Etcheverry vs Djokovic, at the Australian Open: a great opportunity to compete against the best in history

Playing against history is not easy. Playing against the best of all time can be considered a huge challenge. It can be taken as a gift, an opportunity, a privilege. Something for a few. Why be in front in this case of Novak Djokovic It means that things were done very well.

This will be the situation Tomas Etcheverri of which he remembers that fun and creative idea of ​​putting up a poster when he got his first ATP point, or when he then rose in the rankings and got closer to Nole. However, in this case you have to see it as a couple. With all due respect and logically honoring the history of the Serbian, but you have to see him as one more. At least while the fight on the field lasts.

In the background of Masters 1000 of Rome and Paris, of which Etcheverry was unable to obtain a single set, Tomy will have the opportunity to save certain information. This is where the best challenge lies for him, because he will be able to clearly see if strategically there is some way to adjust, correct or modify or try to impose himself in some case.

For the Argentine it is also important to look in the mirror and see where he was before that match. When you play against a star, against a huge character, many times what happens is that you play against your past, against that player’s CV. This is the big challenge, playing against the ball.

This is where I want to stop for a moment for my personal experience. Every time you face these great players you expect something extraordinary and this also makes you start making clearly wrong decisions in your head.

True, they do amazing things, but not always. They aren’t always dressed as heroes. There are days that are more earthly and I have had the experience of having faced many that have marked their time: Boris Becker. Stefan Edberg AND Pietro Sampras, among others. On some occasions, some time later, you could talk to them and go back to those games. You thought you had to take the most spectacular and incredible shot because you said: “I have one of the best in the world in front of me and my shot, therefore, must be up to par”. Hand. When you exchange ideas they tell you: “If I had put that ball anywhere, I would never have been able to catch it. And then the game could have changed.”.

Etcheverry knows he will definitely have to play his best tennis. But he will depend a lot on Djokovic, he will have to try to wait for Nole to give him some opportunities. The point is to spot them, see them and act. The Serbian often gets into certain situations and problems which his great ability, his enormous solvency and his mentality then allow him to resolve. Therefore, as I said at the beginning, sometimes it is advisable to concentrate not against the opponent but against the ball that comes to you. This is often the best way to not get rid of emotions or sensations that don’t help you, that don’t favor you.

My hope is that Etcheverry sees this as a wonderful opportunity to challenge himself. Playing in one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world against the greatest winner of all time. And this is already a huge reward. I’m sure he has the clarity and wisdom to see it this way. Feeling like you have the tools and the opportunity in front of you to find it.

It’s about Novak Djokovic, beyond the fact that Nole hasn’t shone in recent days and has gone through difficult times, also feeding on a discussion with someone in the audience to try to revive the tension that had fallen and which he didn’t need.

So the great challenge is to be convinced that you can play it and give your maximum effort, regardless of everything. What are the chances of beating him? You shouldn’t lie to yourself but they exist. In any case, the best thing is to appeal to the phrase that Wawrinka has tattooed on his arm: “You’ve always tried. You’ve always failed. It doesn’t matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”.