The greatest tennis player in history, Novak Đoković, was eliminated at the start of the Cincinnati Masters and certainly worried all his fans ahead of the US Open. What everyone should know is that this is just another obstacle on the road to the perfect end of his career. The Serbian star revealed in an interview with Spanish media that he has one goal left before retirement: to say goodbye with the Serbian flag on his shoulders, in Los Angeles in 2028.
Đoković recently presented his documentary “Wolf in Winter”, which highlights his greatest successes and struggles, as well as the person he has become during 20 years of a brilliant career.
Why did he choose that particular name for the documentary? “Because I think it reflects resilience and that spirit of never giving up. In the most difficult circumstances, when you feel that everything is against you and that you will not succeed, somehow you find that inner strength and confidence that allow you to keep going through the most complicated moments. That is why I believe that the title, or the name of the documentary, also reflects my childhood and the way I grew up. I grew up in the mountains and spent a lot of time there, both in summer and winter. I love winter, and when I was young, I also skied. So, for me and my life, it has a very special, authentic and symbolic meaning,” Novak said in an interview with Spanish outlet “Sport”.
The documentary portrays him to some extent as an outsider and the “bad guy.” How much did the role of the villain help him in his career?
“The intention behind this documentary was not only to show the most important moments of my career and my achievements, nor to convey the idea that I am the best and that everything was always positive and wonderful, because that is not true. Life has many ups and downs. The idea that director Jason Hehir and I had was precisely to show that reality. He has an extraordinary ability to portray people in a more personal way, especially when it comes to athletes. It is well known that he directed ‘The Last Dance’, the documentary about Michael Jordan, which was a huge success and is considered one of the best sports documentaries in history,” Nole says in one breath and continues:
“The idea was to show that journey and, in fact, all the moments and experiences I went through – both on and off the court – that shaped me as a person and helped me become who I am. The film is 90 minutes long, so it was difficult to summarize an entire life in that format and in such a short period of time, but we tried. It is quite an intense documentary, full of events, and I hope people will enjoy it.”
A professional athlete’s career is full of sacrifices. Was it worth it?
“Every journey involves sacrifices, doesn’t it? You have to give something up in order to devote yourself fully to something else. So, when I spoke generally about such consequences, I meant everything – from relationships with those closest to you to the time you would like to devote to other things or spending time with friends. It also includes being deprived of the childhood that your peers, schoolmates or friends have, because you have to be completely devoted to an individual sport. Nevertheless, all of that is part of the journey and I don’t speak about it with bitterness, nor do I complain. It simply is what it is. And that is precisely what we tried to show through the film. I hope that even people who do not actively follow sports or tennis can identify with the universal values shown in the film – such as resilience, perseverance, self-confidence, family values and, ultimately, the importance of believing in yourself, your dreams and your vision – or recognize a part of themselves in them.”
Olympic gold medal as a guiding star
The Olympic gold medal from Paris 2024 is a guiding star in his life and is particularly highlighted in the documentary. How much did this achievement motivate him to continue playing at the highest level?
“I was 37 years old when I won Olympic gold and that was probably my last great opportunity to do so, at my fifth Olympic Games. I came very close. I won bronze in Beijing – now quite a long time ago, in 2008 – and I was close at every subsequent Games, but I never managed to reach the final and fight for gold. That is why Paris was truly an incredible achievement and experience for me, probably the most important moment of my life and career. Especially considering the circumstances: at 37, after all the difficulties and four unsuccessful attempts to reach an Olympic final, and against the world’s best player at the time, Carlos Alcaraz – who was very young and had already won Grand Slam titles,” Đoković says and continues:
“It was truly wonderful, something very special for me and my family. The fact that my wife and children were there to experience that moment and celebrate together, and then returning to my country the next day with the Serbian flag draped over my shoulders… It was unforgettable. It is truly something you probably experience only once in your life.”
He was asked whether participating in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles is still his goal or dream.
