WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.299 OK, let's unpack this. We're talking about a 00:00:03.299 --> 00:00:06.139 tennis legend who just keeps rewriting the record 00:00:06.139 --> 00:00:08.859 books, right? Someone whose dominance on the 00:00:08.859 --> 00:00:12.060 court is, well, almost matched by the conversations 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:14.500 he sparks way beyond it. We're talking about 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:17.440 a player who, even after decades at the very 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:20.839 top, continues to define what's possible in sport. 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:22.739 It's quite something. I mean, just last year, 00:00:22.859 --> 00:00:26.899 2024, he achieved something truly monumental. 00:00:27.100 --> 00:00:29.760 grabbing that singles gold medal at the Paris 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:32.460 Olympics. Yeah, the missing piece, finally. Exactly. 00:00:32.899 --> 00:00:35.299 And that victory didn't just add another trophy. 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:38.479 It completed both a career golden slam and a 00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:41.299 career super slam. Just incredible. And you'd 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:43.479 think, OK, maybe he slows down after that. We 00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:46.060 would think. But no, just this year, 2025, he 00:00:46.060 --> 00:00:49.020 hits his 100th ATP singles title. That's Geneva. 00:00:49.259 --> 00:00:51.399 Making him the first player ever to win at least 00:00:51.399 --> 00:00:54.679 one ATP title in 20 consecutive seasons. 20. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:57.399 It's astonishing, really, that kind of longevity, 00:00:57.640 --> 00:01:00.719 that relentless ambition. It's, well, it's Djokovic. 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:02.679 What's truly fascinating here, and I think our 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:05.540 sources really bear this out, is how his journey, 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:08.180 you know, from a childhood forged in war -torn 00:01:08.180 --> 00:01:11.239 Serbia to the recent Olympic gold in the century 00:01:11.239 --> 00:01:14.680 of titles, it isn't just a straight line of athletic 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:17.840 success. No, not at all. It's this, like... complex 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:21.140 tapestry, isn't it? Woven with these deeply held 00:01:21.140 --> 00:01:23.500 personal convictions, these moments of defiance. 00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:25.519 And then there's the statistical dominance that 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:27.920 just forces us to rethink what's possible in 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:30.560 tennis. Right. It's a story of constant evolution. 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:32.239 You feel not just in his game, but in his whole 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:35.319 persona. Definitely. Absolutely. So today, our 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:38.659 deep dive is all about Novak Djokovic, the man, 00:01:38.780 --> 00:01:42.040 the champion, and yeah, maybe the enigma too. 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:45.099 We've pulled together a really rich stack of 00:01:45.099 --> 00:01:47.260 sources, articles, research, personal accounts 00:01:47.260 --> 00:01:49.540 covering pretty much his entire career, his personal 00:01:49.540 --> 00:01:52.000 life, those staggering achievements. And yes, 00:01:52.219 --> 00:01:53.959 the controversies and unique viewpoints that 00:01:53.959 --> 00:01:55.920 have sometimes made him such a compelling and 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:58.430 sometimes polarizing figure. And our mission 00:01:58.430 --> 00:02:00.849 today really is to go beyond just the headlines 00:02:00.849 --> 00:02:03.549 and the match results. We want to try and distill 00:02:03.549 --> 00:02:05.930 the most important bits of knowledge, the key 00:02:05.930 --> 00:02:09.030 insights from all this material. to give you, 00:02:09.069 --> 00:02:12.169 our listener, a kind of shortcut to being genuinely 00:02:12.169 --> 00:02:14.569 well -informed about this, this titan of tennis. 00:02:14.810 --> 00:02:17.189 Yeah, exactly. We'll explore the incredible arc 00:02:17.189 --> 00:02:19.629 of his career. We'll delve into that unique playing 00:02:19.629 --> 00:02:22.229 style that makes him so successful. Analyze those 00:02:22.229 --> 00:02:24.810 epic rivalries that really defined an era. Right, 00:02:24.930 --> 00:02:27.310 the big three battles. And importantly, unpack 00:02:27.310 --> 00:02:29.710 those off -core aspects that make him such a 00:02:29.710 --> 00:02:32.949 complex and honestly, endlessly compelling individual. 00:02:33.509 --> 00:02:36.189 So where do we start? To really understand the 00:02:36.189 --> 00:02:39.150 champion he became, you have to go back. Yeah, 00:02:39.210 --> 00:02:41.169 absolutely. Back to the beginning. Let's look 00:02:41.169 --> 00:02:44.150 at the crucible that forged him. Indeed. Novak 00:02:44.150 --> 00:02:47.650 Djokovic was born May 22, 1987, in Belgrade. 00:02:47.669 --> 00:02:50.689 That was SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia back then. 00:02:51.150 --> 00:02:53.430 His family background is a paternal Serbian, 00:02:53.530 --> 00:02:55.990 maternal Croatian. And it's interesting, his 00:02:55.990 --> 00:02:58.270 two younger brothers, Marco and George, they 00:02:58.270 --> 00:03:00.419 also played pro tennis. Oh, I didn't realize 00:03:00.419 --> 00:03:02.520 both brothers played professionally, too, though 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:05.360 obviously not quite at his level. No, not quite 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:08.300 at that stratospheric level, no. But tennis was 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:10.979 clearly in the family. And his own start in tennis 00:03:10.979 --> 00:03:13.400 was incredibly early, wasn't it? Our sources 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:16.919 say he was just four. Four years old, yeah. His 00:03:16.919 --> 00:03:19.400 parents gave him a mini racket, a soft foam ball, 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:23.219 and his father, surgeon, apparently called it 00:03:23.219 --> 00:03:26.360 the most beloved toy in his life. Wow. Imagine 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:29.479 that little toy sparking a passion that would 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:32.360 fundamentally change a sport. It's almost cliche, 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:35.080 but with such unique layers beneath it. It is. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:37.280 And from that moment, the path wasn't... You 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:40.139 know, smooth sailing, the early coaching, the 00:03:40.139 --> 00:03:42.379 immense sacrifices his family made. It's a critical 00:03:42.379 --> 00:03:46.719 part of the story. For six years, 93 to 99, he 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:48.879 was coached by Jelena Genicich. Right, at Mount 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:50.879 Copanonic, where his parents had that fast food 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:53.180 place. Exactly. And Genicich wasn't just about 00:03:53.180 --> 00:03:55.099 technique. She was apparently key in shaping 00:03:55.099 --> 00:03:57.199 his game, convincing him to go with a two -handed 00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:59.259 backhand instead of the one -hander like his 00:03:59.259 --> 00:04:01.979 idol Pete Sampras. That's a huge decision early 00:04:01.979 --> 00:04:05.039 on. Massive. And Djokovic himself credits her 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:07.550 for, quote, shaping my mind. as a human being, 00:04:07.610 --> 00:04:10.030 but also as a professional. That tells you a 00:04:10.030 --> 00:04:12.189 lot about her influence. It really does, more 00:04:12.189 --> 00:04:13.789 than just hitting balls. It sounds like she was 00:04:13.789 --> 00:04:16.769 building character, resilience, maybe. I think 00:04:16.769 --> 00:04:19.230 so. And the sacrifice is just ramped up from 00:04:19.230 --> 00:04:22.910 there. At 12, just 12, he moves to Germany. To 00:04:22.910 --> 00:04:25.449 the Pielich Academy, right. In September of 99, 00:04:25.589 --> 00:04:28.029 spent four years there. Four crucial years, yeah. 00:04:28.430 --> 00:04:30.610 And Nikola Pielich, a really renowned coach, 00:04:31.029 --> 00:04:33.550 he didn't just teach him strokes. The sources 00:04:33.550 --> 00:04:36.910 talk about this rigorous training. having Novak 00:04:36.910 --> 00:04:39.509 serve against a wall for months to perfect his 00:04:39.509 --> 00:04:42.490 technique. Months. Just against a wall. Months. 00:04:42.810 --> 00:04:44.970 And working with a rubber exercise band for a 00:04:44.970 --> 00:04:48.300 whole year just for wrist flexibility. It sounds 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:51.379 incredibly disciplined, almost monastic. Grueling. 