Throughout his difficulties over the last year I’ve always maintained this about Novak Djokovic: his struggles have never had anything to do with any faults in his technique. Whatever problems he has had, they have been more to do with what’s been going on inside his head.

Watching the way Djokovic beat Adam Pavlasek 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in the second round here underlined that belief. Holy cow, the guy’s tennis was as perfect as a Michelangelo painting. Serves, returns, ground strokes, volleys, movement – everything was in peak working order.

I know it’s early days at this Wimbledon, but it was a performance that reminded me of how Novak played when he was winning just about every tournament he entered. That run ended after last year’s French Open, where he had become the first man for 47 years to hold all four Grand Slam titles.

His decline in the last 13 months has been spectacular but when I saw him in Rome a couple of months ago I told him: “Novak, you’ve got it all, man. You were the best and you still are the best. Don’t change anything. Know you’re a winner – and go out and prove it again.”

When Novak was at his peak I always felt that he was the best all-round player in the history of our sport. Holy smoke, he had absolutely no weaknesses. Are those days back again? We will know soon enough when he faces some tougher opposition, but for the moment the signs are good.

The strongest indication that he is on the way back is the smile that is back on his face. He appears to be enjoying himself again. It’s a simple fact that if your mental state isn’t right you won’t be able to perform at a maximum level on the court.

The best pictures from The Championships 2017 Show all 55 1 /55 The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon US player Venus Williams prepares to recieve serve from Britain's Johanna Konta during her women's singles semi-final win on the tenth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Johanna Konta of Great Britain during her semi final loss against Venus Williams of The United States on day ten of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships Clive Brunskill/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Sir Cliff Richard looks on from the centre court royal box on day ten of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships Alastair Grant/Pool/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Stefan Olsson in action during the Gentlemen's Wheelchair Singles on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships Steven Paston/PA Wire The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Gordon Reid in action during the Gentlemen's Wheelchair Singles on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships Steven Paston/PA Wire The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Johanna Konta talks to her trainer prior to her semi-final against Venus Williams on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships PA The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A member of staff adds names to the order of play board prior to the start of the action on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships Adam Davy/PA Wire The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators are led into the grounds on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships Steven Paston/PA Wire The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Switzerland's Roger Federer returns against Canada's Milos Raonic during their men's singles quarter-final match Getty The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Croatia's Marin Cilic reacts as he uses a towel during a break in play against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller during their men's singles quarter-final match on the ninth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Croatia's Marin Cilic serves to Luxembourg's Gilles Muller during their men's singles quarter-final match on the ninth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Britain's Andy Murray reacts after losing a point against US player Sam Querrey in their men's singles quarter-final match on the ninth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships Daniel Leal-Olivas The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ground staff work on court three ahead of day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club David Ramos/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Rufus, a Harris hawk, sit on a seat on Centre Court ahead of day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club David Ramos/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova waits to receive a serve from US player Coco Vandeweghe during their women's singles quarter-final match, after it re-commenced on a covered Centre Court, after rain delayed the match on Court One, on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Coco Vandeweghe of The United States in discussion with the chair umpire during the Ladies Singles quarter final match against Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships Clive Brunskill/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon US player Coco Vandeweghe returns against Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova during their women's singles quarter-final match on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships Daniel Leal-Olivas The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The covers are pulled across court two during the Ladies Singles quarter final match between Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia and Coco Vandeweghe of The United States on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships Julian Finney/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 A steward wrestles with an umbrella in the wind as rain delays play in the women's singles quarter-final match between Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova and US player Coco Vandeweghe on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Johanna Konta of Great Britain celebrates victory after the Ladies Singles quarter final match against Simona Halep of Romania on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships Michael Steele/Getty The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A spectator attempts to keep dry as they watch action on the screen on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships David Ramos/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators attempt to keep dry as they watch the Ladies Singles quarter final match between Johanna Konta of Great Britain and Simona Halep of Romania on the screens on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships David Ramos/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators attempt to keep dry as they watch action on the screen on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships David Ramos/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Romania's Simona Halep returns against Britain's Johanna Konta during their women's singles quarter-final match on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships Adrian Dennis/AFP The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators watch the action on centre court on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships Michael Steele/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon The Championships celebrate their 140th birthday this year, and the All England Club is looking better than ever. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Fans watch the play on a court. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ball-kids wait to enter a court. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Hungary's Timea Babos returns against Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A general view of court 10. Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Kei Nishikori plays a tweener. Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A general view of Court No 1. Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Dustin Brown during his match against Andy Murray. Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators watch Rafa Nadal in action. Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Why buy a glass of Pimm's when you can get a jug? Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A fan drinks champagne. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon The Championships were first held in 1877. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A television camera operator stands on a platform above the All England Club. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Players chairs are pictured. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Pimm's. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A ball-boy is seen on court as Britain's Katie Boulter plays. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Fans peer over a fence to see the play on an outside court. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ground staff talk. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A spectator wears a tennis ball hat. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A member of the ground staff looks on before play begins. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Selfie! AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Court attendants sit to the site of a court. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Service stewards stand at the top of an entrance. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis and Australia's Jordan Thompson play against Netherland's Jean-Julien Rojer and Romania's Horia Tecau. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A ball boy rolls a ball. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A court attendant uses an umbrella to cast shade on a player. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ball-kids queue up ahead of play. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ball-kids are told they "should not be seen. They should blend into the background and get on with their jobs quietly." AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Fans wear sun hats made from pages of a newspaper. AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A fan walks between outside courts. AFP/Getty Images

