Why Novak Djokovic needs to thank Steve Jobs.....

Its a massive two weeks for tennis, as the 2021 US Open brings about the opportunity for Novak Djokovic to claim two records if he wins the title. He could be he first player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to complete a calendar Grand Slam (the last male was Rod Laver in 1969). He could also hold the outright record for male grand slam singles titles. Djokovic is currently level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on twenty Grand Slams each (both Federer & Nadal are active players but not playing the US Open due to injury). The next best is Pete Sampras who won fourteen, retiring in 2002. 'The Big Three' (Djokovic, Federer & Nadal) have achieved unprecedented success and there has much debate as to why they have been able to achieve such a sustained level of dominance. A big part of the debate often centres around why the younger generation of players have not been able to step up at the grand slams more. In episode 50 of his podcast, Simon Mundie puts forward the theory that the iPhone and the digital age it has lead too, could be the major reason...


Mundie's theory centres around our relationships with smart phones and the new challenges of social media and the instant nature of communicate that they have brought about. In this podcast Mundie interviews Cal Newport (author of Digital Minimalism), where they discuss  the effects smart phones and social media can have on our mental health and our ability to focus for long periods. Mundie argues that 'The Big Three' (born between 1981-1987) spent their junior and their early senior careers without smart phones and social media and have only had to adapt later in their careers. Since Djokovic won his first Grand Slam (Australian Open, 2008) there have been fifty-four grand slam male singles events played of which forty-five have been won by 'The Big Three'. Eight of the other nine titles have been won by players in a similar age band to 'The Big Three' (Wawrinka, Murray, & Del Potro & Cilic all born 1985-1988). Only Dominic Thiem (born 1993) when winning the 2020 US Open has bucked this trend. Thiem has dealt with the challenges of  smart phones and social media through his junior and entire senior career, as he would have been fourteen when the iPhone was launched in 2007. 


As a 42 year old (born in 1978) I have personally found the challenges of smart phones and social media very difficult, and this has been brought into sharp contrast by having a four year old daughter who watches my every move. On reflection I think I could have done a lot better job of role modelling how to use my phone and that I am highly addicted to responding quickly to messages and looking at my social media apps. I read a book called Generation iY by Tim Elmore about five years ago that raised my awareness, both personally and in my vocation as a Tennis Coach, but still I have still struggled. I really looking forward to reading Newport's book and have already made some changes this week by deleting all my social media apps from phone and putting my phone away and in airplane mode more at home. 


The other interesting angle is the impact smart phone use is having on our health from a postural perspective. I started working with a chiropractor about six months ago and this has made me ever more aware of my posture and how much time I am spending looking down at my phone each day. So I am trying to hold my phone up more when using it, as well as doing lots of other postural exercises everyday (recommend a book called SD Protocol by Wayne Todd). 


So an intriguing couple of weeks ahead to see if any of the younger generation of male tennis players can find a way of beating Djokovic over five sets. It is one of tennis's great challenges. I would definitely recommend any aspiring young tennis player works hard at their relationships with smart phones and social media, as it could give them a significant edge against a majority of their opponents. They are clearly challenges that are here to stay and it seems the key concept is 'technology is a great slave but a poor master.' 

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