OK, let's unpack this. We're talking about a
tennis legend who just keeps rewriting the record
books, right? Someone whose dominance on the
court is, well, almost matched by the conversations
he sparks way beyond it. We're talking about
a player who, even after decades at the very
top, continues to define what's possible in sport.
It's quite something. I mean, just last year,
2024, he achieved something truly monumental.
grabbing that singles gold medal at the Paris
Olympics. Yeah, the missing piece, finally. Exactly.
And that victory didn't just add another trophy.
It completed both a career golden slam and a
career super slam. Just incredible. And you'd
think, OK, maybe he slows down after that. We
would think. But no, just this year, 2025, he
hits his 100th ATP singles title. That's Geneva.
Making him the first player ever to win at least
one ATP title in 20 consecutive seasons. 20.
It's astonishing, really, that kind of longevity,
that relentless ambition. It's, well, it's Djokovic.
What's truly fascinating here, and I think our
sources really bear this out, is how his journey,
you know, from a childhood forged in war -torn
Serbia to the recent Olympic gold in the century
of titles, it isn't just a straight line of athletic
success. No, not at all. It's this, like... complex
tapestry, isn't it? Woven with these deeply held
personal convictions, these moments of defiance.
And then there's the statistical dominance that
just forces us to rethink what's possible in
tennis. Right. It's a story of constant evolution.
You feel not just in his game, but in his whole
persona. Definitely. Absolutely. So today, our
deep dive is all about Novak Djokovic, the man,
the champion, and yeah, maybe the enigma too.
We've pulled together a really rich stack of
sources, articles, research, personal accounts
covering pretty much his entire career, his personal
life, those staggering achievements. And yes,
the controversies and unique viewpoints that
have sometimes made him such a compelling and
sometimes polarizing figure. And our mission
today really is to go beyond just the headlines
and the match results. We want to try and distill
the most important bits of knowledge, the key
insights from all this material. to give you,
our listener, a kind of shortcut to being genuinely
well -informed about this, this titan of tennis.
Yeah, exactly. We'll explore the incredible arc
of his career. We'll delve into that unique playing
style that makes him so successful. Analyze those
epic rivalries that really defined an era. Right,
the big three battles. And importantly, unpack
those off -core aspects that make him such a
complex and honestly, endlessly compelling individual.
So where do we start? To really understand the
champion he became, you have to go back. Yeah,
absolutely. Back to the beginning. Let's look
at the crucible that forged him. Indeed. Novak
Djokovic was born May 22, 1987, in Belgrade.
That was SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia back then.
His family background is a paternal Serbian,
maternal Croatian. And it's interesting, his
two younger brothers, Marco and George, they
also played pro tennis. Oh, I didn't realize
both brothers played professionally, too, though
obviously not quite at his level. No, not quite
at that stratospheric level, no. But tennis was
clearly in the family. And his own start in tennis
was incredibly early, wasn't it? Our sources
say he was just four. Four years old, yeah. His
parents gave him a mini racket, a soft foam ball,
and his father, surgeon, apparently called it
the most beloved toy in his life. Wow. Imagine
that little toy sparking a passion that would
fundamentally change a sport. It's almost cliche,
but with such unique layers beneath it. It is.
And from that moment, the path wasn't... You
know, smooth sailing, the early coaching, the
immense sacrifices his family made. It's a critical
part of the story. For six years, 93 to 99, he
was coached by Jelena Genicich. Right, at Mount
Copanonic, where his parents had that fast food
place. Exactly. And Genicich wasn't just about
technique. She was apparently key in shaping
his game, convincing him to go with a two -handed
backhand instead of the one -hander like his
idol Pete Sampras. That's a huge decision early
on. Massive. And Djokovic himself credits her
for, quote, shaping my mind. as a human being,
but also as a professional. That tells you a
lot about her influence. It really does, more
than just hitting balls. It sounds like she was
building character, resilience, maybe. I think
so. And the sacrifice is just ramped up from
there. At 12, just 12, he moves to Germany. To
the Pielich Academy, right. In September of 99,
spent four years there. Four crucial years, yeah.
And Nikola Pielich, a really renowned coach,
he didn't just teach him strokes. The sources
talk about this rigorous training. having Novak
serve against a wall for months to perfect his
technique. Months. Just against a wall. Months.
And working with a rubber exercise band for a
whole year just for wrist flexibility. It sounds
incredibly disciplined, almost monastic. Grueling.
And all this is happening against a really tough
backdrop, right? The Yugoslav wars. Absolutely
cannot ignore that context. The late 90s, Serbia
enduring embargoes, NATO bombings during the
Kosovo war. Djokovic has talked about training
inside a disused swimming pool that they'd converted
into a makeshift court just to find somewhere
safe to hit balls. Wow. And then there's the
financial strain. His father taking out high
-interest loans to pay for it all. Huge pressure
on young Novak. And he feels that pressure actually
helped him. He believes so, yeah. He thinks that
relentless early pressure directly honed his
ability to perform in clutch moments later on.
