Good memories breed confidence at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — Sweat still rolling off his forehead, Novak Djokovic won again at the Australian Open on Saturday night and then had this to say on the tournament's biggest court: "This is my favorite court in the world. I don't play better anywhere else."
What is in a place for a tennis player? They travel all over the globe, playing dozens and dozens of matches each year at a handful of tournaments. But it turns out that memories can play a role in a match — a big one, actually.
"It's a great confidence booster (when) you are on the court if you have great memories and you won the tournament four times," says Djokovic, speaking specifically about his own Australian Open experience. "I'm always trying to have that in the back of my mind, the great performances I had over the years (here). I try to use that in my advantage."
Outside of Davis and Fed Cups, there is no such thing as "home court advantage" — not usually, at least. Some players have the support of a home crowd when they play in their own nation, but it seems as though the mind might be the more influential of factors – especially when it comes to confidence.
"I don't know why, but here, coming back to the center court, it felt like home," says Martina Hingis, the former world No. 1 who won this tournament three times running, from 1997-99. "It was my territory, my grounds."
Strange relationships exist outside of Australia, as well: Caroline Wozniacki won New Haven four years in a row. Daniela Hantuchova captured two big titles at Indian Wells. And Djokovic lost his first match in China last fall.
After an injury knocked her to the sideline for much of 2014, two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka appears to have found her form again here in Melbourne. Does the place have anything to do with it?
"You always have those memories," says Azarenka, who has fallen to No. 44 in the world. "You can get inspired and motivated by them."
Defending champion Stan Wawrinka has talked openly this tournament about the joy he's taken in seeing his own photo — holding the trophy a year ago — inside the corridors of Rod Laver Arena.
Dominika Cibulkova, runner up to Li Na last year, went a pedestrian 10-17 from the middle of the season until her start in Oz. Yet her return to the scene of her climb has brought back her tennis, winning three consecutive matches for the first time in nine months.
"When I came here, I felt really good being back in Melbourne," says the world No. 10. "The memories from last year came back in a good way. I was like, 'OK, I did pretty well last year and I'm still the same person,' and it seems like I'm feeling good again on the court again."
Hingis thinks the same of Azarenka.
"You see Azarenka, she comes back here and you can tell that she feels like this is a good place for her," the Swiss star says.
Ekaterina Makarova, the Russian ranked No. 11 in the world, has made the quarterfinals for the third time in four years. Before last season, she had few results to match her Australian output at the other majors.
"I don't know what's special here, but I'm really comfortable," Makarova tells USA Today Sports. "On the court, off the court … every time I'm waiting for this trip at home and I'm waiting to be in Australia, to be here."
Not every player buys into the notion, however.
American John Isner, who lost in the third round, says that the mind holds both good and bad memories — no matter which tournament you're at.
"It doesn't guarantee you anything," Isner says of past success at a specific event. "I've played well at a lot of tournaments where I also haven't played well."
Back in the place where she had her breakout run a year ago, Eugenie Bouchard, the Canadian ranked No. 7, says it's all about comfort.
"I've played a few matches now on Rod Laver and I feel good out there," Bouchard says. "I feel comfortable."
And in a game as fickle and mental as tennis, comfort clearly breeds success.
PHOTOS: Day 7 at the Australian Open