Novak Djokovic
By
Giorgia Scaturro journalist
ONCE UPON A TIME IN YUGOSLAVIA
In the summer of 1991, a kid with pitch black thick hair plays alone with a tennis ball against the walls of buildings in Belgrade, the capital city of Yugoslavia. Another wall, in Berlin, had fallen down 2 years earlier, bringing the Iron Curtain and the Cold War to an end. The geopolitical order that ruled the world for 50 years crushed: a new one yet to be found. The Yugoslavian little boy would himself soon experience the consequences of what happened miles away in Germany, even if he had no knowledge of the events. On the 25th of August of that year, military forces put the city of Vukovar under siege. Months before, Yugoslavia had started breaking down into pieces; two new states had already declared independence, and another two would shortly follow suit: first began Slovenia, in the north, then Croatia, that would later that year be followed by Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina, the poorest and most disadvantaged of them all. The central government was left with Serbia and Montenegro alone. Decades of political oppression from Belgrade, added to centuries of religious conflict (Bosnians were predominantly Muslim, while all the other states mainly Catholic) and different ethnicities led to a cruel civil war, each one of the new states against the others. The collapse of the communist country, run for decades by the dictator Tito, brought widespread devastation and hardship to the region for many years: bombings, unrest, shortage of food were all part of daily life for the people of Serbia, including the young boy. On a Sunday in July 2024, 33 years later, that little boy sports a black beard, the hair still short, his adult body a tense thread of muscles, while facing his opponent, Novak Djokovic is playing the 37th Grand Slam tennis final of his life, on the Central Court of Wimbledon, in London, while, from the Royal Box, Princess Kate Middleton, future queen of England, looks down. He would end up losing to the young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, for the second final in a row in the last two years: yet he remains a tennis superstar. Djokovic is the greatest tennis player still active and one of the greatest sportsmen in the world. No one has won as much as he has, as a single player. It all started with a bouncing ball against crumbling buildings during the Yugoslavian war.
CROATIA MEETS SERBIA
Until today, Novak has won the AELTC Tournament, aka Wimbledon, 7 times, the most prestigious tennis title: he is one of the players with the most grass-court titles, thanks to his supernatural physical capabilities and focused mind. But also thanks to Srdjan and Dijana Djokovic; Novak’s parents played a crucial role in Novak’s sports career. Srdjan was a former professional skier and ski instructor, while Dijana managed a small family-owned pizzeria. Despite their modest wealth, they were determined to support their son's burgeoning talent. Srdjan's experience as an athlete gave him insight into the discipline and dedication required to succeed in sports, and he applied these principles to Novak's tennis training. Dijana, on the other hand, provided emotional support and managed the family's finances to ensure they could afford Novak's training and travel expenses. She often worked long hours at the pizzeria to make ends meet. The family's commitment to Novak's career was unwavering, even in the face of the economic and political turmoil of Serbia in the ’90s. They often travelled long distances for Novak's matches and training sessions, showing their dedication and belief in his potential.
I think luck falls on not just the brave but also the ones who believe they belong there N. Djokovic
CROATIA MEETS SERBIA
Recognizing his extraordinary talent for tennis, they sent him to train under Serbian celebrity Jelena Genčić, a renowned coach who years later would describe Novak as "the greatest talent I have seen since Monica Seles". Often in life, luck is essential: the old tennis coach Jelena, 66 at the time, bumped by chance into the gifted little Novak. She had opened a small tennis camp in the mountain town of Kopaonik, far away from the fights. It was the same place where Dijana was running a pizza parlour, and her little son used to go to see the tennis courts built just across the road.
Training in Belgrade under Genčić was intense, often interrupted by the sound of air raid sirens and bombings. That’s how the boy learnt to remain unshaken and focused. After many years under his local coach, a 12-year-old Novak moved to a higher step: he was sent to the Nikola Pilić Tennis Academy in Germany. Pilić was another former Yugoslavian tennis star, but from the Croatian side: taking in a Serbian pupil wasn’t so easy or guaranteed while the political and social wounds of war were still open. Moreover, sending their child abroad was a significant financial burden for the Djokovic family, but they believed in Novak's potential. His training at the academy, located in the outskirts of Munich, in the south of the country, was gruelling, filled with long hours on the court and strict discipline. It was the perfect environment for Novak: he thrived at the tennis school, quickly rising through the junior ranks.