Friday’s match of the day

I know many of you Brits will be focusing on Andy Murray’s match against Fabio Fognini, but I’m just as intrigued by Heather Watson’s meeting with Victoria Azarenka. I have a personal interest here, of course, as Heather has been based at the IMG Academy since she was 12.

Heather’s situation at the moment is not dissimilar to Novak’s. She has dropped out of the world’s top 100 after a succession of disappointing results, but she’s another player for whom it’s not been a problem of technique.

Heather’s strokes have always been fine. Her problem has been her self-belief and confidence, though she has also had fitness and health issues in the last three or four years. Her frequent changes of coach haven’t helped either, so I hope that Colin Beecher and Morgan Phillips can now bring her some stability.

Wimbledon Day Three: Murray makes it four Brits into the third round

Azarenka is making her comeback after giving birth to her first child. She’s always been very strong on both flanks, especially when she is on the run, but there are areas of her game that are vulnerable.

When you hit the ball behind Azarenka she can sometimes be slow to react. Her second serve can also be a weakness: Heather will have to make sure she attacks it at every opportunity.

What Heather has to avoid is getting involved in cross-court slice battles. When Azarenka hits those slices, Heather needs to attack them. I also hope she goes into the net from time to time. Heather has very good volleys and I don’t think she can win if she stays rooted to the baseline.

Tales from the IMG Academy

Aspiring young tennis players come to the IMG Academy in Bradenton hoping we can help turn them into champions, but I’ve always seen our role as wider than that. I want our students to become good people as well as good players.

Mirnyi in action at Wimbledon in 2015 (Getty)

Max Mirnyi, who has been with us for 25 years and is still playing some great doubles at the age of 39, has been a model pro throughout his career and is every bit as generous and thoughtful as his father.

However, there was a time when even Max needed to be taught a lesson. As a teenager he was caught trying to look up an answer in a textbook to a question during a history test. He was surprised when I got to hear about it because he had thought that tennis was the only reason he was at the academy.

I told him never to do it again, suspended him from the tennis programme for three days and got him cleaning cars instead. Max told me later: “I learned two lessons: to never cheat in life and to always keep my cars clean.”

Tennis players must be mentally strong to succeed (Getty)

A tip from the top: Unless you’re super-human or have the physique of a Federer, Nadal, Murray or Djokovic, it’s inevitable that over the course of a match your body is going to start to break down. There’s not a lot that you can do about it, but there will be one part of your body that’s still intact: your mind. Think about how you can shorten the points and think about how you can stretch your opponent to the limit too. If you’re struggling, there’s every chance that they are too.

The perfect tennis player

Each day during Wimbledon I’m building a picture of the ideal tennis player by looking at a different aspect of the game. Today: the return of serve. We’re spoilt for choice in this category. Going into the past, Chris Evert, Monica Seles, Jimmy Connors, Michael Chang and Andre Agassi could all kill you with their returns. Martina Hingis could, too, and that’s one of the reasons why she’s still such a great doubles player.