It kind of forwards that mental steel. So those
early years, it wasn't just about the forehand
and backhand. It was fundamentally shaping his
mindset, his fight. And even before turning pro,
his junior career was pretty stellar, wasn't
it? Like a preview of what was coming. Oh, definitely.
2001, he just dominated the under 14s one time.
in Italy, beating Andy Murray in one semifinal.
Ah, the first signs of that rivalry. Exactly.
When the U14 European champs, singles and doubles,
led Serbia to the European Summer Cup win, ended
2001 ranked number one in U14 Europe with Murray
number two. Fascinating, right? Really is. Setting
the stage early. And he kept it going in U16s
in 2002. Won tournaments in France, beat Gael
Monfils in one final, won his first ITF Title
II. His overall junior record was solid. 40 -11
singles, 23 of 6 doubles. Got to number 24 in
the world junior rankings in early 04. And reached
the Aussie Open junior semis that year too. He
did. Clearly signaling he was ready for the next
step. OK, so a really strong foundation built
under these incredibly tough character defining
circumstances that sets the stage perfectly for
his professional set, which, you know, wasn't
instant superstardom, was it? It was more of
a steady climb from 2003 to 2010. Very steady,
yeah. He turned pro in 2003, played his first
futures match loss narrowly, but won his first
futures title later that year in Belgrade. And
in 2003 ranked, what, 687? Right, starting from
the ground up. Then in 2004, he gets his first
official ATP win in Deos Cup. Wins his first
challenger title in Budapest on his 17th birthday.
Ends that year ranked 186. patiently building.
It's that incremental climb, isn't it? Not bursting
onto the scene like some others. Grand Slam debut
in 2005 at the Aussie Open, gets his first actual
slam win at the French Open that year. And by
the end of 05, he cracks the top 100, number
78, youngest player in there. Which is a huge
milestone. breaking that top 100 barrier. Definitely.
And during this time, 2006, there was that interesting
little detail about potentially playing for Great
Britain. Ah, yes, that story. The media reported
his family discussed it. Djokovic initially kind
of brushed it off, but later confirmed there
were serious talks. But he emphasized he chose
Serbia because of his strong national identity.
And that decision... looking back, feels very
significant, given everything that followed.
It really does, underlines that patriotism, that
conviction we see later. Also in 2006, the French
Open, he really makes a mark, reaches his first
Grand Slam quarterfinal. Yeah, B. Fernando Gonzalez,
who is seated ninth. Had to retire against Nadal
in that QF with an injury, but that was their
first meeting, wasn't it? The start of something
huge. The very beginning of that epic rivalry.
And that run pushed him into the top 40. And
he built on that momentum, didn't he? He won
his first ATP titles that year. He did. Dutch
Open in Amersfoort, then the Moselle Open in
Metz, broke into the top 20, ended 2006 ranked
16th, youngest in the top 20. He wasn't just
promising anymore. He was a real threat. OK,
so he's making serious waves. But 2007 and 2008,
those feel like the real breakthrough years where
he plants his flag in the top three. Absolutely.
2007 starts strong, wins Adelaide, runner up
in Indian Wells, then wins Miami. His first Masters
title. And the youngest champ there since Agassi
in 1990, beat Nadal and Conyas, too. That's a
statement. Huge, David. His confidence was clearly
growing. Won Estoril on clay. Reached his first
major semi at the French Open. Lost to Nadal
again, but getting closer. Retired in the Wimbledon
semis against Nadal with that elbow issue. But
then came the Canadian Open. Oh, yes. That was
spectacular. Unbelievable run. Beat world number
three Roddick, number two Nadal, and number one
Federer. All in the same tournament. Wow. First
player to do that since Becker in 94. Exactly.
And Bjorn Bork himself said Djokovic was definitely
a contender to win a Grand Slam. High praise
indeed. And he backed it up. Reached his first
major final at the U .S. Open that year. Lost
to Federer, but he was there. Yep. Won Vienna,
too. Finished the year ranked number three. Firmly
in the elite group. The stage was absolutely
set for 2008. Which was the year everything changed,
really. Monumental year. Started with Hotman
Cup. Even played Serena Williams in mixed doubles
there. Ah, fun fact. But the real story was the
Australian Open. Reached the final without dropping
a single set. Incredible form. Then the semifinal
against Federer, the two time defending champ,
and Djokovic beats him. A huge upset at the time.
