A Short History of Novak Djokovic

Tennis is a sport that makes for an excellent and healthy hobby and a highly popular competitive sport. However, to excel at professional tennis, one needs to work extraordinarily hard. One such player who understands the intricacies of tennis and has chosen that path for life is Novak Djokovic. 

Djokovic is an individual who has worked hard to get where he is today. His love and passion for tennis know no bounds, and today he has become one of the leading players in the tennis world. 

Let’s go ahead and discuss more how Djokovic got to where he is today. Join us as we dive into his history!

Table of Contents

Early Life 

Novak Djokovic was born on 22nd May 1987 in Belgrade, Serbia. Although his family had professional skiers and soccer players, Novak grew an interest and passion for tennis.   

He started playing when he was four years old, and from the age of 6 until 12; he was coached by Jelena Gencic, a Yugoslavian tennis legend. When war hit the country, Djokovic did not let the bleakness of war eradicate his passion. He rose above it all and let the hardship become fuel for being better in his favored sport.

By age 13, he had proven to be a prodigy. His family, recognizing and appreciating his talent, sent him to Pilic Academy in Munich, Germany, for professional training and development. In 2001, at 14, he stepped into the international tennis world. 

Professional Life

At the end of 2001, 14-year-old Djokovic won his first tennis victory – a triple European champion in singles, doubles, and teams. At 16 years, he had won five IFT tournaments and had achieved the rank of the 40th best junior tennis player worldwide. 

In 2004, he began his journey as a qualifier in the ATP Challenger Tournament in Budapest and ending it by taking the 1st place position. In 2005, Djokovic qualified for Wimbledon and worked vigorously to reach the top 100. 

2007 found Djokovic playing in the semifinals of the French Open and Wimbledon. In Montreal, he won his second Masters title by beating the top three players at the time: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Roddick. His victory in this tournament made him number 3 in the list of best tennis players in the world.

In 2008, he won a Bronze medal for singles tennis in the Beijing Olympics. In 2010, Djokovic and his team won the Davis Cup Trophy for Serbia, thereby making history. In 2011, he again made history by winning 43 matches in a run, winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon. He also won the US open in this same run and became the number 1 tennis player globally. 

Djokovic started 2012 on a winning streak – winning the 2012 Australian Open. His luck, however, took a turn towards the end of the year, when Murray beat him in the US Open. Although he still took home the Men’s Singles title in 2013 and was runner up at Wimbledon that same year. 

He claimed his 2nd Wimbledon title against former seven-time champ Federer in 2014, making that his 7th Grand Slam title. In the following year, Djokovic went through a few ups and downs but won his 10th major singles title in the US Open in 2015. This win also saw him achieve a 27-1 record in Grand Slam play for that year.

Novak Djokovic won his 6th Australian Open title and 1st French Open crown in 2016. He then became the first man since 1969 to hold all major titles at once. But sadly, his quest for victory abruptly ended against an American player, and later in that year, he lost the US Open final as well. 

2017 started out as a loss, too, but Djokovic took this as a sign of change, and he brought on a new tennis coach to his team. With the coaching of tennis legend Andre Agassi, he won the grass-court East Bourne International tournament. 

After this victory, Djokovic retired temporarily to help his hurt elbow recuperate. In 2018, he came back strong and won his 14th Grand Slam title. Djokovic won his 15th major championship in 2019, but the year ended with his retirement because of a shoulder injury. In 2020 Novak’s return, although great, was soured by testing positive for COVID-19.

Overall Accomplishments

Djokovic is the first Serbian player to be ranked number 1 in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). He’s held world records in most consecutive wins, as well as most singles tennis wins. 

Today Djokovic is the proud holder of 15 major Wimbledon titles that he has won through blood, sweat, and tears. He was also awarded the “Serbian Sportsman of the Year Award” in 2010 and was titled the “Serbian Athlete of the Year.” He is an honor to his country and an aspiration to all aspiring tennis players out there. 

Conclusion

Novak Djokovic is one of the best tennis players in the world, without a doubt. He was born into the tennis world, and from the age of 4, has worked tirelessly hard. His home is the green field, and he is happiest surrounded by his peers, his equals, and loved ones. This simple yet passionate love of the game made Djokovic the tennis legend he is today.