Positioning: Djokovic, Sun Tzu, and the Strategy of Shi

Match point. Federer. The chair umpire’s voice pierced the hushed anticipation blanketing Arthur Ashe Stadium. Once again, Novak Djokovic stood in the shadows of tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, desperate to claim his seat at the table of greatness.

The 2011 U.S. Open semifinal brought a familiar challenge to Djokovic — match point down against Federer as he battled for ownership of sports history. At this moment, Djokovic waited, coiled like a warrior disciple under the tutelage of ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu. 

Ready position. Split step. Turn. Step. Swing. Contact. Follow through. Each phase of the return sequence flows into the next, blending athleticism with artistry. This time, Djokovic added an extra step. As Federer readied his serve, Djokovic shook his head defiantly, a silent roar toward the pro-Federer crowd.

Federer’s serve rocketed over the net from across the court. Djokovic sprung, perfectly positioned to absorb the ball’s velocity, redirecting Fed’s heat past his forehand. The odds-defying return winner wrongfooted the champion. With that shot, the best return I’ve ever seen, Djokovic announced himself, “Like it or not, I am here!” 

The scales of tennis hierarchy, long tilted towards Federer and Nadal, shifted.

Was “the shot” lucky? 

Even Djokovic acknowledges the shot was a gamble, “I had to take my chances. I was very close to being on my way back home.” And while the shot may have looked like an alignment of the stars — to understand this “lucky” shot, we must turn to the ancient concept of Shi (pronounced “sure”). 

Over two millennia ago, Sun Tzu, the revered Chinese general, explored Shi in his military treatise Sunzi (The Art of War) — how maneuvering into optimal position controls victory more than weapons or tactics alone. Like strategists on a battlefield, great tennis players like Djokovic understand that victory lies not in brute force but in preemptive advantage.

The modern tennis game is a high-speed chess match, where anticipating moves is as crucial as hitting winners. Djokovic embodies this art, maneuvering opponents into disadvantaged positions before striking. His footwork lures even the best into errors. His mastery of positioning is the cornerstone of his rise to become the greatest player ever. 

Shi is useful outside of war and tennis. As author Shane Parrish said, “The average person who constantly puts themselves in a good position beats the genius who finds themselves in a poor position.” Life, like tennis, is about cultivating Shi.

Some people seem lucky, always in the right place at the right time. But this is not luck. Whether they realize it or not, they are masters of Shi. Like Djokovic on the court, they maneuver circumstances to their advantage and avoided finding themselves in a disadvantaged one.

How can we embrace Shi? 

Shi is about acquiring a position that creates an easier, if not assured, victory. 

Think of it as a handle sculpted for an axe. Just as the handle amplifies the axe’s power, Shi amplifies our potential. It demands investment — time, effort, and resourcefulness. It’s about shaping opportunities, anticipating outcomes, and constantly refining our stance. Without this handle, we tire ourselves bashing the axe head against its target while making little progress. 

It starts with patience, recognizing that long-lasting success blossoms from carefully chosen paths, not impulsive sprints. It’s about channeling our energies wisely, adapting to changing tides, and constantly refining our positioning to avoid stagnation. Shi urges us to seek root causes, not quick fixes. It advocates for flexibility and nuance, choosing the indirect path over the head-on collision. Ultimately, Shi is about fortifying against potential losses, ensuring we’re never caught flat-footed in life’s game-over scenarios.

The elegance of Djokovic’s game lies not just in the power of his strokes but in the crafting of his positioning—each footfall and shift in body weight work to create an advantage. 

This art, this Shi, is not for champions alone. Its power manifests subtly through the choices we make daily — where we direct our energy, what we consume, how we nurture relationships, and the habits we sculpt. Embrace the spirit of Shi not just when fortunes hang in the balance but within mundane routines. Its quiet power amplifies from microscopic moves. Nurture this mindset, and gain the generative strength that flows not from willful force but wisdom in each step along the way.