Understanding the 'no limits' philosophy of Novak Djokovic

Is it possible to understand Novak Djokovic? A new book, Searching for Novak, by Mark Hodgkinson attempts to uncover what makes the Serbian tennis hero the sport's uncontested GOAT. 

A handful of book reviews recently surfaced and provide some insight into Novak's contrarian, often unconventional, approach to the game. In a particularly fascinating analysis, Steve Tignor notes on Tennis.com, "The book follows Djokovic on his long, multi-pronged quest to achieve that most delicate of athletic balances: Finding inner peace without losing his competitive edge. 

In 2010, fellow Serb Igor Cetojevic introduces him to a gluten-free, plant-heavy diet; teaches him about 'tending to the body’s spiritual energy'; and shows him more generally that, as Hodgkinson says, 'alternative paths can work for him.' Pretty soon Djokovic is telling his food what he wants it to do for his body as he puts it in his mouth. That sounds wacky, but the results weren’t. His career took off in 2011, not long after his nutritional enlightenment began.

Source: Hachette UK

Djokovic’s career has only continued to take off for the past 13 years. The deeper he goes into supernatural thinking, it seems, the better he plays."

I've even seen Novak hosting his own podcast with the "Iceman" Wim Hof to learn the secrets to intricate breathwork routines and intense cold therapy with ice baths. Much like his early embrace of the gluten-free diet, Novak made this interview public long before ice baths became such a hot trend. 

Regardless, Tignor chalks up such far-fetched pursuits as evidence of Novak's "no limits" philosophy that's lead him to capture 24 Grand Slam titles.

Indeed. According to Hachette UK, the biography "uncovers [Novak's] relentless pursuit of perfection and the unconventional beliefs that have propelled him to greatness." Count me in. I think I just discovered my next summer book.

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Source: Tennis.com;  Hachette UK. Top Photo: Hanson K Joseph (CC BY-SA 4.0).