Stefan Smulders

The 8 minutes that changed tennis history forever 👇 A masterclass on mental toughness (in less than 2-min) Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer. at U.S. Open semifinals. (September 10, 2011). By the way, I often come back to watch this video to get motivated. In the last set of the match, Federer took a 40–15 lead. Victory was just one serve away. The crowd roared for Federer. Djokovic, clearly annoyed, shot a grimace at the fans and mimicked them, which only got him more boos. Federer served hard, out wide to Djokovic’s forehand. But Djokovic smacked the ball with full force for a stunning cross-court winner. Federer was stunned. One shot that broke Federer’s rhythm—and spirit. It was one of the earliest signs of Djokovic's ability to turn crowd hostility into a dark energy that fueled his game. So, what makes Djokovic so formidable? → When everything is on the line, he almost never falters. → The higher the pressure, the more likely he is to win. → He thrives under intense pressure when others crumble. As Holger Rune, world No. 6, put it: "His mindset. Even when you play great points, it feels like it doesn't faze him at all." That’s the winning formula. The mindset. If you liked it, follow me Stefan Smulders for more thoughts about business, mindset, and life.