Massive. And then he goes on to beat Joe Wilfried
Tsonga in the final to win his first Grand Slam
singles title. That broke the Federer Nadal stranglehold
they won the previous 11 major straight. This
was a clear signal. The duopoly was over. A new
force had arrived. He wasn't just winning, he
was disrupting the entire narrative of that era.
And he kept winning big titles that year too.
Yep. More Masters success, won Indian Wells and
the Italian Open, his third and fourth Masters
titles, grabbed a bronze medal in singles at
the Beijing Olympics too. Right, adding that
Olympic hardware. And then capped off an amazing
year by winning his first year in championship,
the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, beating Gavy
Danko. He was consolidating his spot, not just
a challenger, but someone who could win the biggest
events against the best. This really set the
tone for what was coming next. OK, so the next
couple of years, 09 and 10, he's maintaining
that high level, right? Maybe not quite the historic
dominance yet, but still winning a lot. Exactly.
Consolidating. 2009, he reached 10 finals, won
five titles. Dubai, the first ever Serbia Open
winning at home was big for him. Reached finals
in Monte Carlo. Rome lost to Nadal both times
since an anti -final beat Nadal in the semis,
lost to Fed. He was consistently in the mix.
Right there, knocking on the door. 2010 was interesting.
Defended his Dubai title. And a huge moment,
leading Serbia to his first ever Davis Cup title.
That must have been massive for him and the country.
Huge. A real moment of national pride. But it
was also a year of maybe slight turbulence, split
with coach Todd Martin, and had that really rare
loss at the French Open quarters to Jurgen Meltzer
after being up two sets to love. Which is incredible.
That's still his only major loss from two sets
up, right? That's the stat, yeah. Just shows
his mental strength, usually. He also won his
first ATP doubles title that year, too. showcasing
the all -around game. So we've seen this steady
climb, this consolidation, but then comes this
period, roughly 2011 to 2016, that just feels
like total dominance, the reign of dominance,
the Noll Slam. What clicked? What changed? Yeah,
this era fundamentally shifted everything in
men's tennis. And 2011, well, 2011 wasn't just
great. It was one of the great seasons ever.
He starts absolutely on fire. Wins the Australian
Open, his second, beats Federer in the semis,
Murray in the final, showing he can beat both
rivals at the slams. Then he just sweeps to buy
Indian Wells Miami, becomes only the third guy
ever to beat both Fed and Rafa in the same event
twice. And it wasn't just that he was winning,
it was how, beating them repeatedly, even on
their best surfaces. It signaled he wasn't just
a contender anymore, he was the guy. It felt
like a psychological shift as much as a technical
one. Completely. And then the clay court breakthrough
that year. That was huge. Beating Nadal on clay
after losing nine straight. Exactly. One Serbia
open. Then Madrid and Rome, beating Rafa in straight
sets in both finals. Massive mental barrier overcome.
That led into this incredible 43 -match win streak.
A perfect 41s -L start to the season. Just insane,
until the French open some eyes against Federer,
right? Yeah, Fed snapped the streak there. But
Novak bounced back incredibly quickly. Five weeks
later, wins his first Wimbledon title. Beating
Nadal in the final again, and that secured the
world number one ranking for the first time.
Climbed the mountain, then followed up by beating
Nadal again in the U .S. Open final, his first
US Open title, third major of 2011. Just a dominant
breakthrough year. Absolutely phenomenal. Truly
one for the ages. So moving into 2012 -2013,
he keeps that momentum going, especially down
under, and keeps chipping away at Rafa's clay
dominance. Yes. 2012 kicks off with that legendary
Australian Open final against Nadal. The marathon.
Five hours, 53 minutes. Longest major final ever.
Longest match in Aussie Open history. And Djokovic
wins it. Just incredible physical and mental
endurance on display. He also won Miami again.
Reached his first French Open final. Lost to
the Dolphins. There, defended his Rogers Cup
title. And won the ATT finals again at the end
of the year. Still operating at an elite level.
And 2013, another Aussie Open title. Right. Made
it three in a row. Record third consecutive in
the open area. Beat Murray in that final. But
maybe even more impressive that year, showing
his versatility, was winning the Monte Carlo
Masters. Right. Beating Nadal there, ending Rafa's
incredible 46 -match win streak at that specific
tournament. Huge statement, proving he could
win anywhere, even on Nadal's fortress. He lost
some tough land finals that year though, didn't
he? He did. Dramatic French Open semi to Nadal.
Wimbledon final to Murray, US Open final to Nadal.
But he finished 2013 incredibly strong, won China,
Shanghai, Paris Masters, and the ATP World Tour
finals, ended the year on a 24 -match winning
streak. Which led to bringing Boris Becker onto
the team. Yeah, Becker joined as head coach for
2014, signaled a real push to find that next
level, that extra edge. So 2014, 2015. More Wimbledon
battles, crazy master success. His grip on number
one just tightens. Definitely. 2014 wins Indian
Wells and Miami again, the sunshine double. Right.
