Ulises Badio wanted to work with a top player for a very long time so when Novak Djokovic called him in 2017 the Argentine did not hesitate.
The physical condition of Novak Djokovic is somewhat legendary today which is interesting cause early on in his career it was the opposite. Djokovic was often criticised for retiring from matches often compared to other great players. Some colleagues spoke unfavourably about him as well but over the years he was able to perfect a routine that works well for him.
Nowadays Djokovic is somewhat famous for overturning scores in matches as he's been doing it for a couple of years now, especially at grand slams. A key part of that is his physio who has worked with him since 2017:
"I started working for the ATP between 2011 and 2012, so we saw each other from time to time. As a physiotherapist, I have always had various goals since I was a child and my dream was always to start working with the number one. Several years have passed and, finally, in 2017 Novak asked me if I wanted to join his team to start treating him. He invited me to go to Roland Garros with him and since then always together."
Speaking further on it, he said:
"The responsibility that exists on a tennis player like Djokovic is 200%. When you treat an athlete like this, at such a high level, you can always be close to hurting him. It was very important for me to have a lot of experience in my field of work and, in this case, to be a little more open to a more alternative philosophy."
The routine Djokovic adopted is quite a strict one as Badio detailed:
"We work with him 24 hours a day. It is not enough to spend four hours with him, during his training, and see him before the game. I follow him at all times, even when he is sitting down to see how he is, or how much water he has drunk, or if someone has been talking to him on the phone for a long time: every little detail can influence him during the match."
0 Comments