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:53.360 And all this is happening against a really tough 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:55.980 backdrop, right? The Yugoslav wars. Absolutely 00:04:55.980 --> 00:04:59.279 cannot ignore that context. The late 90s, Serbia 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:01.660 enduring embargoes, NATO bombings during the 00:05:01.660 --> 00:05:04.180 Kosovo war. Djokovic has talked about training 00:05:04.180 --> 00:05:06.240 inside a disused swimming pool that they'd converted 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:08.579 into a makeshift court just to find somewhere 00:05:08.579 --> 00:05:10.899 safe to hit balls. Wow. And then there's the 00:05:10.899 --> 00:05:13.220 financial strain. His father taking out high 00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:15.740 -interest loans to pay for it all. Huge pressure 00:05:15.740 --> 00:05:18.879 on young Novak. And he feels that pressure actually 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:21.699 helped him. He believes so, yeah. He thinks that 00:05:21.699 --> 00:05:24.959 relentless early pressure directly honed his 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:27.220 ability to perform in clutch moments later on. 00:05:27.220 --> 00:05:29.480 It kind of forwards that mental steel. So those 00:05:29.480 --> 00:05:32.120 early years, it wasn't just about the forehand 00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:34.540 and backhand. It was fundamentally shaping his 00:05:34.540 --> 00:05:37.699 mindset, his fight. And even before turning pro, 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:40.060 his junior career was pretty stellar, wasn't 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:42.459 it? Like a preview of what was coming. Oh, definitely. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:46.160 2001, he just dominated the under 14s one time. 00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:48.759 in Italy, beating Andy Murray in one semifinal. 00:05:48.819 --> 00:05:51.259 Ah, the first signs of that rivalry. Exactly. 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:53.819 When the U14 European champs, singles and doubles, 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:56.579 led Serbia to the European Summer Cup win, ended 00:05:56.579 --> 00:05:59.420 2001 ranked number one in U14 Europe with Murray 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:01.699 number two. Fascinating, right? Really is. Setting 00:06:01.699 --> 00:06:04.399 the stage early. And he kept it going in U16s 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:07.500 in 2002. Won tournaments in France, beat Gael 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:10.300 Monfils in one final, won his first ITF Title 00:06:10.300 --> 00:06:13.339 II. His overall junior record was solid. 40 -11 00:06:13.339 --> 00:06:16.560 singles, 23 of 6 doubles. Got to number 24 in 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.839 the world junior rankings in early 04. And reached 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:20.860 the Aussie Open junior semis that year too. He 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:22.959 did. Clearly signaling he was ready for the next 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:25.670 step. OK, so a really strong foundation built 00:06:25.670 --> 00:06:28.189 under these incredibly tough character defining 00:06:28.189 --> 00:06:31.410 circumstances that sets the stage perfectly for 00:06:31.410 --> 00:06:34.470 his professional set, which, you know, wasn't 00:06:34.470 --> 00:06:36.129 instant superstardom, was it? It was more of 00:06:36.129 --> 00:06:38.649 a steady climb from 2003 to 2010. Very steady, 00:06:38.670 --> 00:06:41.550 yeah. He turned pro in 2003, played his first 00:06:41.550 --> 00:06:44.170 futures match loss narrowly, but won his first 00:06:44.170 --> 00:06:46.800 futures title later that year in Belgrade. And 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:49.540 in 2003 ranked, what, 687? Right, starting from 00:06:49.540 --> 00:06:52.040 the ground up. Then in 2004, he gets his first 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:55.139 official ATP win in Deos Cup. Wins his first 00:06:55.139 --> 00:06:57.860 challenger title in Budapest on his 17th birthday. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:02.370 Ends that year ranked 186. patiently building. 00:07:02.550 --> 00:07:04.689 It's that incremental climb, isn't it? Not bursting 00:07:04.689 --> 00:07:07.310 onto the scene like some others. Grand Slam debut 00:07:07.310 --> 00:07:10.589 in 2005 at the Aussie Open, gets his first actual 00:07:10.589 --> 00:07:12.509 slam win at the French Open that year. And by 00:07:12.509 --> 00:07:14.529 the end of 05, he cracks the top 100, number 00:07:14.529 --> 00:07:16.629 78, youngest player in there. Which is a huge 00:07:16.629 --> 00:07:19.339 milestone. breaking that top 100 barrier. Definitely. 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:22.639 And during this time, 2006, there was that interesting 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:25.399 little detail about potentially playing for Great 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:27.779 Britain. Ah, yes, that story. The media reported 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:30.259 his family discussed it. Djokovic initially kind 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:32.300 of brushed it off, but later confirmed there 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:35.220 were serious talks. But he emphasized he chose 00:07:35.220 --> 00:07:37.939 Serbia because of his strong national identity. 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:41.870 And that decision... looking back, feels very 00:07:41.870 --> 00:07:44.050 significant, given everything that followed. 00:07:44.129 --> 00:07:46.790 It really does, underlines that patriotism, that 00:07:46.790 --> 00:07:49.810 conviction we see later. Also in 2006, the French 00:07:49.810 --> 00:07:52.949 Open, he really makes a mark, reaches his first 00:07:52.949 --> 00:07:55.470 Grand Slam quarterfinal. Yeah, B. Fernando Gonzalez, 00:07:55.629 --> 00:07:58.410 who is seated ninth. Had to retire against Nadal 00:07:58.410 --> 00:08:00.569 in that QF with an injury, but that was their 00:08:00.569 --> 00:08:02.629 first meeting, wasn't it? The start of something 00:08:02.629 --> 00:08:04.670 huge. The very beginning of that epic rivalry. 00:08:04.889 --> 00:08:07.470 And that run pushed him into the top 40. And 00:08:07.470 --> 00:08:08.889 he built on that momentum, didn't he? He won 00:08:08.889 --> 00:08:11.480 his first ATP titles that year. He did. Dutch 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:14.019 Open in Amersfoort, then the Moselle Open in 00:08:14.019 --> 00:08:17.480 Metz, broke into the top 20, ended 2006 ranked 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:20.420 16th, youngest in the top 20. He wasn't just 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:22.439 promising anymore. He was a real threat. OK, 00:08:22.459 --> 00:08:25.740 so he's making serious waves. But 2007 and 2008, 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:28.240 those feel like the real breakthrough years where 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:30.759 he plants his flag in the top three. Absolutely. 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:34.320 2007 starts strong, wins Adelaide, runner up 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:37.659 in Indian Wells, then wins Miami. His first Masters 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:40.320 title. And the youngest champ there since Agassi 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:43.500 in 1990, beat Nadal and Conyas, too. That's a 00:08:43.500 --> 00:08:45.840 statement. Huge, David. His confidence was clearly 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:48.720 growing. Won Estoril on clay. Reached his first 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:50.940 major semi at the French Open. Lost to Nadal 00:08:50.940 --> 00:08:53.620 again, but getting closer. Retired in the Wimbledon 00:08:53.620 --> 00:08:56.679 semis against Nadal with that elbow issue. But 00:08:56.679 --> 00:09:00.539 then came the Canadian Open. Oh, yes. That was 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:02.960 spectacular. Unbelievable run. Beat world number 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:04.879 three Roddick, number two Nadal, and number one 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:08.250 Federer. All in the same tournament. Wow. First 00:09:08.250 --> 00:09:10.830 player to do that since Becker in 94. Exactly. 00:09:11.490 --> 00:09:14.190 And Bjorn Bork himself said Djokovic was definitely 00:09:14.190 --> 00:09:16.549 a contender to win a Grand Slam. High praise 00:09:16.549 --> 00:09:18.970 indeed. And he backed it up. Reached his first 00:09:18.970 --> 00:09:21.250 major final at the U .S. Open that year. Lost 00:09:21.250 --> 00:09:23.529 to Federer, but he was there. Yep. Won Vienna, 00:09:23.629 --> 00:09:26.350 too. Finished the year ranked number three. Firmly 00:09:26.350 --> 00:09:28.490 in the elite group. The stage was absolutely 00:09:28.490 --> 00:09:30.909 set for 2008. Which was the year everything changed, 00:09:30.909 --> 00:09:32.950 really. Monumental year. Started with Hotman 00:09:32.950 --> 00:09:35.009 Cup. Even played Serena Williams in mixed doubles 00:09:35.009 --> 00:09:37.860 there. Ah, fun fact. But the real story was the 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:40.399 Australian Open. Reached the final without dropping 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:43.679 a single set. Incredible form. Then the semifinal 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:45.759 against Federer, the two time defending champ, 00:09:46.419 --> 00:09:49.000 and Djokovic beats him. A huge upset at the time. 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:51.879 Massive. And then he goes on to beat Joe Wilfried 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:55.200 Tsonga in the final to win his first Grand Slam 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:58.419 singles title. That broke the Federer Nadal stranglehold 00:09:58.419 --> 00:10:01.460 they won the previous 11 major straight. This 00:10:01.460 --> 00:10:05.159 was a clear signal. The duopoly was over. A new 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:07.220 force had arrived. He wasn't just winning, he 00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:09.799 was disrupting the entire narrative of that era. 00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:11.820 And he kept winning big titles that year too. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:15.200 Yep. More Masters success, won Indian Wells and 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:17.460 the Italian Open, his third and fourth Masters 00:10:17.460 --> 00:10:20.120 titles, grabbed a bronze medal in singles at 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:22.039 the Beijing Olympics too. Right, adding that 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:24.100 Olympic hardware. And then capped off an amazing 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:26.259 year by winning his first year in championship, 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:29.340 the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, beating Gavy 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:32.000 Danko. He was consolidating his spot, not just 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:34.200 a challenger, but someone who could win the biggest 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:36.720 events against the best. This really set the 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:38.980 tone for what was coming next. OK, so the next 00:10:38.980 --> 00:10:41.299 couple of years, 09 and 10, he's maintaining 00:10:41.299 --> 00:10:44.000 that high level, right? Maybe not quite the historic 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:46.639 dominance yet, but still winning a lot. Exactly. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:49.740 Consolidating. 2009, he reached 10 finals, won 00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:53.340 five titles. Dubai, the first ever Serbia Open 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:55.779 winning at home was big for him. Reached finals 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:58.639 in Monte Carlo. Rome lost to Nadal both times 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:00.759 since an anti -final beat Nadal in the semis, 00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:03.279 lost to Fed. He was consistently in the mix. 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:05.759 Right there, knocking on the door. 2010 was interesting. 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:10.059 Defended his Dubai title. And a huge moment, 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:12.460 leading Serbia to his first ever Davis Cup title. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:14.700 That must have been massive for him and the country. 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:17.740 Huge. A real moment of national pride. But it 00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:21.580 was also a year of maybe slight turbulence, split 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:24.179 with coach Todd Martin, and had that really rare 00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:26.419 loss at the French Open quarters to Jurgen Meltzer 00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:28.799 after being up two sets to love. Which is incredible. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:30.980 That's still his only major loss from two sets 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:33.120 up, right? That's the stat, yeah. Just shows 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:35.379 his mental strength, usually. He also won his 00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:38.139 first ATP doubles title that year, too. showcasing 00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:41.960 the all -around game. So we've seen this steady 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:44.519 climb, this consolidation, but then comes this 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:48.399 period, roughly 2011 to 2016, that just feels 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:51.320 like total dominance, the reign of dominance, 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:54.320 the Noll Slam. What clicked? What changed? Yeah, 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:56.879 this era fundamentally shifted everything in 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:00.220 men's tennis. And 2011, well, 2011 wasn't just 00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:01.840 great. It was one of the great seasons ever. 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:04.639 He starts absolutely on fire. Wins the Australian 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:07.080 Open, his second, beats Federer in the semis, 00:12:07.220 --> 00:12:09.480 Murray in the final, showing he can beat both 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:12.000 rivals at the slams. Then he just sweeps to buy 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.299 Indian Wells Miami, becomes only the third guy 00:12:14.299 --> 00:12:16.779 ever to beat both Fed and Rafa in the same event 00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:19.200 twice. And it wasn't just that he was winning, 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:22.679 it was how, beating them repeatedly, even on 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:24.720 their best surfaces. It signaled he wasn't just 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.639 a contender anymore, he was the guy. It felt 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:29.019 like a psychological shift as much as a technical 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:31.659 one. Completely. And then the clay court breakthrough 00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:34.620 that year. That was huge. Beating Nadal on clay 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:37.799 after losing nine straight. Exactly. One Serbia 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:41.809 open. Then Madrid and Rome, beating Rafa in straight 00:12:41.809 --> 00:12:45.149 sets in both finals. Massive mental barrier overcome. 00:12:45.389 --> 00:12:48.370 That led into this incredible 43 -match win streak. 00:12:48.710 --> 00:12:51.629 A perfect 41s -L start to the season. Just insane, 00:12:51.669 --> 00:12:53.690 until the French open some eyes against Federer, 00:12:53.889 --> 00:12:56.110 right? Yeah, Fed snapped the streak there. But 00:12:56.110 --> 00:12:58.450 Novak bounced back incredibly quickly. Five weeks 00:12:58.450 --> 00:13:00.730 later, wins his first Wimbledon title. Beating 00:13:00.730 --> 00:13:03.049 Nadal in the final again, and that secured the 00:13:03.049 --> 00:13:04.590 world number one ranking for the first time. 00:13:04.610 --> 00:13:06.789 Climbed the mountain, then followed up by beating 00:13:06.789 --> 00:13:09.120 Nadal again in the U .S. Open final, his first 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:12.740 US Open title, third major of 2011. Just a dominant 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:15.259 breakthrough year. Absolutely phenomenal. Truly 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:17.860 one for the ages. So moving into 2012 -2013, 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:19.899 he keeps that momentum going, especially down 00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:22.820 under, and keeps chipping away at Rafa's clay 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:25.840 dominance. Yes. 2012 kicks off with that legendary 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:29.139 Australian Open final against Nadal. The marathon. 00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:32.200 Five hours, 53 minutes. Longest major final ever. 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:35.080 Longest match in Aussie Open history. And Djokovic 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:37.519 wins it. Just incredible physical and mental 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:40.679 endurance on display. He also won Miami again. 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:42.980 Reached his first French Open final. Lost to 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.759 the Dolphins. There, defended his Rogers Cup 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:47.080 title. And won the ATT finals again at the end 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:49.960 of the year. Still operating at an elite level. 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:53.259 And 2013, another Aussie Open title. Right. Made 00:13:53.259 --> 00:13:56.179 it three in a row. Record third consecutive in 00:13:56.179 --> 00:13:58.929 the open area. Beat Murray in that final. But 00:13:58.929 --> 00:14:01.009 maybe even more impressive that year, showing 00:14:01.009 --> 00:14:03.110 his versatility, was winning the Monte Carlo 00:14:03.110 --> 00:14:06.570 Masters. Right. Beating Nadal there, ending Rafa's 00:14:06.570 --> 00:14:09.049 incredible 46 -match win streak at that specific 00:14:09.049 --> 00:14:11.029 tournament. Huge statement, proving he could 00:14:11.029 --> 00:14:13.629 win anywhere, even on Nadal's fortress. He lost 00:14:13.629 --> 00:14:15.169 some tough land finals that year though, didn't 00:14:15.169 --> 00:14:17.889 he? He did. Dramatic French Open semi to Nadal. 00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:21.320 Wimbledon final to Murray, US Open final to Nadal. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:25.240 But he finished 2013 incredibly strong, won China, 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:27.899 Shanghai, Paris Masters, and the ATP World Tour 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:30.059 finals, ended the year on a 24 -match winning 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:31.860 streak. Which led to bringing Boris Becker onto 00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:34.039 the team. Yeah, Becker joined as head coach for 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:36.879 2014, signaled a real push to find that next 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:40.639 level, that extra edge. So 2014, 2015. More Wimbledon 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:44.019 battles, crazy master success. His grip on number 00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:46.700 one just tightens. Definitely. 2014 wins Indian 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:48.840 Wells and Miami again, the sunshine double. Right. 