Beats Nadal at the Italian Open. And this is
where he donated his entire $500 ,000 prize money
to flood victims in Southeast Europe. A really
powerful moment. Yeah, connecting his success
back home. A consistent theme. Absolutely. He
lost the French final to Nadal again, but then
got redemption at Wimbledon. Won his second title,
beating Federer in a five -set classic. Reclaiming
world number one, too. Yep. Finished the year
winning his fifth China Open, Paris Masters.
Secured year -end number one for the third time.
Just relentless consistency. And then 2015. Our
sources describe it as just historic, almost
suffocating dominance. It really was. Won a record
fifth Australian Open, beating Murray again,
became the first player to win the Indian Wolves
Miami double three times, then won Monte Carlo,
becoming the first man to win the first three
Masters 1000s of the season, then won Rome. Four
Masters titles out of the first four he played.
He was just on another planet. Unstoppable. Until
the French Open final, right, the Warrinca upset.
That was a shocker, yeah. Yeah. Stan played lights
out, but Novak bounced right back when his third
Wimbledon beating Federer, then won the US Open,
beating Federer again. That was the third Grand
Slam in 2015, 10th overall. And statistically,
that was his best ever season. By the numbers,
yes. We should record 15 consecutive finals,
won a record 10 big titles, Slams, Masters, ATP
finals, got a record 31 wins over top 10 players.
That big title sweep across all the major events,
it's just unparalleled versatility and dominance.
15 consecutive finals. That level of consistency
is mind -bending. Which brings us to 2016, the
year of the Null Slam and the career Grand Slam.
The peak of the mountain. Truly the pinnacle.
Started 2016 winning his 60th career title in
Doha, beating Nadal. Then claims his sixth Australian
Open, beating Fed in semis, Murray in the final.
Wins his fifth Indian Wells, sixth Miami Open.
Tying Agassi's record there, achieved his fourth
Sunshine Double. Most ever. He became the all
-time prize money leader then too, right? Yep.
Across 98 .2 million dollars. Just shows how
much winning he was doing. And it all built towards
Paris. The holy grail for him at that point.
Won Madrid, then came the French Open, beat Murray
in four sets in the final. And with that victory,
he completed the Noll Slam, holding all four
major titles at the same time. First man since
Rod Laver in 1969. Just incredible. And it made
him the eighth man. ever to achieve the career
Grand Slam. First, he hit $100 million in prize
money, set a ranking points record to 16 ,950
points, total dominance. It felt like he was
genuinely unbeatable, but then a stumble at Wimbledon,
a chink in the armor. Yeah, that 30 -match Grand
Slam winning streak, which felt like it would
never end, came to a sudden halt. Third round
loss of Wimbledon to Sam Quarry. Wow, that was
unexpected. Very unexpected. Maybe fatigue, maybe
pressure after finally winning Roland Garros.
Who knows? But it was a setback. He did regroup,
though, when his fourth Canadian Open later that
year. But that period, culminating in the French
Open win, really felt like the peak of that dominant
era before new challenges emerged. That relentless
pursuit, that foundation built in adversity,
it all led here, not just to titles, but to forcing
this huge conversation. Which, yeah, this is
where it gets really interesting, the GOAT debate.
Greatest of all time. It's always contentious
always subjective in part But our sources and
the sheer weight of evidence now make a compelling
almost undeniable case for Djokovic Yeah, if
you connected to the bigger picture a lot of
people inside the sport observers players coaches
They now openly regard him as the greatest and
it's primarily down to those unprecedented Achievements
across all the big tournaments plus that incredible
longevity at number one the stats Especially
against his main rivals are just getting harder
and harder to argue against And the numbers themselves,
when you actually lay them out, they're just
staggering. They paint this picture of a uniquely
relentless champion. Let's dig into some of that
statistical dominance. OK, let's start with the
biggest ones, Grand Slams. He holds a men's record,
24 singles titles. He's achieved the triple career
Grand Slam, winning each major at least three
times. Nobody else has done that in men's tennis.
Triple career slam. That's insane. Right. He's
the only man to hold all four majors at once,
across three different services, the No Slam.
He's got the career Golden Slam, all four majors,
plus Olympic gold. And the career Super Slam
add the year -end championships to that list.
He's basically collected everything. Pretty much.
Four seasons where he won three majors, a record
37 men's major singles finals appearances, 52
semis, 63 quarters, a record 395 match wins at
majors, and 14 hardcore majors alone. It just
shows his dominance and consistency on the biggest
stages. And beyond the slams, his ranking records
are just mind -doggling. Sustained excellence
over such a long period. Yeah, the week's at
number one. Record 428 weeks. Just let that sink
in across 13 different years. 13 years he finished
ranked number one or spent time there? He hit
that record. Points total is number one, 16 ,950.
