Suffering made me a human being and a tennis champion

World tennis star, Serbian Novak Djokovic, stressed that his entry into the world of tennis was not a coincidence, but rather a “sign of destiny” that began in his early childhood, when tennis courts were built near his family’s restaurant, making him fall in love with the game from the first moment.

Djokovic said during his session at the World Sports Summit, “Playing tennis as a child was extremely difficult, especially in light of the harsh conditions that the country went through due to war and economic crises, which prevented him from participating in many tournaments and traveling internationally at an early age.”

Djokovic revealed a touching situation from his childhood when his father put a small sum of money in front of him and told him that this was all the family had, and that he had to bear greater responsibilities if he wanted to continue in an expensive game like tennis. He stressed that that moment made him mature early and take responsibility for his two younger brothers, an experience that shaped him as a human being and as an athlete.

He added, “Those experiences made him more humble and grateful for what he has achieved today, as he always thinks back to those moments whenever he faces new challenges in his sports or professional career, because they give him balance and inner peace.”

The Serbian tennis champion spoke about the role of his first coach, who taught him discipline and mental imagination in an innate way.

He said: “These foundations were among the greatest gifts he received in his career, especially in an individual sport like tennis, where the player bears full responsibility on the court.”