00:14:48.970 --> 00:14:51.309 Beats Nadal at the Italian Open. And this is 00:14:51.309 --> 00:14:54.309 where he donated his entire $500 ,000 prize money 00:14:54.309 --> 00:14:57.029 to flood victims in Southeast Europe. A really 00:14:57.029 --> 00:14:59.169 powerful moment. Yeah, connecting his success 00:14:59.169 --> 00:15:02.210 back home. A consistent theme. Absolutely. He 00:15:02.210 --> 00:15:04.230 lost the French final to Nadal again, but then 00:15:04.230 --> 00:15:06.710 got redemption at Wimbledon. Won his second title, 00:15:07.090 --> 00:15:09.250 beating Federer in a five -set classic. Reclaiming 00:15:09.250 --> 00:15:11.429 world number one, too. Yep. Finished the year 00:15:11.429 --> 00:15:13.330 winning his fifth China Open, Paris Masters. 00:15:13.730 --> 00:15:15.750 Secured year -end number one for the third time. 00:15:15.909 --> 00:15:19.259 Just relentless consistency. And then 2015. Our 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:22.179 sources describe it as just historic, almost 00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:25.600 suffocating dominance. It really was. Won a record 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:28.120 fifth Australian Open, beating Murray again, 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:30.340 became the first player to win the Indian Wolves 00:15:30.340 --> 00:15:33.100 Miami double three times, then won Monte Carlo, 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:35.139 becoming the first man to win the first three 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:38.559 Masters 1000s of the season, then won Rome. Four 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:40.440 Masters titles out of the first four he played. 00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:43.840 He was just on another planet. Unstoppable. Until 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:45.879 the French Open final, right, the Warrinca upset. 00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:48.240 That was a shocker, yeah. Yeah. Stan played lights 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.559 out, but Novak bounced right back when his third 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:53.100 Wimbledon beating Federer, then won the US Open, 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:55.120 beating Federer again. That was the third Grand 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:57.480 Slam in 2015, 10th overall. And statistically, 00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:59.600 that was his best ever season. By the numbers, 00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:02.519 yes. We should record 15 consecutive finals, 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:06.220 won a record 10 big titles, Slams, Masters, ATP 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:09.059 finals, got a record 31 wins over top 10 players. 00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:11.879 That big title sweep across all the major events, 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:14.899 it's just unparalleled versatility and dominance. 00:16:16.350 --> 00:16:19.250 15 consecutive finals. That level of consistency 00:16:19.250 --> 00:16:22.230 is mind -bending. Which brings us to 2016, the 00:16:22.230 --> 00:16:24.750 year of the Null Slam and the career Grand Slam. 00:16:25.129 --> 00:16:27.129 The peak of the mountain. Truly the pinnacle. 00:16:27.529 --> 00:16:30.190 Started 2016 winning his 60th career title in 00:16:30.190 --> 00:16:33.330 Doha, beating Nadal. Then claims his sixth Australian 00:16:33.330 --> 00:16:36.129 Open, beating Fed in semis, Murray in the final. 00:16:36.649 --> 00:16:39.309 Wins his fifth Indian Wells, sixth Miami Open. 00:16:39.970 --> 00:16:42.690 Tying Agassi's record there, achieved his fourth 00:16:42.690 --> 00:16:45.500 Sunshine Double. Most ever. He became the all 00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:47.360 -time prize money leader then too, right? Yep. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:50.120 Across 98 .2 million dollars. Just shows how 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:51.840 much winning he was doing. And it all built towards 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:54.059 Paris. The holy grail for him at that point. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:56.980 Won Madrid, then came the French Open, beat Murray 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:59.700 in four sets in the final. And with that victory, 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:02.919 he completed the Noll Slam, holding all four 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:04.779 major titles at the same time. First man since 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:07.700 Rod Laver in 1969. Just incredible. And it made 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:10.089 him the eighth man. ever to achieve the career 00:17:10.089 --> 00:17:12.769 Grand Slam. First, he hit $100 million in prize 00:17:12.769 --> 00:17:16.470 money, set a ranking points record to 16 ,950 00:17:16.470 --> 00:17:18.849 points, total dominance. It felt like he was 00:17:18.849 --> 00:17:22.309 genuinely unbeatable, but then a stumble at Wimbledon, 00:17:22.509 --> 00:17:24.549 a chink in the armor. Yeah, that 30 -match Grand 00:17:24.549 --> 00:17:26.170 Slam winning streak, which felt like it would 00:17:26.170 --> 00:17:28.849 never end, came to a sudden halt. Third round 00:17:28.849 --> 00:17:31.150 loss of Wimbledon to Sam Quarry. Wow, that was 00:17:31.150 --> 00:17:34.910 unexpected. Very unexpected. Maybe fatigue, maybe 00:17:34.910 --> 00:17:37.130 pressure after finally winning Roland Garros. 00:17:37.190 --> 00:17:40.619 Who knows? But it was a setback. He did regroup, 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:42.579 though, when his fourth Canadian Open later that 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:45.380 year. But that period, culminating in the French 00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:48.559 Open win, really felt like the peak of that dominant 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:52.039 era before new challenges emerged. That relentless 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:54.460 pursuit, that foundation built in adversity, 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:58.500 it all led here, not just to titles, but to forcing 00:17:58.500 --> 00:18:01.559 this huge conversation. Which, yeah, this is 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:03.579 where it gets really interesting, the GOAT debate. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:06.099 Greatest of all time. It's always contentious 00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:08.960 always subjective in part But our sources and 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:11.960 the sheer weight of evidence now make a compelling 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:14.640 almost undeniable case for Djokovic Yeah, if 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:16.299 you connected to the bigger picture a lot of 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:18.440 people inside the sport observers players coaches 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:21.099 They now openly regard him as the greatest and 00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:23.359 it's primarily down to those unprecedented Achievements 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:25.559 across all the big tournaments plus that incredible 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:28.359 longevity at number one the stats Especially 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:30.559 against his main rivals are just getting harder 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:33.460 and harder to argue against And the numbers themselves, 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:36.140 when you actually lay them out, they're just 00:18:36.140 --> 00:18:39.079 staggering. They paint this picture of a uniquely 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:41.839 relentless champion. Let's dig into some of that 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:43.759 statistical dominance. OK, let's start with the 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:46.640 biggest ones, Grand Slams. He holds a men's record, 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:50.059 24 singles titles. He's achieved the triple career 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:53.240 Grand Slam, winning each major at least three 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:55.519 times. Nobody else has done that in men's tennis. 00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:58.710 Triple career slam. That's insane. Right. He's 00:18:58.710 --> 00:19:00.849 the only man to hold all four majors at once, 00:19:01.109 --> 00:19:02.950 across three different services, the No Slam. 00:19:03.430 --> 00:19:05.609 He's got the career Golden Slam, all four majors, 00:19:05.730 --> 00:19:08.009 plus Olympic gold. And the career Super Slam 00:19:08.009 --> 00:19:09.690 add the year -end championships to that list. 00:19:09.849 --> 00:19:12.089 He's basically collected everything. Pretty much. 00:19:12.430 --> 00:19:14.769 Four seasons where he won three majors, a record 00:19:14.769 --> 00:19:18.150 37 men's major singles finals appearances, 52 00:19:18.150 --> 00:19:22.490 semis, 63 quarters, a record 395 match wins at 00:19:22.490 --> 00:19:25.940 majors, and 14 hardcore majors alone. It just 00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:28.519 shows his dominance and consistency on the biggest 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:30.740 stages. And beyond the slams, his ranking records 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:32.960 are just mind -doggling. Sustained excellence 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:35.059 over such a long period. Yeah, the week's at 00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:38.599 number one. Record 428 weeks. Just let that sink 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:41.480 in across 13 different years. 13 years he finished 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:43.359 ranked number one or spent time there? He hit 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:47.519 that record. Points total is number one, 16 ,950. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.480 Showed how far ahead he was at his peak. And 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:54.420 he's the oldest ever, world number one, at 37. 00:19:54.569 --> 00:19:57.269 plus a record eight times finishing the year 00:19:57.269 --> 00:19:59.930 as number one. It's just sustained dominance 00:19:59.930 --> 00:20:02.029 unlike almost anything we've seen. And the big 00:20:02.029 --> 00:20:05.430 titles count slams, masters, year -end finals. 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:08.700 Record 72 big titles. He's completed the big 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:10.700 title sweep, won every single one of those elite 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:13.259 events at least once. He's a multiple champion 00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:15.440 at all the annual big titles. And remember that 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:18.559 2015 season, won 10 big titles in one year. Just 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:20.880 incredible. His Masters Series record is also 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:22.779 off the charts, right? Those nine big tournaments 00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:24.900 below the slams. Completely rewritten the record 00:20:24.900 --> 00:20:27.640 books there. Record 40 Masters singles titles. 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:29.759 He's done the double career Golden Masters, won 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:32.440 all nine Masters events. Twice? Twice. Winning 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:35.339 all nine is hard enough once. Exactly. Shows 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:37.599 incredible mastery across all conditions, all 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:40.000 continents. He won 12 Masters Finals in a row 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.240 at one point, holds the record for Masters match 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:46.799 wins, 414, and the ATP Finals. Record seven titles, 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:49.599 won them in three different decades. That longevity 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:51.880 again. And crucially, he did all this while playing 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:54.200 against Federer and Nadal, arguably the two other 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:56.180 greatest players ever. His head -to -head record 00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:58.930 is key, isn't it? It's arguably the most compelling 00:20:58.930 --> 00:21:01.329 stat in the J .F. debate for him. He holds a 00:21:01.329 --> 00:21:03.950 winning record against both Federer 2723 and 00:21:03.950 --> 00:21:08.289 Nadal 3129. And he gets Murray too, 25 -11. He 00:21:08.289 --> 00:21:10.349 didn't just rack up titles in a weaker era, he 00:21:10.349 --> 00:21:13.430 beat the best repeatedly. Most wins ever versus 00:21:13.430 --> 00:21:15.950 top 10 players, 261 versus top five players, 00:21:16.109 --> 00:21:18.930 125. He's the only player to beat Nadal at all 00:21:18.930 --> 00:21:21.069 four majors. Think about beating Rafa at Roland 00:21:21.069 --> 00:21:23.910 Garros. And he has the most wins over Federer, 00:21:24.109 --> 00:21:26.529 including three Wimbledon finals. That head -to 00:21:26.529 --> 00:21:28.670 -head dominance against his direct rivals is 00:21:28.670 --> 00:21:30.769 huge. And the prize money reflects that success 00:21:30.769 --> 00:21:34.670 too. All -time leader, over $188 million by 2025. 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:37.000 It's a staggering amount of winning. But beyond 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:39.140 the numbers, the praise from his peers, from 00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:41.059 legends of the game, that adds another layer, 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:43.759 doesn't it? It really does. When Rafael Landel 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:46.500 himself says in 2024 that Djokovic's numbers 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:49.559 are indisputable and calls him the greatest, 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:52.940 acknowledging, quote, it is not beneath me, nor 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:55.000 do I have an ego big enough to try and disguise 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:58.119 a reality that is not. This is the truth. That's 00:21:58.119 --> 00:22:00.640 immense respect from your biggest rival. Wow. 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:03.859 Nadal also said his 2011 level was maybe the 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:06.680 highest tennis he'd ever seen. He did. And back 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:10.519 in 2017, Nadal called Djokovic invincible when 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:13.099 playing at his best, technically. Ultimate praise. 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:15.779 And Medvedev, another rival, just flat out called 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:18.039 him the greatest tennis player in history. Yeah. 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:20.700 And Pete Sampras, a Goat contender himself, pointed 00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:23.480 to Djokovic's dominance over Fed and Rafa, plus 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:26.180 handling the next generation as a clear sign 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:29.019 that he is the greatest of all time. Andre Agassi, 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:30.799 who coached him briefly, said, the highest standard 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:33.000 of tennis that I've ever seen is when Novak is 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:35.279 playing his best tennis. Coming from Agassi, 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:37.279 that means a lot. What about Nick Bulatieri, 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:39.579 the legendary coach? He had strong words, too, 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:42.259 didn't he? Bulatieri called him the most complete 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:44.599 player ever, the most perfect player of all time. 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:47.380 Said he had no discernible weakness. His quote 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:49.920 was something like, overall, almost every player 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:53.059 has a downfall. To me, he doesn't have one. That's 00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:55.299 quite the assessment. And Becker comparing him 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:58.920 to messy Brady LeBron. Calling him the Lion King 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:01.480 of tennis. Yeah. Just placing him among the absolute 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:04.180 titans of all sports. It's overwhelming praise. 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:07.259 And those iconic matches really underscore that 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:09.299 mental and physical strength everyone talks about. 00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:11.880 Those moments that define him. Absolutely. You 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:13.859 think of that 2012 Aussie Open final against 00:23:13.859 --> 00:23:16.640 Nadal. The longest major final ever. Pure attrition. 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:19.559 Or the 2013 Aussie Open fourth round against 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:23.200 Warrinca. That five -set epic. The 2018 Wimbledon 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:26.900 semi against Nadal. Over two days, five brutal 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:28.980 sets. Pushed both to their absolute limit. And 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:32.160 the 2019 Wimbledon final against Federer. Longest 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:35.059 Wimbledon final. Saving two championship points 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:37.259 against the crowd favorite. Unbelievable mental 00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:40.200 strength. Even that 2023 Cincinnati final against 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:43.380 Alcaraz. Hailed as maybe the best of three final 00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:46.640 ever. Nearly four hours. These matches aren't 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:49.200 just wins. They're like defining moments of his 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:52.440 resilience, his sheer will to win. They show 00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:55.150 you what he's made of. Okay, so with all these 00:23:55.150 --> 00:23:58.109 achievements, the stabs, the praise, what does 00:23:58.109 --> 00:24:01.089 it actually look like on court? What defines 00:24:01.089 --> 00:24:03.849 his playing style that allows him to be so dominant? 00:24:04.130 --> 00:24:06.849 Yeah, what makes him tick, technically and tactically. 00:24:07.690 --> 00:24:09.869 He's often called one of the most complete athletes 00:24:09.869 --> 00:24:12.910 ever, and his game reflects that. He has this 00:24:12.910 --> 00:24:15.329 incredible ability to turn defense into offense 00:24:15.329 --> 00:24:18.509 almost instantly. Fundamentally, he's an aggressive 00:24:18.509 --> 00:24:21.559 baseliner. His ground strokes... Both wings are 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:23.980 incredibly consistent, deep, penetrating. He 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:25.720 just suffocates opponents from the back of the 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:28.200 court. And that two -handed backhand, it's legendary, 00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:30.400 right? It may be the best ever. It's widely considered 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:32.160 the greatest two -hander of all time, yeah. It's 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:35.039 just so effective. Accurate, powerful, versatile. 