“I think it is both. A dream and a goal, but also a desire. I have said it several times in recent years: I would like to make it to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. I think I can achieve that. We’ll see. Everything will depend on how my body reacts, as well as many other factors. Today I don’t play or compete in nearly as many tournaments as I did during the previous twenty years. I decided to do that because I also want to spend more time with my family and truly dedicate myself to the different roles I have in life – the role of a husband, father, son and brother – as well as pursue other interests,” Novak says and adds:
“Of course, tennis remains at the center of my professional life, but I want to find balance as well, which is why I have changed my schedule. Nevertheless, I still hope to make it to the Olympic Games and finish my career that way, with the Serbian flag on my shoulders.”
What would “little” Novak be most proud of?
The word “retirement” is a word he does not like to hear, but what is the word you think about every day?
“A lot of things go through my mind every day. But when it comes to life in general, I try to find balance, especially between my private and professional life. I also strive to be consistent and disciplined – not only when it comes to routines that help me be better prepared as a tennis player and play better on the court, but also those that make me feel healthier as a person. I really enjoy everything related to wellness and a healthy lifestyle. Ultimately, I simply try to give the people around me the best of myself, whatever that may mean at a particular moment.”
The documentary follows the Serbian star’s first steps in tennis. What would that boy with a racket in his hand and big dreams be most proud of today?
“Little Novak dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player, winning Wimbledon and reaching No. 1 in the world. But I don’t believe that young Novak could have imagined that all those things would actually come true. That is why I think he would be very happy, proud and excited. But he would also be grateful – very grateful – for all the experiences, both good and bad, that I have gone through and that we tried to show in the film.”
Is there anything he regrets?
“No, I don’t regret anything. Life is full of various experiences and circumstances that happen for a reason and with a certain purpose. So I wouldn’t change anything. I have always tried to act with the best intentions at every moment, both toward myself and others. In every situation, I did what I could. Of course, I didn’t always make the smartest or most appropriate decisions, but all those experiences are part of the foundation upon which my life, my character and the person I am today have been built,” Novak concluded.ChatGPT
Опција 2
DJOKOVIC ON THE END OF HIS CAREER: “I WANT TO FINISH IT WITH THE SERBIAN TRICOLOR ON MY SHOULDERS”!
The greatest tennis player in history, Novak Djokovic, was eliminated in the opening round of the Cincinnati Masters and seriously worried all his fans ahead of the US Open. What everyone should know is that this is just another obstacle on the road toward the perfect end of his career. The Serbian star revealed in an interview with Spanish media that he has one goal left before retirement: to say goodbye to tennis with the Serbian flag on his shoulders, in Los Angeles in 2028.
Djokovic recently presented his documentary “The Wolf in Winter,” which highlights his greatest achievements and struggles, as well as the person he has become over the course of a brilliant 20-year career.
Why did he choose that particular name for the documentary? “Because I think it reflects resilience and that spirit of never giving up. In the most difficult circumstances, when you feel that everything is against you and that you will not succeed, somehow you find that inner strength and self-confidence that allow you to keep moving forward in the most complicated moments. That is why I believe that the title, or rather the name of the documentary, also reflects my childhood and the way I grew up. I grew up in the mountains and spent a lot of time there, both in summer and winter. I love winter, and when I was young, I also skied. So, for me and my life, it has a very special, authentic and symbolic meaning,” Novak said in an interview with Spanish outlet “Sport”.
The documentary portrays him to some extent as an outsider and the “bad guy.” How much did playing the villain help him in his career?
“The intention behind this documentary was not simply to show the most important moments of my career and my achievements, nor to convey the idea that I am the best and that everything was always positive and wonderful, because that is not true. Life has many ups and downs. The idea that director Jason Hehir and I had was precisely to show that reality. He has an extraordinary ability to portray people in a more personal way, especially when it comes to athletes. It is well known that he directed ‘The Last Dance,’ a documentary about Michael Jordan, which was a huge success and is considered one of the best sports documentaries in history,” Nole says and continues:
“The idea was to show that journey and, in fact, all the moments and experiences I went through – both on and off the court – that shaped me as a person and helped me become who I am. The film lasts 90 minutes, so it was difficult to summarize an entire life in that format and such a short period of time, but we tried. It is quite an intense documentary, full of events, and I hope people will enjoy it.”
