Novak Djokovic Thinking About His Legacy

Written by: on 27th February 2013
Men Dubai Tennis Championships
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: , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.