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.880 He can open up the court cross -court, but that 00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:40.799 backhand down the line hit with pace and precision. 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:43.880 It's a killer shot. A real weapon. Very hard 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:46.039 to read and counter. But often it's the return 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:48.059 of serve that people point to as the difference 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:49.940 -maker, especially against the other greats. 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:52.720 How does he do it? His return is a massive weapon. 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.839 Agassi called it the precedent -setting standard. 00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:57.539 He's just incredibly efficient at getting returns 00:24:57.539 --> 00:25:01.700 back deep with pace off both sides. He neutralizes 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:04.799 big serves right from the first shot. He doesn't 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:07.500 just chip it back. He often uses the return to 00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:09.650 immediately put the server under pressure. Todd 00:25:09.650 --> 00:25:11.930 Martin said it was way better than any other 00:25:11.930 --> 00:25:14.430 return ever. He did. High praise from a former 00:25:14.430 --> 00:25:16.490 coach. He can be offensive with it, defensive 00:25:16.490 --> 00:25:19.349 with it, just consistently gets balls back in 00:25:19.349 --> 00:25:21.509 play and turns the tables. What about the forehand? 00:25:21.589 --> 00:25:24.349 Is it overshadowed by the backhand or is it just 00:25:24.349 --> 00:25:27.809 as crucial? It's maybe underrated, but still 00:25:27.809 --> 00:25:30.589 one of the best out there. Very versatile. He 00:25:30.589 --> 00:25:33.569 uses it to dictate play, finish points, especially 00:25:33.569 --> 00:25:35.910 off short balls. It's a really solid, reliable 00:25:35.910 --> 00:25:39.490 shot. And his serve after some tweaks earlier 00:25:39.490 --> 00:25:42.029 in his career, became a real weapon, too. Lots 00:25:42.029 --> 00:25:44.250 of free points. Flat first serves for power, 00:25:44.630 --> 00:25:47.069 slice, and kick seconds. Typically, yeah. Hits 00:25:47.069 --> 00:25:49.890 the spots well, uses the slice serve out wide 00:25:49.890 --> 00:25:52.049 effectively, especially on the ad court, to open 00:25:52.049 --> 00:25:54.890 things up. All that technique, combined with 00:25:54.890 --> 00:25:58.089 his physical gifts, he must just feel like a 00:25:58.089 --> 00:26:00.339 wall that can suddenly attack you. That's a good 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:02.519 way to put it. He's renowned for his fitness, 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:05.660 his completeness as an athlete, incredible agility, 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:08.759 court coverage, mobility. He hits winners from 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:11.319 positions that look impossible, his flexibility, 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:14.380 the sliding on hard courts. He rarely gets aced, 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:16.839 gets to almost everything. And that under pressure 00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:19.839 rating stat he leads, winning deciding sets, 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:22.140 ties back to that childhood pressure. He thinks 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:24.799 so, yeah. That ability to deliver when it matters 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:27.720 most, time after time, it's maybe his defining 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:29.480 trait, just clutch. So it's not just hitting 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:32.359 hard, it's thinking smart too. Any specific tactical 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:35.039 tricks he uses? Oh, he's incredibly astute tactically. 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:37.740 He uses that well -disguised backhand drop shot 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:40.099 beautifully to break rhythm and draw opponents 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:42.619 in. He uses the slice backhand effectively too 00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:45.180 for defense or just changing the pace. Jimmy 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:47.119 Connors had that interesting observation back 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:49.119 in 2011. Yeah, Connor said he played a little 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:51.660 bit old school, taking the ball early on the 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:54.220 rise, driving it flat, which lets him absorb 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:56.960 opponents heavy topspin and redirect it, turn 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:59.740 their power into his offense. It's a very sophisticated, 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:03.319 adaptable game, power play strategy. And to execute 00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:06.380 all that, you need the right gear. What's he 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:09.799 been using over the years? Rackets, shoes. His 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:12.259 racket journey is interesting. Started with head. 00:27:12.490 --> 00:27:14.630 briefly used a custom Wilson painted to look 00:27:14.630 --> 00:27:16.809 like a head, then went back to head for good. 00:27:17.170 --> 00:27:19.609 Used various models like the Utech Speed Pro, 00:27:19.809 --> 00:27:22.230 Graphene Speed Pro, lots of marketing around 00:27:22.230 --> 00:27:24.630 those. And the strings, a hybrid setup. Yeah, 00:27:24.630 --> 00:27:27.170 typically head natural gut in the mains for feel, 00:27:27.630 --> 00:27:29.950 and Lexlon ALU power rough in the crosses for 00:27:29.950 --> 00:27:33.430 control and spin. A common pro setup. Shoes, 00:27:33.509 --> 00:27:35.269 famously wore those custom red and blue Adidas 00:27:35.269 --> 00:27:37.809 barricades for the Serbian flag colors. Switched 00:27:37.809 --> 00:27:40.369 to ASICS in 2018, known for stability. Gotcha. 00:27:40.670 --> 00:27:42.690 And behind this incredible long career, there's 00:27:42.690 --> 00:27:44.829 always a team. Who were the key people supporting 00:27:44.829 --> 00:27:47.250 him? Coaches? Trainers? Foundational coaches 00:27:47.250 --> 00:27:50.869 were Jelena Gamijic, 93 -99, and Nikola Pilic, 00:27:51.130 --> 00:27:53.869 99 -03, as we mentioned. His longest and most 00:27:53.869 --> 00:27:55.910 successful partnership was clearly with Marian 00:27:55.910 --> 00:27:59.859 Vajda. coached him from 2006 to 2017, then they 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:02.619 reunited in 2018 before splitting again amicably 00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:05.859 in 2022. Bajow was a constant presence. He worked 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:07.980 with some other big names too, didn't he, for 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:10.220 shorter periods? Yeah, specialist coaches like 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:13.680 Mark Woodford briefly in 07, Todd Martin in 0910, 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:17.279 even Andrea Agassi for a bit in 2017. And most 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:19.279 recently, that surprise stint with Andy Murray 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:23.039 coaching him from late 2024 to May 2025. That 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:24.859 was unexpected. What about the physical side? 00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:27.819 Physios, fitness coaches, crucial for his longevity. 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:29.960 Absolutely essential. Physio Miljan Amadovic 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:32.220 has been with him a long time. Fitness coaches 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:34.160 like Gebhardt, Phil Grish, and Marco Panicci 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:36.000 have been key to maintaining that incredible 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:38.440 physical condition. And then there's the nutritionist, 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:41.279 Igor Idoyevich, who joined in 2010. The gluten 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:43.240 intolerance discovery, right? That seems pivotal. 00:28:43.450 --> 00:28:46.150 Widely credited with it, yeah. Reportedly used 00:28:46.150 --> 00:28:48.930 applied kinesiology. That dietary change going 00:28:48.930 --> 00:28:51.569 gluten -free is seen by many, including Djokovic, 00:28:51.910 --> 00:28:53.910 as a massive turning point for his endurance 00:28:53.910 --> 00:28:56.789 and health. His longtime agents manage his business 00:28:56.789 --> 00:28:59.880 side, Eduardo Artoldi and Elena Capillaro. than 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:03.559 big agencies like CAA and IMG, a whole infrastructure. 00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:06.359 OK, so beyond the court, beyond the titles and 00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:09.480 the training, there's this whole other dimension 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:12.420 to Djokovic, his philanthropy, his business interests, 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:15.519 his personal views. Let's unpack that side. His 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:18.539 commitment to giving back seems really significant. 