A professional athlete’s career is full of sacrifices. Was it worth it?
“Every journey involves sacrifices, right? You have to give something up in order to devote yourself fully to something else. So, when I spoke generally about those consequences, I meant everything – from relationships with those closest to you to the time you would like to dedicate to other things or spending time with friends. It also includes being deprived of the childhood your peers, schoolmates or friends have, because you have to be completely dedicated to an individual sport. Nevertheless, it is all part of the journey and I do not talk about it with bitterness, nor do I complain. It simply is what it is. And that is exactly what we tried to portray through the film. I hope that even people who do not actively follow sports or tennis can relate to the universal values shown in the film – such as resilience, perseverance, self-confidence, family values and, ultimately, the importance of believing in yourself, your dreams and your vision – or recognize a part of themselves in them.”
Olympic gold medal as a guiding star
The Olympic gold medal from Paris 2024 is a guiding star in his life and is particularly highlighted in the documentary. How much did that achievement motivate him to continue playing at the highest level?
“I was 37 years old when I won Olympic gold and that was probably my last major opportunity to do so, at my fifth Olympic Games. I had come very close. I won bronze in Beijing – already a long time ago, in 2008 – and I was close at every subsequent Games, but I never managed to reach the final and fight for gold. That is why Paris was truly an incredible achievement and experience for me, probably the most important moment of my life and career. Especially considering the circumstances: at 37, after all the difficulties and four unsuccessful attempts to reach an Olympic final, and against the best player in the world at the time, Carlos Alcaraz – who was very young and already winning Grand Slam titles,” Djokovic says and continues:
“It was truly wonderful, something very special for me and my family. Having my wife and children there to experience that moment and celebrate together, and then returning to my country the next day with the Serbian flag draped over my shoulders… It was unforgettable. It is truly something you probably experience only once in your life.”
He was asked whether competing at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles is still his goal or dream.
“I think it is both. A dream and a goal, but also a desire. I have said it several times in recent years: I would like to make it to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. I think I can achieve that. We will see. It will depend on how my body responds, as well as many other factors. Today, I do not play or compete in nearly as many tournaments as I did over the previous 20 years. I decided to do that because I also want to spend more time with my family and truly devote myself to the different roles I have in life – the role of a husband, father, son and brother – as well as pursue other interests,” Novak says and adds:
“Of course, tennis remains at the center of my professional life, but I want to find balance as well, which is why I have changed my schedule. Nevertheless, I still hope to make it to the Olympic Games and finish my career that way, with the Serbian flag on my shoulders.”
What would “little” Novak be most proud of?
The word “retirement” is one he does not like to hear, but what is the thought you think about every day?
“A lot goes through my mind every day. But when it comes to life in general, I try to find balance, especially between my private and professional life. I also strive to be consistent and disciplined – not only when it comes to routines that help me be better prepared as a tennis player and play better on the court, but also those that help me feel healthier as a person. I truly enjoy everything related to wellness and a healthy lifestyle. Ultimately, I simply try to give the people around me the best of myself, whatever that may mean at a given moment.”
The documentary follows the Serbian star’s first steps in tennis. What would the boy holding a racket and dreaming big be most proud of today?
“Little Novak dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player, winning Wimbledon and reaching No. 1 in the world. But I do not believe that young Novak could have imagined that all those things would actually come true. That is why I think he would be very happy, proud and excited. But he would also be grateful – very grateful – for all the experiences, both good and bad, that I have gone through and that we tried to show in the film.”
Is there anything he regrets?
“No, I do not regret anything. Life is full of different experiences and circumstances that happen for a reason and with a certain purpose. So I would not change anything. I have always tried to act with the best intentions at every moment, both toward myself and toward others. In every situation, I did what I could. Of course, I did not always make the smartest or most appropriate decisions, but all those experiences are part of the foundation upon which my life, my character and the person I am today have been built,” Novak concluded.
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Source: Mondo, Foto: Twitter / @DjokerNole
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