From the time that Dimitrij Ovtcharov landed in the US, to the time that he finished his last match at the LA Open, he was all business.  The fact that he had won a medal in the Olympics 3 weeks prior did not distract him from being fully focused in his tournament preparation, focused between matches, and fighting during his matches.
 
I talked with him during a practice session 2 days prior to the tournament, and he commented about his preparation for this event that it was vital that he get warmed-up properly and not focus on sightseeing in California.  On the competition day, he arrived early to the venue to get some serious warm-up and get used to the conditions.  He advanced from the RR group and was scheduled to play against my group.  So he did his homework to find out about his next opponent and went to my table to make mental notes about the match between me and my opponent.  Prior to his next match, he went out and practiced serves.  During each of the rounds, he was seen fighting for each point.  So what should you learn from Dimitrij Ovtcharov???
 
1. Even after a great tournament, make sure that you prepare mentally for the next tournament.
 
2. Realize that the activities that you do prior to the event, have an impact on your performance.
 
3. Arrive early to the venue and get a good warm-up, even if you are heavily favored to win.
 
4. Take notes on your opponents’ strengths, weaknesses, tendencies, and game patterns.
 
5. Be respectful to your opponent and give your best from the beginning to the end.