland Garros goes, it’s not time to be thinking about that yet, says Djokovic.

“I don’t like the word obsession because it doesn’t come from the right emotion,” Djokovic told reporters over the weekend at Monte-Carlo. “Roland Garros is a wish and it is a goal. Honestly I haven’t had any difficulty in my thinking in order to really tell myself that. I feel like in the past couple of years I managed to train my mind to stay as much as possible in the present moment and focus on what’s coming up next. Of course, like all players, I do think in advance and try to plan in advance. But when you need to operate as a human machine, you need to do that only in the present moment and in the present time. When that time comes for me, I will start thinking about it more than I do now.”

Djokovic, who will face either Teymuraz Gabashsvili or Jiri Vesely in his second-round match at Monte-Carlo, has proven that he’s got more than enough game on the clay to complete the career Grand Slam this spring in Paris. Mentally, physically and spiritually.

“It’s mindfulness, this kind of holistic approach in life that allows me to maximize my potential as a human being, from every aspect of my being, not just physical, but mental, emotional, spiritual,” Djokovic told reporters, “I try to be disciplined with all these different kind of exercises that I execute on a daily basis that make me feel good and present and calm and happy. At the end of the day that’s the purpose of life, to have inner calmness and be happy and do what you love to do and enjoy every moment of this life.”

While getting ready to bid for his third Monte-Carlo title, Djokovic found time to invite a few of his friends from the tour to visit his soon to be opened health food restaurant, Eqvita. Already an author of the book “Serve to Win,” which is a “14-day gluten-free plan for physical and mental excellence,” the Serb and his wife are branching out into the restaurant business to make the world a better place, one bite at a time.

Hey, @fabiofogna let us know how do you like our nature? :) #FromNatureWithLove pic.twitter.com/lo3HzIohh0
— Eqvita Restaurant (@EqvitaRes) April 10, 2016

First @EqvitaRes selfie! Party time & presentation of our #Eqvita restaurant. Fresh, healthy & with lots of <3 pic.twitter.com/LEpNGRoCSR
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) April 10, 2016

Healthy food and spiritual wellness may be an obsession of Djokovic’s, but when it comes to winning the one Grand Slam that has eluded him all these years, the 28-year-old is wisely approaching the quest with perspective, patience and persistence.

“Thankfully I haven’t lost too many matches in the past couple of years and I’ve been playing the best tennis of my life,” Djokovic said. “It came as a result of many years of dedication, evolution, growth, understanding myself as a person and a player and getting the most out of my team, who have developed a great strategy and routine to keep me going at this high level throughout the whole season. That’s what keeps me in top spot. If I don’t continue playing that consistently, I am aware of the fact that there are some other players that will definitely challenge that place.”

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