Showed how far ahead he was at his peak. And
he's the oldest ever, world number one, at 37.
plus a record eight times finishing the year
as number one. It's just sustained dominance
unlike almost anything we've seen. And the big
titles count slams, masters, year -end finals.
Record 72 big titles. He's completed the big
title sweep, won every single one of those elite
events at least once. He's a multiple champion
at all the annual big titles. And remember that
2015 season, won 10 big titles in one year. Just
incredible. His Masters Series record is also
off the charts, right? Those nine big tournaments
below the slams. Completely rewritten the record
books there. Record 40 Masters singles titles.
He's done the double career Golden Masters, won
all nine Masters events. Twice? Twice. Winning
all nine is hard enough once. Exactly. Shows
incredible mastery across all conditions, all
continents. He won 12 Masters Finals in a row
at one point, holds the record for Masters match
wins, 414, and the ATP Finals. Record seven titles,
won them in three different decades. That longevity
again. And crucially, he did all this while playing
against Federer and Nadal, arguably the two other
greatest players ever. His head -to -head record
is key, isn't it? It's arguably the most compelling
stat in the J .F. debate for him. He holds a
winning record against both Federer 2723 and
Nadal 3129. And he gets Murray too, 25 -11. He
didn't just rack up titles in a weaker era, he
beat the best repeatedly. Most wins ever versus
top 10 players, 261 versus top five players,
125. He's the only player to beat Nadal at all
four majors. Think about beating Rafa at Roland
Garros. And he has the most wins over Federer,
including three Wimbledon finals. That head -to
-head dominance against his direct rivals is
huge. And the prize money reflects that success
too. All -time leader, over $188 million by 2025.
It's a staggering amount of winning. But beyond
the numbers, the praise from his peers, from
legends of the game, that adds another layer,
doesn't it? It really does. When Rafael Landel
himself says in 2024 that Djokovic's numbers
are indisputable and calls him the greatest,
acknowledging, quote, it is not beneath me, nor
do I have an ego big enough to try and disguise
a reality that is not. This is the truth. That's
immense respect from your biggest rival. Wow.
Nadal also said his 2011 level was maybe the
highest tennis he'd ever seen. He did. And back
in 2017, Nadal called Djokovic invincible when
playing at his best, technically. Ultimate praise.
And Medvedev, another rival, just flat out called
him the greatest tennis player in history. Yeah.
And Pete Sampras, a Goat contender himself, pointed
to Djokovic's dominance over Fed and Rafa, plus
handling the next generation as a clear sign
that he is the greatest of all time. Andre Agassi,
who coached him briefly, said, the highest standard
of tennis that I've ever seen is when Novak is
playing his best tennis. Coming from Agassi,
that means a lot. What about Nick Bulatieri,
the legendary coach? He had strong words, too,
didn't he? Bulatieri called him the most complete
player ever, the most perfect player of all time.
Said he had no discernible weakness. His quote
was something like, overall, almost every player
has a downfall. To me, he doesn't have one. That's
quite the assessment. And Becker comparing him
to messy Brady LeBron. Calling him the Lion King
of tennis. Yeah. Just placing him among the absolute
titans of all sports. It's overwhelming praise.
And those iconic matches really underscore that
mental and physical strength everyone talks about.
Those moments that define him. Absolutely. You
think of that 2012 Aussie Open final against
Nadal. The longest major final ever. Pure attrition.
Or the 2013 Aussie Open fourth round against
Warrinca. That five -set epic. The 2018 Wimbledon
semi against Nadal. Over two days, five brutal
sets. Pushed both to their absolute limit. And
the 2019 Wimbledon final against Federer. Longest
Wimbledon final. Saving two championship points
against the crowd favorite. Unbelievable mental
strength. Even that 2023 Cincinnati final against
Alcaraz. Hailed as maybe the best of three final
ever. Nearly four hours. These matches aren't
just wins. They're like defining moments of his
resilience, his sheer will to win. They show
you what he's made of. Okay, so with all these
achievements, the stabs, the praise, what does
it actually look like on court? What defines
his playing style that allows him to be so dominant?
Yeah, what makes him tick, technically and tactically.
He's often called one of the most complete athletes
ever, and his game reflects that. He has this
incredible ability to turn defense into offense
almost instantly. Fundamentally, he's an aggressive
baseliner. His ground strokes... Both wings are
incredibly consistent, deep, penetrating. He
just suffocates opponents from the back of the
court. And that two -handed backhand, it's legendary,
right? It may be the best ever. It's widely considered
the greatest two -hander of all time, yeah. It's
just so effective. Accurate, powerful, versatile.
