The spiritual world No.1 believes in a “higher order” in life – including telepathy – and spends time meditating at a Buddhist temple near the All England Club during the tournament.
And on the court the Serb transcended tennis with his superhuman destruction of Rafa Nadal in the Australian Open final to claim his 15th Grand Slam title Now the defending champion wants to go back to that other place in south-west London over the next fortnight.
“Under the circumstances, it was probably the best tennis match I have ever played, in Grand Slam finals for sure,” Djokovic recalled.
“It was truly an out-of-body experience. It was an amazing match. It did feel at certain stages of the match where everything happens automatically and everything flows so automatically that you don’t want to try anything.
“There is no effort. That is really when you can really express your best self. We are all trying to be in that state of mind, body and soul I guess.
“Whether it can happen for me again at Wimbledon, I sincerely hope so.”
Djokovic’s 26-match unbeaten run in Grand Slams – and his bid for a second Nole Slam – was ended by a semi-final French Open defeat to Dominic Thiem. As usual, he has not played a pre-Wimbledon tournament on grass – he played two exhibition matches at The Boodles – before he faces German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the opening match on Centre Court on Monday.
Such has been his remarkable form over the last 12 months it is easy to forget vegan Djokovic was in physical and mental torment after completing his career Grand Slam and considered quitting in 2017. His victory here last year revitalised his career – and re-started the race to catch the Grand Slam tallies of Roger Federer (20) and Rafa Nadal (18).
“The win last year at Wimbledon was one of the most important wins I have had in my career because it was coming off surgery, dropped out of top 20, a lot of different things happening and I just needed something like that to bring back the confidence and the quality of tennis,” said Djokovic.
“Things change when you win a Grand Slam, regardless of our ranking, it effects your whole life, your confidence, the way you feel on the court.
“That meant a lot and since that and it all upwards ride for me over the last 12 months It was a turning point. I am just pleased to be back and look forward to being on that sacred court.”
