By Erik Gudris | Monday, March 3, 2014

 

Novak Djokovic has stumbled early in the season despite ending last year on a high note. Is his new quest for an extra mental edge the reason?

Photo Credit: AP

Fans of Roger Federer continue to celebrate his best week in quite some time, including his defeat of Novak Djokovic en route to his sixth Dubai title. But all those who support the Serbian star must still be asking themselves, "What in the world just happened?" After all, in that semifinal versus Federer, Djokovic led by a set and looked firmly in control before appearing to unravel after watching Federer charge the net against him again and again.

Djokovic said afterwards, "I know what I need to work on." While it's still early in the season for Djokovic to find out what he needs to fix, it wasn't that long ago that he seemed to have everything in working order.

While this loss raised eyebrows, as did his five-set defeat to Stanislas Wawrinka in Melbourne, let's not forget everything Djokovic accomplished just after reaching the U.S. Open final last year.

Djokovic went on an incredible win streak as he collected titles in Beijing, Shanghai and Paris, and then beat Rafael Nadal to win the ATP World Tour Finals in London. Nadal may have passed Djokovic to become No. 1, but Djokovic looked ready to challenge the Spaniard for the top ranking as soon as the new year commenced.

Then Djokovic hired Boris Becker.

The decision to make the former German tennis star his main coach continues to perplex many even though, at this moment, Djokovic stands by it.

"Well, I can't speak about what we talk about, you know, on the court, but generally it's very positive for the start and hopefully he can bring us a lot of success," Djokovic said last week when asked directly about what he and Becker talk about.

Ok then.

If Djokovic does not want to divulge what Becker is telling him, that's fine. But it was clear during his match against Federer that Djokovic clearly lost confidence late in the second set and throughout the third set. While Federer played stellar tennis himself, it was surprising not to see Djokovic raise his level in kind late in that match. Where was the passionate fire we've come to expect from Djokovic? Why did he allow himself to come up second best against Federer in many of their baseline rallies?

With this loss to Federer and the earlier one to Wawrinka, Djokovic continues to show himself as being vulnerable, especially in tight matches. And that might be where the root of Djokovic's current dilemma lies. In many ways, it is as if the current Djokovic is overthinking his status as No. 2 while the previous version of himself from just a few short years ago, though raw and somewhat unseasoned, would just find an innate way to ascend to the top.

Djokovic admits the main reason he hired Becker was not for any technical gain, but to hopefully get some kernel of mental advice from Becker that would prove the difference in the biggest matches. While Becker might provide that, wouldn't it make more sense for Djokovic to draw upon his own experience that took him to No. 1 to begin with? Do all those trips to Grand Slam finals that Djokovic made before signing up with Becker not count? If Djokovic rebounds at either Indian Wells or in Miami during this month, then these early season losses will be in the rear view mirror as far as the rest of the year goes. But if he suffers another surprise defeat, more questions will be raised about what direction Djokovic should take.

Tennis watchers love to pour over and analyze stats. While the number of first serves a player hits or the amount of second serve return break point chances one misses can be easily accounted for, the all-important yet non-computable feeling of confidence cannot. But it is that elusive yet unquantifiable "something" that Djokovic is searching for right now. While he continues that quest to become No. 1 again, perhaps the simplest place to start would be within himself.