Novak Djokovic now stands at par with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both considered to be outstanding players in their own right. However, Djokovic’s path to this position hasn’t been easy.
Djokovic was born at a time when his country was undergoing political upheaval. In fact, he has talked about how his coach Jelena Genčić would plan his training sessions in parts of Belgrade, his hometown, that had been bombed the previous night, because she would assume that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) fighter planes wouldn’t bomb the same area on two consecutive days! NATO was fighting to free Kosovo from Yugoslavian troops. The bombings also meant no school, which was perhaps the best thing that could happen to Djokovic, as it meant more time to play tennis!
As he grew up and started competing professionally, Djokovic realised that playing tennis was not just about the game. Rather, it was a way to showcase his country’s progress and dominance. In fact, he too started using the three-finger victory salute that was made popular by Serbian soldiers. Over time, he learnt to accept his past and not let it anger or bother him and that has made him a better player. He is a living example of how one can conquer one’s past and fears and move on to claim a spot in the limelight.
