Novak Djokovic Thinking About His Legacy

Written by: Staff on 27th February 2013

Novak Djokovic Thinking About His Legacy

epa03601655 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against his countryman Victor Troicki during the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 26 February 2013. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

World no.1 Novak Djokovic admitted he would love to leave a Serbian National Tennis Center as his legacy to his homeland in a bid to ensure a smooth flow of talent in upcoming decades.

Djokovic, currently bidding to win a fourth Dubai Duty Free Championship title in four years, maintained there is currently some formidable talent to follow on from the current golden generation of himself, former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, ex no.1 Jelena Jankovic , men’s top tenner Janko Tipsarevic and doubles expert Nenad Zimonjic. He cited the likes of Filip Krajinovic, Nikola Milojevic and a group of junior girls.

However Djokovic agreed that he, Ivanovic and Jankovic all had to leave their home country to get a proper tennis education and that is still the case. “We need a system in our country,” he said. “When we develop a system, then it’s going to be easier to support these talents and give them better conditions to break through.”

Djokovic maintained there was still a hunger in Serbian tennis players to prove they can succeed without the sort of backing other nations enjoy. But he added: “A National Tennis Center is, I think, the no. 1 priority of all the people in Serbia that love this sport.

“If we have that, then we have a location where all these talents can practice and feel good at home. If they don’t, players have to rely on the individual support of their families, which is obviously much more unpredictable and risky. Not many families have that kind of circumstances and financial support to be able to give their kids the right conditions.

Djokovic revealed he has used his current fame to have meetings with national leaders in a bid to raise support for a tennis center in Belgrade. The problem is money, obviously. It’s not easy.

“Serbia struggles economically with many different issues that are pending and, forming a tennis center is not really top of the priority list for them. But they have shown goodwill.

“I think they are realizing how much this sport really brings a positive image to our country around the world. So I’m sure we’re going to make it happen very soon.”

©Daily tennis News Wire

Topics: Dubai Duty Free Championship, Nole, Novak Djokovic, Serbian tennis news, Sports, Tennis News