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Novak Djokovic has been told that he has an unusual edge over his rivals that allows him to take things to another level. Mark Philippoussis commended the world No 1\u2019s dedicated approach which included what he ate, what he did before matches and \u201chis stretching\u201d.<\/p>\n
Djokovic made history this year when he became the first player in the Open Era to win a 24th Grand Slam. Rafael Nadal was the men\u2019s singles record holder when it came to Major titles going into 2023, having 22 trophies to his name.<\/p>\n
But his long-time rival managed to match and surpass him as part of a dominant season. The world No 1 has lost just five matches so far in 2023 and he also managed to level his lifetime head-to-head record against Alcaraz at 2-2, winning two of the three matches they played this year.<\/p>\n
And Philippoussis believes that stretching could be part of the reason why Djokovic has an edge over his rivals both past and present. \u201cAs incredibly professional as you\u2019ve seen Rafa be or [Roger] Federer, where they\u2019re competing and making sure that they\u2019re going into grand slams mentally and physically the fittest, Djokovic (has) taken that to a level and it\u2019s just amazing,\u201d the Australian told Neos Kosmos.<\/p>\n
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive tennis news<\/strong><\/p>\n Just in <\/strong> Boris Becker and Holger Rune gesture gives first glimpse of coaching impact[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n With Djokovic already holding a host of records – Open Era Grand Slam titles, most Masters 1000s and all time weeks at world No 1 – Philippoussis admired his approach to keep improving every aspect of his game and his body. The former world No 8 continued: \u201cYou have to eat, breathe and sleep tennis to be winning multiple Grand Slams.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only has he won 24, which is a crazy number, he\u2019s still continuing to see where he can improve. Like, where can he get his one per cent here, one per cent there. Is it on the eating, which we know he does everything on the eating side.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat he puts into his body, what he does before the match, the way he warms up, his stretching. He looks at one per cent, everywhere, because that counts in the Grand Slams.\u201d Philippoussis is already backing Djokovic to win January\u2019s Australian Open thanks to his professionalism.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/72\/590x\/secondary\/5031754.jpg?r=1698236506270\")
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