Tennis

Novak Djokovic is trying too hard

Published Jun. 2, 2016 10:38 a.m. ET

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Novak Djokovic wants you to know he's relaxed. All this pressure to win the French Open and cap the career Slam, something he's come within one victory of doing in three of the past four years? What pressure? Don't you know Djokovic is relaxed? He's begging for you to know it. Hey, maybe if we believe, he'll start to buy it too.

That's why Djokovic is pulling out all his old tricks to win over a Roland Garros crowd that was once cool to him, but showered him in adoration last year after his bid to become the fourth man to complete the career Slam was stopped in the final by Stan Wawrinka.

There's Djokovic borrowing an umbrella from a fan and Gene Kelly'ing his way around the red clay.

(ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images)

Here he is wearing a fisherman's cap, conducting his post-match interview looking like he's selling fish sticks.

(PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Now he's writing "Purple Rain" while offering the ritualistic post-win camera signature, a nod both to the weather in Paris and to the late Prince. (See, I love him too!)

And then there's his celebration, which not only pays homage to Andre Agassi by literally heaving love to all four sides of the court (it worked for Agassi when he broke his skid and won the career Slam at Roland Garros in 1999), but also brings a ball boy along, making that kid's year and getting the residual goodwill of the photo op.

(MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images)

Is it all a mask for a deep-rooted fear Djokovic has that he's going to let this opportunity slip away again? Or is Novak Djokovic hoping the appearance of relaxation will eventually make it a reality? Either way, he knows the reality better than anyone: All this peripheral stuff is meaningless. He needs to win three sets on Friday and three sets on Sunday. Anything else is a failure and no amount of cheers from the Roland Garros crowd will change that.

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