THE AMERICAN DREAM
While American troops were invading Iraq, in 2003, looking for never-found chemical weapons owned by Saddam Hussein, a less historical turning point, but still relevant, happened that year: Novak became a professional tennis player. It meant he started getting paid for playing tournaments, providing some relief to his household balance: he was only 16. His initial years on the tour were filled with learning experiences. He climbed the ranks steadily, gaining a reputation for his resilience and baseline prowess. His breakthrough came in 2007, again in the outskirts of another city: New York. The secluded Flushing Meadows, a huge park and sports complex, some 15 kilometres away from Manhattan, hosts every first week of September, which ends with the Labour Day weekend, the US Open. That year, just one month after an almost unknown mortgage company called Countrywide went bust, starting the sub-prime crisis, the 20 year-old Novak reached the finals of the major US tennis tournament, and one of the Grand Slam, defeating top players like Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal along the way. He would lose to the Swiss Roger Federer, who was the up-and-coming champion, but his performance signalled the arrival of a new contender in men's tennis.
SUCCESS IS AROUND THE CORNER
After the US Open, success wasn’t too distant, just some months away. In January 2008 Djokovic won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. This victory catapulted him into the elite ranks of tennis. That same year, he won the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, adding another prestigious accolade to his growing list. From 2011 onwards, Djokovic's career began to reach new heights. He won three Grand Slam titles that year, defeating Nadal again, and Federer for the first time and multiple times after that. His epic matches against these rivals became legendary: in 2012, the Australian Open final between Djokovic and Nadal lasted nearly six hours: the Serbian won in what has been hailed as one of the greatest matches in tennis history, and the longest Grand Slam final of all time. Three years later, Djokovic won three Grand Slam titles, and just lost the final of the fourth. His rivalry with Federer and Nadal defined an era in tennis, producing some of the sport's most memorable moments. The intensity and quality of these matches captivated tennis fans around the world. It was, again, just a question of time before reaching the ultimate glory. One year later and Novak won the Roland Garros in Paris, completing a career Grand Slam: in 2016 he became the first male tennis player, since Rod Laver, to hold all four titles simultaneously. The Guinness World Records cemented his status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, extending the male record for most Grand Slam single titles won.
THE RICHEST SPORTSMAN IN SERBIA
Djokovic's success on the court has translated into immense wealth: by 2023, he had won prizes worth over 160 million US Dollars, making him one of the highest-paid tennis players of all time. On top of that, sponsorship deals with brands like Lacoste, Asics, Head and Peugeot brought in millions more, contributing to his estimated net worth of over 220 million US Dollars. Such amount ranks Novak in Serbia’s top 20 richest people, thus allowing him to indulge in a luxurious lifestyle. He owns several properties worldwide, including a villa in Marbella, south of Spain, a lavish home in Monte Carlo, luxury apartments in New York City, homes in Serbia, and more across the globe. Leveraging on his fame, he founded a chain of upscale tennis-themed restaurants name-branded: the Novak Cafe & Restaurant, featuring some of his favourite healthy dishes.
Despite this opulence, Djokovic never forgot his roots: he often returned to Serbia, where he invested in local businesses and supported young athletes. In 2007, he founded the Novak Djokovic Foundation, focusing on early childhood education in Serbia. The foundation built and refurbished schools, trained teachers, and provided scholarships for underprivileged children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, donated significant funds to hospitals in Serbia and Italy.
… when I was saying I want to become number one of the world and I was 7, 8 years old, most of the people were laughing to me. Because you know, it seemed like I have one percent chances to do that. And I’ve done it. N. Djokovic
NOVAK? NOVAX!
While showing his generosity, Covid also started a lot of controversy about Novak. His stance on certain health issues, particularly his opposition to mandatory vaccinations, drew much criticism. In 2020, he faced backlash for organizing the Adria Tour, a charity tennis series that resulted in several players, including Djokovic himself, contracting COVID-19. His refusal to getting the jab, ended with Australia refusing him a visa to enter the country: he was held in detention at airport immigration and could not play the Australian Open. After the pandemic, he often found himself booed by crowds who disagreed with his anti-vaccine ideas: he sometimes reacted with faces of repulsion against the public. Despite these setbacks, Djokovic's resilience still shone through. He bounced back from each controversy. As far as he keeps winning, criticism will not be an issue. As of 2024, he has won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, surpassing Federer and Nadal, he holds the record for the most Australian Open titles (10) and won his first Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
If you want something, you will find time. If you don’t want it, you will find excuses not to do it
A NEW AGE CHAMPION
Djokovic's personal life is far less dramatic and enthusiastic than his tennis matches. He married his high school sweetheart, Jelena Ristic, in 2014. The couple has two children: Stefan and Tara. He has a fixation for holistic disciplines in health and wellness: these include a gluten-free diet, yoga, and meditation. He wrote a biography, aptly titled "Serve to Win", which details his journey to peak physical and mental condition, offering insights into the routines that have kept him at the top at the age of 37. Apart from tennis, Djokovic has a passion for languages and speaks Serbian, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, among others. He is also an avid reader and enjoys exploring various philosophical and spiritual teachings.
