In a raw and emotional reflection, Novak Djokovic recounts the extraordinary lengths his family went to in order to support his early tennis career—specifically, his first trip to play in the United States. The journey, which would ultimately set the stage for one of the sport’s most storied careers, came at a nearly unimaginable cost for a family living through the economic instability of post-war Serbia.
Djokovic shares that the expenses for the tournament were close to $5,000, a sum that felt insurmountable at the time. With limited options and intense financial pressure, his father turned to dangerous avenues, borrowing the money from men Djokovic describes as “notorious loan sharks” with criminal ties. Initially quoted interest rates of 15–20% quickly ballooned to 30% due to the urgency of their need.
This deeply personal anecdote offers a glimpse into the grit and resilience that have always defined Djokovic’s journey. Long before he was a Grand Slam champion and global icon, he was a boy whose dreams depended on his family’s unwavering belief—and a willingness to risk everything.
What stands out is not just the scale of sacrifice, but the unwavering determination that underpinned it. For Djokovic, those early struggles didn’t break him—they forged the fierce competitor the world would come to know. His rise from that high-stakes gamble to the very top of the tennis world remains one of the most compelling stories in modern sports.
Djokovic on his first time playing in America:
"It cost around $5,000. At that time, finding that kind of money was almost impossible. My father went to those notorious loan sharks, criminals."
The interest was 15-20%, but since he was in a hurry, it became 30% pic.twitter.com/tYMvJHcXoW
— Dan Gernez (@GernezDan) June 14, 2025
Novak Djokovic in 2025
LWWWWWLWWW Ranked world no.5, Novak played his last match on the 6th of June when he surrendered to world no.1 Jannik Sinner 6-4 7-5 7-6(3) in the semifinal of the French Open (draw).
At the moment, during this season Djokovic owns an overall 21-8 match record. The Serbian has won 1 title in Geneva. Novak was the finalist in Miami.