He can open up the court cross -court, but that
backhand down the line hit with pace and precision.
It's a killer shot. A real weapon. Very hard
to read and counter. But often it's the return
of serve that people point to as the difference
-maker, especially against the other greats.
How does he do it? His return is a massive weapon.
Agassi called it the precedent -setting standard.
He's just incredibly efficient at getting returns
back deep with pace off both sides. He neutralizes
big serves right from the first shot. He doesn't
just chip it back. He often uses the return to
immediately put the server under pressure. Todd
Martin said it was way better than any other
return ever. He did. High praise from a former
coach. He can be offensive with it, defensive
with it, just consistently gets balls back in
play and turns the tables. What about the forehand?
Is it overshadowed by the backhand or is it just
as crucial? It's maybe underrated, but still
one of the best out there. Very versatile. He
uses it to dictate play, finish points, especially
off short balls. It's a really solid, reliable
shot. And his serve after some tweaks earlier
in his career, became a real weapon, too. Lots
of free points. Flat first serves for power,
slice, and kick seconds. Typically, yeah. Hits
the spots well, uses the slice serve out wide
effectively, especially on the ad court, to open
things up. All that technique, combined with
his physical gifts, he must just feel like a
wall that can suddenly attack you. That's a good
way to put it. He's renowned for his fitness,
his completeness as an athlete, incredible agility,
court coverage, mobility. He hits winners from
positions that look impossible, his flexibility,
the sliding on hard courts. He rarely gets aced,
gets to almost everything. And that under pressure
rating stat he leads, winning deciding sets,
ties back to that childhood pressure. He thinks
so, yeah. That ability to deliver when it matters
most, time after time, it's maybe his defining
trait, just clutch. So it's not just hitting
hard, it's thinking smart too. Any specific tactical
tricks he uses? Oh, he's incredibly astute tactically.
He uses that well -disguised backhand drop shot
beautifully to break rhythm and draw opponents
in. He uses the slice backhand effectively too
for defense or just changing the pace. Jimmy
Connors had that interesting observation back
in 2011. Yeah, Connor said he played a little
bit old school, taking the ball early on the
rise, driving it flat, which lets him absorb
opponents heavy topspin and redirect it, turn
their power into his offense. It's a very sophisticated,
adaptable game, power play strategy. And to execute
all that, you need the right gear. What's he
been using over the years? Rackets, shoes. His
racket journey is interesting. Started with head.
briefly used a custom Wilson painted to look
like a head, then went back to head for good.
Used various models like the Utech Speed Pro,
Graphene Speed Pro, lots of marketing around
those. And the strings, a hybrid setup. Yeah,
typically head natural gut in the mains for feel,
and Lexlon ALU power rough in the crosses for
control and spin. A common pro setup. Shoes,
famously wore those custom red and blue Adidas
barricades for the Serbian flag colors. Switched
to ASICS in 2018, known for stability. Gotcha.
And behind this incredible long career, there's
always a team. Who were the key people supporting
him? Coaches? Trainers? Foundational coaches
were Jelena Gamijic, 93 -99, and Nikola Pilic,
99 -03, as we mentioned. His longest and most
successful partnership was clearly with Marian
Vajda. coached him from 2006 to 2017, then they
reunited in 2018 before splitting again amicably
in 2022. Bajow was a constant presence. He worked
with some other big names too, didn't he, for
shorter periods? Yeah, specialist coaches like
Mark Woodford briefly in 07, Todd Martin in 0910,
even Andrea Agassi for a bit in 2017. And most
recently, that surprise stint with Andy Murray
coaching him from late 2024 to May 2025. That
was unexpected. What about the physical side?
Physios, fitness coaches, crucial for his longevity.
Absolutely essential. Physio Miljan Amadovic
has been with him a long time. Fitness coaches
like Gebhardt, Phil Grish, and Marco Panicci
have been key to maintaining that incredible
physical condition. And then there's the nutritionist,
Igor Idoyevich, who joined in 2010. The gluten
intolerance discovery, right? That seems pivotal.
Widely credited with it, yeah. Reportedly used
applied kinesiology. That dietary change going
gluten -free is seen by many, including Djokovic,
as a massive turning point for his endurance
and health. His longtime agents manage his business
side, Eduardo Artoldi and Elena Capillaro. than
big agencies like CAA and IMG, a whole infrastructure.
OK, so beyond the court, beyond the titles and
the training, there's this whole other dimension
to Djokovic, his philanthropy, his business interests,
his personal views. Let's unpack that side. His
commitment to giving back seems really significant.
It really does. He's incredibly active as a philanthropist,
and it feels deeply rooted in his own challenging
upbringing. He started the Novak Djokovic Foundation
back in 2007. Its main focus is supporting kids
from disadvantaged communities, especially in
Serbia, focusing on early childhood education.
And they've had a real impact, haven't they,
building schools? A huge impact. Built 50 schools,
working on the 51st now. Supported over 20 ,800
children, 1 ,000 families. That's sustained concrete
work over many years. That's really impressive.
And he's got that global recognition too, like
the UNICEF role. He appointed a UNICEF Goodwill
Ambassador in 2015. He's done loads of charity
matches for disaster relief, Haiti earthquake,
Queensland floods, Avila tower reconstruction.
And remember that 2014 Rome Masters win donated
the entire $500 ,000 prize to flood victims in
Serbia. His foundation raised another $600K on
top of that. Wow. Donated to Melbourne City Mission
in 2016. And during COVID in 2020, he and his
wife donated a million euros for ventilators
and gear in Serbia, plus donations to Italy and
other parts of the region, led to him winning
the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in 2012. It's
clearly a massive part of who he is. And like
most top athletes, he's built a significant business
portfolio, too. Sponsorships, ventures. Oh, yeah.
Big endorsements over the years. Clothing. Adidas,
then Sergei Takini. famously ended because they
couldn't afford his win bonuses. Too successful
for a sponsor. Basically. Then Uniqlo, and since
2017, Lacoste. Shoes were Adidas barricades,
now Asics. Luxury deals with Audemars Piguet
watches, Mercedes -Benz, Peugeot, Seiko watches.
Was a Learjet ambassador for Bombardier. Wide
range. Banking, wine. Yep. ANZ Bank, Jacobs Creek
wine, had that made by film series with him.
Telecom, Serbija, Fitline Supplements, Rifa's
Bank, UKG Workforce Management, a diverse portfolio
reflecting his global reach. And his family runs
some businesses too, extending the brand. Yeah,
through their company Family Sport, they had
the Novak Cafe and Restaurant chain in Serbia
and Bosnia. And significantly, they bought the
ATP tournament in the Netherlands in 2009 and
moved it to Belgrade, creating the Serby Open.
Ran until 2012. Brought top tennis home. He's
had personal ventures, too, right? Food products,
restaurants. Launched Jokalife Nutritional Food
Products in 2015. Opened a vegan restaurant at
Gita in Monte Carlo in 2016, though it closed
in 2019. Shows that strong interest in health
and wellness carrying over. And some interesting
investments outside of tennis. Biotech, football.
Holds a big stake. Eighty percent. and a biotech
firm, QuantBiores. They claim to be developing
a COVID drug based on electromagnetic frequency.
Our sources note this approach is considered
scientifically dubious, kind of likened to homeopathy,
diverging from standard scientific principles.
It reflects his interest in alternative approaches.
Right. And more recently, co -owning a football
club. Yeah. Loans FC and Francis League, too,
since August 2025, venturing into team ownership.
He's also taken a stand on players' rights within
tennis, hasn't he, with the PTPA? That's right.
Resigned for the ATP Player Council in 2020,
co -founded the Professional Tennis Players Association
with Vasek Pospisil. The idea is to give players,
especially lower ranked ones, a stronger voice,
more influence, push for better prize money distribution.
It was a bold move, challenging the established
structure. His personality has also made a mark,
sometimes in surprising ways. Those impersonations
early in his career were huge. Oh, they were
hilarious and incredibly accurate. His Sharapova,
Nadal, Federer, Radek. They went viral back in
2007. He even did them on court at the US Open.
Showed this really light -hearted, funny side
that endeared him to a lot of fans early on.
He's clearly had a massive cultural impact, especially
back home in Serbia. Huge. He, along with Ivanovic
and Jankovic, really sparked a tennis boom there.
He's done Eurovision appearances, talk shows
like Linno, Conan, Ellen, was in a Martin Solvang
music video. Ah, really? Yep. Got awarded the
Order of Serbian National Defense, had nearly
100 ,000 people welcome him in Belgrade after
his first Wimbledon win, named one of Time's
100 Most Influential People in 2012. His reach
is global. And he's even inspired scientists
to name creatures after him. That's unique. It
is. A freshwater snail, Trevuniana Jokovici,
in 2021. and a Vidal, Duvalius Djokovici in 2022.
Fun tributes. He was also in that Federer documentary
in 2024, first man on the cover of Vogue Adria,
cover of the tight -brick video game, still very
much in the public eye across different platforms.
