The final day before a Grand Slam final is electric. To celebrate, the documentary takes an intimate plunge into players insulated pregame rituals, which get them through the extreme tension of the exquisite corpse. Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic just collected historic wins at the 2023 US Open and 2023 French Open respectively. Their accomplishments serve as milestones to illustrate how personal routines can make or break a player’s mentality on these significant days.
To hear Coco Gauff, the 19-year-old superstar of American tennis, tell it, she didn’t even mean to win the US Open. That conversation drove her resolve heading into the championship bout. With those dark personal clouds looming overhead, she became world No. Gauff’s emotional journey came full circle on the biggest stage, producing a stunning display and setting the stage for her teary-eyed celebration after winning the title.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic’s approach differed slightly. But ahead of his win at Wimbledon—which became his record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam—Djokovic put family first. He went on to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final. He adopted a “family man” approach and appreciated the “parental duties,” spending quality time in nature with his two daughters. But despite this competitive pressure, it was this family relationship that kept him grounded.
Championship day of a Grand Slam final has literal ghostly effects on champions’ lives. It can end in outpourings of joy and jubilation, or take us to quiet introspection. For the former champion and current commentator Mats Wilander, magical days like these require grounding routines to take center stage.
“One big difference is you know what time you’re playing,” said Mats Wilander.
Players usually have a pretty regimented routine in the days before their matches. The day before the final, athletes usually do something like a 5-minute training session. They’ll spend time on a stationary bike and then practice about 45 minutes on-court, both with and without their racket. Before a race early on the day of the competition, athletes typically eat a carb-heavy meal—often pasta or rice—to give them energy for the race.
As match time nears, players go through their last warm-ups around an hour before they hit the court. Through this practice, they not only get their bodies warmed up and ready to go, but work to recenter their minds.
“You start going through your routines in terms of warming up, and your brain starts focusing in on the process of playing the match. And it’s the same process before the match; you’re doing exactly the same thing before the finals.”
Aryna Sabalenka is looking forward to her last-day showdown with Ashleigh Barty at the Australian Open, saying,
Such sentiments are typical in an increasingly high-stakes athletic realm. The excitement grows as they all get ready to prove their skills on one of athletics most grand stages.
“You are waiting for it, you can’t wait to start.”
The experiences of finalists vary widely as soon as they step onto the court. Whether it’s the thrill of winning or the sting of losing, the feeling and energy is electric. For all of the victors, like Gauff and Djokovic, the first scenes after they claimed their titles will remain seared in their memories forever.
Not all outcomes are celebratory. For those who do not measure up, the consequences can be severe. Wilander noted,
“If you win, the next hour is probably one of the best hours that you have in your life as a tennis player because you’re on such a high,” Wilander stated.
Nick Kyrgios provided some great commentary on how he prepares for finals. On the morning of the 2023 Wimbledon final, his father made him breakfast, showcasing how familial support plays a role in easing pre-match nerves.
“If you’ve lost, it’s back to the drawing board … losing is kind of rough … you might as well have lost earlier in the tournament is what it feels like.”
Nick Kyrgios also shared insights into his preparation for finals. On the morning of the 2023 Wimbledon final, his father made him breakfast, showcasing how familial support plays a role in easing pre-match nerves.
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