Djokovic Opens the Refrigerator

Wall Street Journal - 

TOM PERROTTA

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 Val Bochkov

As Novak Djokovic climbed from a distant No. 3 to a convincing No. 1 in men's tennis over the past few years, he gave a lot of credit to a new gluten-free diet. He was also famously outed by this newspaper during the 2011 U.S. Open for his devotion to the benefits of sitting inside a pressurized egg-shaped contraption called a CVAC.

 

But in a new book that will be released next month, Djokovic reveals much more about the diet and regimen he follows—details he has, until now, kept quiet.

It offers a rare look into the mind of an elite athlete who has climbed to the top of a brutally competitive sport during one of its most competitive eras.

It also confirms something many tennis fans have long suspected: Novak Djokovic is a decidedly unusual fellow.

 

Want to roll like the world's top men's tennis player? Start by drinking loads of warm water all day long, as well as shakes made with pea protein concentrate. Avoid dairy and stay away from alcohol during tournaments. Eat lots of avocados, cashew butter and very little sugar. Banish caffeine, other than the occasional energy gel bar before matches. Be sure to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night, meditate, do plenty of yoga and tai chi, take melatonin supplements, hook yourself up to a biofeedback machine that measures your stress level and, when you have a free moment or two, keep a diary. Feel free to unwind with a cup of warm licorice tea.

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