Sara Baalla

In June, Novak Djokovic made history when he won The French Open for the third time, reaching a milestone 23rd Grand Slam singles title. Though a new generation of stars is paving the way for the future of tennis, there is certainly no slowing down for this record-breaking champion.

Defeating the fourth seed — Norway’s Casper Ruud — in straight sets, Djokovic acknowledged the pinnacle moment of his career: “Every single player dreams of being on this stage and winning the trophy at least once in their career. I am beyond fortunate in my life to win 23 times, it is an incredible feeling.”

A Boy With A Dream

It seemed tennis was always destined for Djokovic. He began playing at the tender age of four with his two brothers, who also went on to play professional tennis. He has often spoken of the challenges he faced growing up in a war-torn Serbia and the resilience he had to find to escape his circumstances.

It was these experiences which ignited a passion for the well-being of children in his home country, culminating in the creation of The Novak Djokovic Foundation. Djokovic runs this charitable foundation with his wife Jelena, to give Serbian children better opportunities.

“There is no stopping the 36-year-old”

Wimbledon, in particular, has been a dream for Djokovic since he was a child. From his childhood bedroom in Belgrade, the tennis legend dreamt of winning the tournament as he built replicas of the prestigious trophy. His dream finally came true when he won his first title on the famed Centre Court in 2011.

There is no stopping the 36-year-old. Unlike most players, who reach their mid-thirties, Djokovic continues to be lauded for his perfectly rounded game and skilled shots. But just what is his secret?

“Ever since I got married and became a father, I have not lost many matches”

Novak Djokovic has openly said that his family’s encouragement has proven vital to his success. A regular supporter during his matches is his wife Jelena, who has been by his side for almost 20 years. “Whether I am winning or losing, she is always there,” said Djokovic of his wife and high school sweetheart.

“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same”

“Family is always there. When I go back home, I am not a tennis player anymore. I am a father and a husband.” Novak and Jelena welcomed their two children Stefan and Tara in 2014 and 2017. Parenthood ultimately changed his outlook on his career. He said: “Ever since I got married and became a father, I have not lost many matches. I won many tournaments. I suggest that to every player: ‘Get married, have kids, let’s enjoy this.'”

His children were frequently spotted cheering him on in his player’s box during Wimbledon this year. He aimed for an eighth win at the tournament, to match Roger Federer’s record at SW19.

 

Wimbledon 2023

Defending champions face a mountain of pressure when returning to reclaim the title. At the start of the 2023 tournament, Djokovic remarkably remained unbeaten on Centre Court for over 10 years. He has won successive Wimbledon titles for the last four years.

All eyes were on Djokovic as he walked the hallowed halls of Centre Court for the first time this year. He was greeted with the famous Rudyard Kipling inscription above the entrance to Centre Court, before walking out to cheering crowds: “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same.”

“When faced with adversity from the crowd, he can channel his frustration into awe-inspiring tennis”

And met with triumph he did as he breezed his way through the first rounds, defeating the likes of Pedro Cachin, Jordan Thompson, and Stan Wawrinka. Djokovic faced his first real challenge in the mighty serve of Hubert Hurkacz, although the match ultimately landed in Djokovic’s favour.

Seventh seed Andrey Rublev won the first set against the champion in the quarter-final. However, he was sent packing when Novak Djokovic regained his stride in the following three sets. Composure is a sure talent of the Serb — when faced with adversity from the crowd, he can channel his frustration into awe-inspiring tennis. This proved fundamental in defeating the eighth-seeded Italian Jannik Sinner in the semi-final, to reach the 35th Grand Slam final of his career.

Djokovic’s 35th Grand Slam Final

In one of the most memorable Wimbledon finals of late, which lasted 4 hours 43 minutes across five tantalising sets, a new champion was found in the 20-year-old Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz.

“It is a tough one to swallow when you are so close,” said Djokovic in his post-match interview. “I have been blessed with so many incredible matches in my career.” Referencing the thrilling 2019 final against Roger Federer, where he found himself two match points down before coming back to claim victory, Djokovic acknowledged the wins that could easily have been losses.

With the likes of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the future of tennis looks strong. However, it is without a doubt that this will not be the last we see of Novak Djokovic. In all the years of this beautiful sport, there have been very few quite like him. And there might not ever be again.

READ NEXT:

Featured image courtesy of Carine06 on Flickr. No charges have been made to this image. Image licence can be found here.

Sara is a Sports Editor at Empoword and an entertainment news reporter based in London. An avid knitter and bookworm, in her spare time you'll almost always find her curled up in front of the telly rewatching New Girl or Brooklyn 99.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *