World No. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic has opened up about his ongoing internal conflict between his insatiable hunger for success on the court and his growing longing to spend time with his children as he gets older.
Djokovic, a tennis legend and father of nine-year-old Stefan and six-year-old Tara with his wife Jelena, shared his inner turmoil during a recent interview on the Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios podcast. Despite his enduring passion for the sport, Djokovic admitted that the separation from his children due to his rigorous tournament schedule is becoming increasingly difficult to bear.
“The little Novak, the four-year-old Novak, who started playing tennis in Kopaonik in Serbia, is still inside and still in love with the sport and is still so hungry for more,” Djokovic revealed during the interview. “But at the same time, there’s probably this more mature Novak, father and a husband, that is, ‘Come on, man. There are other things in life as well’.”
Djokovic’s candid remarks come amid a challenging 2024 season, where he has faced unexpected setbacks on the court. With losses in five out of 17 matches played and a noticeable absence from the finals in the ATP tournaments he participated in, questions have arisen regarding his commitment to maintaining his position at the top of the tennis world.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who will soon celebrate his 37th birthday, experienced a disappointing early exit from the 2024 Italian Open, losing to Alejandro Tabilo in the third round. Looking ahead, Djokovic is preparing to defend his title at the French Open, a tournament he holds dear despite his current struggles.
Reflecting on his performance this year, Djokovic acknowledged a shift in his mindset compared to his stellar 2023 season. “If I am playing poorly – I am far from the desired form,” he admitted to Serbian media. “We’ll see how things go, Grand Slams are a bit different though, I love playing them, I’m extra motivated there. I hope everything will be fine with my head.”
As Djokovic navigates the complexities of balancing his professional aspirations with his family commitments, fans and tennis enthusiasts eagerly await his upcoming appearances on the court, eager to witness the next chapter of his illustrious career unfold.
Novak Djokovic in 2024
Ranked world no.1, Novak played his last match on the 12th of May when he lost to world no.32 Alejandro Tabilo 6-2 6-3 in the 3rd round in Rome (draw).
Until now, during this year Djokovic achieved a compiled 12-5 record. Novak Djokovic’s most significant accomplishment of the present season was reaching the semifinal at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo.
Djokovic has scheduled to compete next at the French Open (French Open). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 26th of May.
Novak Djokovic |
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