One Career: Novak Djokovic

"Serb and Volley"

"This is my first big speech. I am very excited for standing next to legends like Boris Becker. My mother was still feeding me when he was the one of the greatest players. I am happy to enter the Top 10", said Novak Djokovic after Boric Becker gave him the second prize check of 250,000 dollars, after being defeated in Indian Wells final match against Rafael Nadal


By ANA SLOVIC
from Belgrade, SERBIA


Novak Djokovic made people smile and got applauses by this speech but also opened a new page in the history of Serbian tennis. One of the titles in the Serbian press after this year's first tournament of Masters Series was like this: "Djokovic ten, nine, eight..." This journalist's prediction was becoming true. After travelling all over the United States and taking part in tournaments in the Indian Wells and Miami, Novak Djokovic was coming closer to the top of ATP list. He entered Top 10 and won the most important prize in his career by beating the world number two Rafael Nadal in Key Biscayne. He also played two of the greatest finals in his career and at last won his first big trophy.

Wider sports' and specially tennis fans heard of Novak Djokovic in May 2004, when he won the "Futures" tournament in Szolnok when he was only 16-years-old. The world scene met the Serbian tennis player one year later, in Roland Garros where he made French player Grosjean do his best to win the second round. The rest is now history...

The Beginning

The first big match in his career was played at the beginning of 2005, in the Australian Open against Marat Safin. The Russian player was in his best shape ever and easily won 3:0 but that performance on the central court and in front of 15,000 spectators certainly was a great experience for Novak.

Shortly after that, he became famous and appreciated. He was taking big steps forward and media started paying more attention to tennis because it was clear that Serbia had players to be proud of after 15 years and older generation legend Boba Zivojinovic. Thanks to Novak but also to Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic there are more and more tennis fans all over the world.

Nole (Novak's nickname) is, as he admits by himself, very emotional and he likes expressing his feelings on the court and outside of it, too. He is always realistic and knows very well his possibilities in every moment. He likes joking and having fun, that's why he always insists on having a relaxed atmosphere before every match. Also he showed many times that he is able to make spectators and his fans laugh. That happened last year after final match on "Croatia Open" in Umag. Because he was exhausted, he had to give up the match and let Stanislav Wavrinka win, but he was strong enough to "admit" that he actually received a couple of thousands Euros from the opponent to give up and let him win the first ATP title. Only one week prior to that, Djokovic won his first ATP tournament in the Dutch city of Amersfort.

During that period he had had some health problems. Exactly that was the reason to give up in the match against Wavrinka, but also against Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros quarterfinal a few weeks before. In that Roland Garros Novak still wasn't ready for such a great victory but he showed everyone his very fast development. That match, the first time against the second best player in the world, was interesting for one anecdote. Actually, on the shoes of Spanish player it was printed "Vamos Rafa", and Novak had to reply on that by taking flomaster and writing on his shoes "Vamos Nole".

The New Beginning

After Amersfort and Umag compliments and nice words were coming for 24th player in the world, at that moment. That's why Nole was not too offended by statements of Roger Federer, after their national teams match in Davis Cup. The Swiss player said that Novak is a cheater, but he gets closer to the top every day. During that period Novak Djokovic was one of the few players who succeeded to win sets against Federer. Although Roger's game is brought to perfection, everyone can think it is easy playing tennis, he is a threat to his forthcoming opponent. And not only to him...

His plan for this year to enter Top 10 in the world was already accomplished in the first half of March and he is closer to his wish. When he was four years old he went to Jelena Gencic tennis camp in Kopaonik and when she asked him what he wanted to become when he grew up he said : "The world Number One!" He kept his promise. because he made that promise to his brothers, Djordje and Marko.

Novak Djokovic passed the phase of "the star that should just shine". Some world TV stations added to his name phrases like "Serbian Nightmare" or "Serb and Volley". On the tournament in Miami there were many Serbian flags and also many titles like "Djokovic - the next No.1", "Djokovic - Made in Serbia". Perhaps all the opponents will find it much harder to play against Novak now and they will have to analyze very well all his advantages. He proved that he can play with everyone, even with Federer whom he succeeded to beat a few weeks ago, and maybe he will fulfill the predictions of his father earlier that planned. Srdjan Djokovic had expectations from his son Novak to follow in his footsteps and to spend life in the snow, skiing but Novak accidentally fell in love with tennis during his stay in the mountains. The father of the youngest tennis player in Top 10 in the world thinks that Nole will become Number One in three years! Maybe even earlier...