Okay, now we need to get into a really pivotal
and often debated part of his story. His personal
views on diet, medicine, science. particularly
around the COVID -19 vaccine. This had huge consequences
for him. Yeah. And this raises that complex question
about individual freedom versus public health
mandates. Our sources are clear. His stance wasn't
anti all vaccines, but specifically against forced
vaccination. And this stance led him to make
some incredibly difficult career impacting choices
rooted in long held beliefs about his own body
and health. Let's start with the diet. Famously
strict. Super strict. Linked to that nutritionist
Adievich and the alleged gluten intolerance discovery
via applied kinesiology. Djokovic fully credits
going gluten -free for transforming his endurance,
getting rid of fatigue and allergies. He eventually
adopted a largely vegan diet, sometimes eats
fish, believes it cured allergies and mild asthma.
Diet is absolutely core to his regime. And he's
openly skeptical of conventional medicine, especially
surgery. Very much so. Publy stated he's not
a fan of surgeries or medications, believes the
body is a self -healing mechanism. That story
about him crying for three days after his elbow
surgery in 2018 because he felt guilty about
intervening medically. It shows how deep that
belief runs. Our sources also mentioned some
beliefs described as scientifically dubious.
Can you unpack that carefully, just presenting
the info? Sir, in his 2013 book, Serve to Win,
he wrote about an anecdote where a researcher
supposedly changed water's appearance just by
directing emotions at it, anger making it green,
love keeping it clear. And in 2020, he spoke
about believing prayer and gratitude could turn
toxic food or polluted water into healing water,
claiming scientists have proven water molecules
react to emotions. Our sources label these claims
scientifically dubious, generally seen as superstitious.
The idea water molecules react to human emotion
to gain healing properties contradicts basic
chemistry and physics. It highlights a worldview
that diverges significantly from mainstream science.
And this personal philosophy really collided
with the world during the pandemic, specifically
regarding the COVID -19 vaccine mandates. This
cost him dearly. It absolutely did. He signaled
opposition to forced vaccination back in April
2020. He clarified later it wasn't anti all vaccines,
but anti -mandate, emphasizing extreme care about
what goes into his body. His unvaccinated status
led directly to his visa cancellation and deportation
from Australia before the 2022 Australian Open.
Big global news story. And it meant he couldn't
play in the U .S. either for a while, missed
the U .S. Open. Correct. U .S. entry restrictions
for unvaccinated non -citizens meant he missed
Indian Wells, Miami, and the U .S. Open in 2022.
That's potentially multiple majors he missed
out on. Choosing his principles over chasing
records shows incredibly strong conviction. Exactly.
He explicitly said he was willing to forgo tournaments,
even if it cost him records and his GOAT status,
because of his principles and belief in personal
freedom of choice. He also made a point of saying
he doesn't associate with the wider anti -vax
movement, framing it purely as individual economy
over his own body, a stance he held despite massive
scrutiny and professional cost. Beyond those
health views, his faith is also clearly very
important to him, isn't it? Deeply important.
He's a devout member of the Serbian Orthodox
Church, baptized back in 92. He received the
Order of Saint Sava, the highest honor from the
Serbian Orthodox Church, for his contributions
to monasteries in Kosovo and his charity work.
Faith is central. Interestingly, he also meditates
daily, often at the Buddhist Buddha Padipa temple
near Wimbledon, seeking serenity. Visits meditation
sites in Bosnia, too. suggests a spiritual openness,
perhaps. He also seems comfortable blending sport
with political or cultural statements, especially
about Serbia and the region. Definitely. He supports
Serbian teams like Red Star, but also international
clubs like AC Milan, Benfica, broader sports
fan. Significantly, he supported Croatia in the
2018 World Cup, which raised eyebrows given the
history, but he framed it as sports uniting people
overcoming differences. Prized Luka Modric. And
then there was that statement at the French Open
in 2023. the writing on the camera lens. Yes,
that caused quite a stir. After a first round
win, he wrote, Kosovo is the heart of Serbia.
Stop the violence. Responding to clashes there.
He defended it strongly, saying he felt he had
to support our people and Serbia, called Kosovo,
our cradle, our stronghold. It showed that deep,
unwavering connection to his homeland's identity
and complex history, even on a global stage like
Roland Garros. So as we wrap up this deep dive,
Nobek Djokovic. No. It's clear his legacy is
just incredibly intricate, isn't it? Like that
backhand complex, powerful multi -layer from
that tough childhood to becoming this statistical
force of nature, a philanthropist, a businessman,
a figure of really strong, sometimes controversial,
but always deeply held beliefs. He's truly unique.
Totally unique. His story isn't just about the
trophies. It's about resilience. It's about conviction
and navigating the glare of modern fame while
staying true, it seems, to his own compass. And
maybe if we connected to the bigger picture,
given that unwavering commitment to personal
freedom, to his idea of well -being, even when
it meant sacrificing potential records, what
does his career ultimately teach us? about that
intersection of personal belief, intense athletic
drive, and how it all plays out under intense
public scrutiny today. It's a fascinating question
that goes way beyond just tennis, doesn't it?
Leaves you with a lot to think about.