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:21.779 It really does. He's incredibly active as a philanthropist, 00:29:21.859 --> 00:29:24.380 and it feels deeply rooted in his own challenging 00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:27.000 upbringing. He started the Novak Djokovic Foundation 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:30.339 back in 2007. Its main focus is supporting kids 00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:32.839 from disadvantaged communities, especially in 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:35.299 Serbia, focusing on early childhood education. 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.900 And they've had a real impact, haven't they, 00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:39.640 building schools? A huge impact. Built 50 schools, 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:42.740 working on the 51st now. Supported over 20 ,800 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:45.740 children, 1 ,000 families. That's sustained concrete 00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:47.640 work over many years. That's really impressive. 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:49.619 And he's got that global recognition too, like 00:29:49.619 --> 00:29:52.500 the UNICEF role. He appointed a UNICEF Goodwill 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:55.400 Ambassador in 2015. He's done loads of charity 00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:58.079 matches for disaster relief, Haiti earthquake, 00:29:58.619 --> 00:30:01.059 Queensland floods, Avila tower reconstruction. 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:04.839 And remember that 2014 Rome Masters win donated 00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:07.779 the entire $500 ,000 prize to flood victims in 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:10.599 Serbia. His foundation raised another $600K on 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:13.140 top of that. Wow. Donated to Melbourne City Mission 00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:16.759 in 2016. And during COVID in 2020, he and his 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:18.940 wife donated a million euros for ventilators 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:21.640 and gear in Serbia, plus donations to Italy and 00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:23.640 other parts of the region, led to him winning 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:26.859 the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in 2012. It's 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:28.880 clearly a massive part of who he is. And like 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:31.119 most top athletes, he's built a significant business 00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:33.980 portfolio, too. Sponsorships, ventures. Oh, yeah. 00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:36.640 Big endorsements over the years. Clothing. Adidas, 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:38.460 then Sergei Takini. famously ended because they 00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:40.880 couldn't afford his win bonuses. Too successful 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:44.180 for a sponsor. Basically. Then Uniqlo, and since 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:47.859 2017, Lacoste. Shoes were Adidas barricades, 00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:50.440 now Asics. Luxury deals with Audemars Piguet 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:52.799 watches, Mercedes -Benz, Peugeot, Seiko watches. 00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:55.759 Was a Learjet ambassador for Bombardier. Wide 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:59.960 range. Banking, wine. Yep. ANZ Bank, Jacobs Creek 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:02.579 wine, had that made by film series with him. 00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:05.140 Telecom, Serbija, Fitline Supplements, Rifa's 00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:09.720 Bank, UKG Workforce Management, a diverse portfolio 00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:12.400 reflecting his global reach. And his family runs 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:14.900 some businesses too, extending the brand. Yeah, 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:16.940 through their company Family Sport, they had 00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:19.220 the Novak Cafe and Restaurant chain in Serbia 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:21.960 and Bosnia. And significantly, they bought the 00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:24.859 ATP tournament in the Netherlands in 2009 and 00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:27.160 moved it to Belgrade, creating the Serby Open. 00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:30.160 Ran until 2012. Brought top tennis home. He's 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:32.299 had personal ventures, too, right? Food products, 00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:34.839 restaurants. Launched Jokalife Nutritional Food 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:37.740 Products in 2015. Opened a vegan restaurant at 00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:40.019 Gita in Monte Carlo in 2016, though it closed 00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:42.400 in 2019. Shows that strong interest in health 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:44.380 and wellness carrying over. And some interesting 00:31:44.380 --> 00:31:47.480 investments outside of tennis. Biotech, football. 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:50.960 Holds a big stake. Eighty percent. and a biotech 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:53.859 firm, QuantBiores. They claim to be developing 00:31:53.859 --> 00:31:56.759 a COVID drug based on electromagnetic frequency. 00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:59.380 Our sources note this approach is considered 00:31:59.380 --> 00:32:02.259 scientifically dubious, kind of likened to homeopathy, 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:04.339 diverging from standard scientific principles. 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:06.880 It reflects his interest in alternative approaches. 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:09.319 Right. And more recently, co -owning a football 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:11.980 club. Yeah. Loans FC and Francis League, too, 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:15.559 since August 2025, venturing into team ownership. 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:17.680 He's also taken a stand on players' rights within 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:20.200 tennis, hasn't he, with the PTPA? That's right. 00:32:20.619 --> 00:32:22.940 Resigned for the ATP Player Council in 2020, 00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:25.880 co -founded the Professional Tennis Players Association 00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:29.420 with Vasek Pospisil. The idea is to give players, 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:31.819 especially lower ranked ones, a stronger voice, 00:32:32.119 --> 00:32:34.880 more influence, push for better prize money distribution. 00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:37.660 It was a bold move, challenging the established 00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:40.059 structure. His personality has also made a mark, 00:32:40.099 --> 00:32:42.619 sometimes in surprising ways. Those impersonations 00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:44.819 early in his career were huge. Oh, they were 00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:48.099 hilarious and incredibly accurate. His Sharapova, 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:52.000 Nadal, Federer, Radek. They went viral back in 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:54.480 2007. He even did them on court at the US Open. 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:57.059 Showed this really light -hearted, funny side 00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:58.980 that endeared him to a lot of fans early on. 00:32:59.019 --> 00:33:01.359 He's clearly had a massive cultural impact, especially 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:04.799 back home in Serbia. Huge. He, along with Ivanovic 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:07.000 and Jankovic, really sparked a tennis boom there. 00:33:07.099 --> 00:33:09.140 He's done Eurovision appearances, talk shows 00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:12.079 like Linno, Conan, Ellen, was in a Martin Solvang 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:14.660 music video. Ah, really? Yep. Got awarded the 00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:16.799 Order of Serbian National Defense, had nearly 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:19.160 100 ,000 people welcome him in Belgrade after 00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:21.680 his first Wimbledon win, named one of Time's 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:24.579 100 Most Influential People in 2012. His reach 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:26.599 is global. And he's even inspired scientists 00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:28.720 to name creatures after him. That's unique. It 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:31.559 is. A freshwater snail, Trevuniana Jokovici, 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:36.099 in 2021. and a Vidal, Duvalius Djokovici in 2022. 00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:38.920 Fun tributes. He was also in that Federer documentary 00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:41.819 in 2024, first man on the cover of Vogue Adria, 00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:44.259 cover of the tight -brick video game, still very 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:46.200 much in the public eye across different platforms. 00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:48.579 Okay, now we need to get into a really pivotal 00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:51.799 and often debated part of his story. His personal 00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:55.609 views on diet, medicine, science. particularly 00:33:55.609 --> 00:33:58.910 around the COVID -19 vaccine. This had huge consequences 00:33:58.910 --> 00:34:01.410 for him. Yeah. And this raises that complex question 00:34:01.410 --> 00:34:03.329 about individual freedom versus public health 00:34:03.329 --> 00:34:06.789 mandates. Our sources are clear. His stance wasn't 00:34:06.789 --> 00:34:09.809 anti all vaccines, but specifically against forced 00:34:09.809 --> 00:34:12.670 vaccination. And this stance led him to make 00:34:12.670 --> 00:34:15.610 some incredibly difficult career impacting choices 00:34:15.610 --> 00:34:18.349 rooted in long held beliefs about his own body 00:34:18.349 --> 00:34:20.909 and health. Let's start with the diet. Famously 00:34:20.909 --> 00:34:23.670 strict. Super strict. Linked to that nutritionist 00:34:23.670 --> 00:34:26.389 Adievich and the alleged gluten intolerance discovery 00:34:26.389 --> 00:34:29.610 via applied kinesiology. Djokovic fully credits 00:34:29.610 --> 00:34:31.889 going gluten -free for transforming his endurance, 00:34:32.070 --> 00:34:34.170 getting rid of fatigue and allergies. He eventually 00:34:34.170 --> 00:34:36.250 adopted a largely vegan diet, sometimes eats 00:34:36.250 --> 00:34:38.570 fish, believes it cured allergies and mild asthma. 00:34:39.210 --> 00:34:41.849 Diet is absolutely core to his regime. And he's 00:34:41.849 --> 00:34:44.610 openly skeptical of conventional medicine, especially 00:34:44.610 --> 00:34:47.769 surgery. Very much so. Publy stated he's not 00:34:47.769 --> 00:34:50.150 a fan of surgeries or medications, believes the 00:34:50.150 --> 00:34:53.110 body is a self -healing mechanism. That story 00:34:53.110 --> 00:34:54.889 about him crying for three days after his elbow 00:34:54.889 --> 00:34:57.550 surgery in 2018 because he felt guilty about 00:34:57.550 --> 00:35:00.449 intervening medically. It shows how deep that 00:35:00.449 --> 00:35:02.750 belief runs. Our sources also mentioned some 00:35:02.750 --> 00:35:05.409 beliefs described as scientifically dubious. 00:35:05.670 --> 00:35:07.630 Can you unpack that carefully, just presenting 00:35:07.630 --> 00:35:10.889 the info? Sir, in his 2013 book, Serve to Win, 00:35:11.349 --> 00:35:13.130 he wrote about an anecdote where a researcher 00:35:13.130 --> 00:35:15.409 supposedly changed water's appearance just by 00:35:15.409 --> 00:35:17.469 directing emotions at it, anger making it green, 00:35:17.530 --> 00:35:20.510 love keeping it clear. And in 2020, he spoke 00:35:20.510 --> 00:35:22.389 about believing prayer and gratitude could turn 00:35:22.389 --> 00:35:25.070 toxic food or polluted water into healing water, 00:35:25.190 --> 00:35:27.309 claiming scientists have proven water molecules 00:35:27.309 --> 00:35:30.380 react to emotions. Our sources label these claims 00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:33.360 scientifically dubious, generally seen as superstitious. 00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:36.159 The idea water molecules react to human emotion 00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:38.639 to gain healing properties contradicts basic 00:35:38.639 --> 00:35:41.139 chemistry and physics. It highlights a worldview 00:35:41.139 --> 00:35:43.780 that diverges significantly from mainstream science. 00:35:44.010 --> 00:35:46.469 And this personal philosophy really collided 00:35:46.469 --> 00:35:48.610 with the world during the pandemic, specifically 00:35:48.610 --> 00:35:51.750 regarding the COVID -19 vaccine mandates. This 00:35:51.750 --> 00:35:54.610 cost him dearly. It absolutely did. He signaled 00:35:54.610 --> 00:35:56.590 opposition to forced vaccination back in April 00:35:56.590 --> 00:35:59.909 2020. He clarified later it wasn't anti all vaccines, 00:36:00.150 --> 00:36:03.269 but anti -mandate, emphasizing extreme care about 00:36:03.269 --> 00:36:06.550 what goes into his body. His unvaccinated status 00:36:06.550 --> 00:36:09.449 led directly to his visa cancellation and deportation 00:36:09.449 --> 00:36:12.909 from Australia before the 2022 Australian Open. 00:36:13.150 --> 00:36:15.590 Big global news story. And it meant he couldn't 00:36:15.590 --> 00:36:17.449 play in the U .S. either for a while, missed 00:36:17.449 --> 00:36:19.809 the U .S. Open. Correct. U .S. entry restrictions 00:36:19.809 --> 00:36:22.110 for unvaccinated non -citizens meant he missed 00:36:22.110 --> 00:36:25.030 Indian Wells, Miami, and the U .S. Open in 2022. 00:36:25.510 --> 00:36:27.309 That's potentially multiple majors he missed 00:36:27.309 --> 00:36:29.309 out on. Choosing his principles over chasing 00:36:29.309 --> 00:36:32.619 records shows incredibly strong conviction. Exactly. 00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:35.920 He explicitly said he was willing to forgo tournaments, 00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:38.860 even if it cost him records and his GOAT status, 00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:41.579 because of his principles and belief in personal 00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:44.159 freedom of choice. He also made a point of saying 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:46.360 he doesn't associate with the wider anti -vax 00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:49.179 movement, framing it purely as individual economy 00:36:49.179 --> 00:36:52.460 over his own body, a stance he held despite massive 00:36:52.460 --> 00:36:55.349 scrutiny and professional cost. Beyond those 00:36:55.349 --> 00:36:57.869 health views, his faith is also clearly very 00:36:57.869 --> 00:36:59.929 important to him, isn't it? Deeply important. 00:37:00.269 --> 00:37:02.170 He's a devout member of the Serbian Orthodox 00:37:02.170 --> 00:37:05.389 Church, baptized back in 92. He received the 00:37:05.389 --> 00:37:07.449 Order of Saint Sava, the highest honor from the 00:37:07.449 --> 00:37:09.769 Serbian Orthodox Church, for his contributions 00:37:09.769 --> 00:37:12.469 to monasteries in Kosovo and his charity work. 00:37:12.869 --> 00:37:15.730 Faith is central. Interestingly, he also meditates 00:37:15.730 --> 00:37:18.409 daily, often at the Buddhist Buddha Padipa temple 00:37:18.409 --> 00:37:21.610 near Wimbledon, seeking serenity. Visits meditation 00:37:21.610 --> 00:37:24.679 sites in Bosnia, too. suggests a spiritual openness, 00:37:25.099 --> 00:37:27.260 perhaps. He also seems comfortable blending sport 00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:29.500 with political or cultural statements, especially 00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:32.280 about Serbia and the region. Definitely. He supports 00:37:32.280 --> 00:37:35.179 Serbian teams like Red Star, but also international 00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:37.960 clubs like AC Milan, Benfica, broader sports 00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:40.920 fan. Significantly, he supported Croatia in the 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:43.800 2018 World Cup, which raised eyebrows given the 00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:46.739 history, but he framed it as sports uniting people 00:37:46.739 --> 00:37:49.559 overcoming differences. Prized Luka Modric. And 00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:51.300 then there was that statement at the French Open 00:37:51.300 --> 00:37:53.969 in 2023. the writing on the camera lens. Yes, 00:37:53.969 --> 00:37:56.170 that caused quite a stir. After a first round 00:37:56.170 --> 00:37:58.730 win, he wrote, Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. 00:37:59.010 --> 00:38:01.550 Stop the violence. Responding to clashes there. 00:38:02.190 --> 00:38:04.449 He defended it strongly, saying he felt he had 00:38:04.449 --> 00:38:08.769 to support our people and Serbia, called Kosovo, 00:38:09.030 --> 00:38:11.869 our cradle, our stronghold. It showed that deep, 00:38:11.989 --> 00:38:14.150 unwavering connection to his homeland's identity 00:38:14.150 --> 00:38:16.789 and complex history, even on a global stage like 00:38:16.789 --> 00:38:19.809 Roland Garros. So as we wrap up this deep dive, 00:38:20.030 --> 00:38:22.340 Nobek Djokovic. No. It's clear his legacy is 00:38:22.340 --> 00:38:24.219 just incredibly intricate, isn't it? Like that 00:38:24.219 --> 00:38:26.179 backhand complex, powerful multi -layer from 00:38:26.179 --> 00:38:28.539 that tough childhood to becoming this statistical 00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:30.659 force of nature, a philanthropist, a businessman, 00:38:31.179 --> 00:38:33.440 a figure of really strong, sometimes controversial, 00:38:33.539 --> 00:38:36.679 but always deeply held beliefs. He's truly unique. 00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:39.480 Totally unique. His story isn't just about the 00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:42.039 trophies. It's about resilience. It's about conviction 00:38:42.039 --> 00:38:45.039 and navigating the glare of modern fame while 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:48.599 staying true, it seems, to his own compass. And 00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:50.320 maybe if we connected to the bigger picture, 00:38:50.760 --> 00:38:52.800 given that unwavering commitment to personal 00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:55.119 freedom, to his idea of well -being, even when 00:38:55.119 --> 00:38:57.559 it meant sacrificing potential records, what 00:38:57.559 --> 00:39:00.210 does his career ultimately teach us? about that 00:39:00.210 --> 00:39:02.469 intersection of personal belief, intense athletic 00:39:02.469 --> 00:39:04.750 drive, and how it all plays out under intense 00:39:04.750 --> 00:39:07.510 public scrutiny today. It's a fascinating question 00:39:07.510 --> 00:39:09.630 that goes way beyond just tennis, doesn't it? 00:39:09.849 --> 00:39:11.110 Leaves you with a lot to think about.