Novak Djokovic reveals what he hopes will be his tennis legacy

Novak Djokovic has opened up about what he hopes his legacy in tennis will be as he admitted he wants children to be inspired by his success.

Father-of-two Djokovic is heading towards the end of his decorated career, with his 24 Grand Slam titles ensuring he will retire with more major titles than any man in the history of the game.

He has said he still believes there is more to come, but Roger Federer’s retirement in 2022 and Rafael Nadal’s announcement that he will mark his career after next month’s Davis Cup final brings the curtain down on highlight of the season. history of the men’s game.

The game’s big three will have golden legacies, with Djokovic hoping it will be a source of hope for those who doubt their ambitions.

“I want to leave a legacy that lives on,” he told the Nation. “Of course I am proud of my achievements globally, but I would like my main legacy to be to inspire young people to lead healthier lives through activities, sports, being aware of what they do and obviously if I can, to encourage them to pick up a racket and play tennis.

“I would like to see more tennis players because it is a beautiful sport that can bring positive things to your life.

“It allows you to see the world, something that not all sports allow you to do. If it hadn’t been for tennis, I would never have seen so much of the world in my life.”

When asked what he will do when his tennis career ends, he suggested that he would like to return to his roots in Serbia.

“I have seen so much of the world that I want to return to my country, to my region, because I miss it,” he said.

“I fell in love with tennis when I saw the Wimbledon final on TV with Pete Sampras, when he won for the first time and I was like, ‘What is this sport?’

“The next day, of course: ‘Dad, buy me a racket’, and that’s how it all started. I believe in destiny, I believe that everything happens for a reason, there are no coincidences, and when I was four or five years old they were building three tennis courts 50 meters from my parents’ restaurant.

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“What are the odds of something like that happening? There were no courts back then, especially in that mountain vacation spot where basically my whole family went to eat. We went there a lot and every time we had a break from school I would go help the builders, give them something to drink and let me help build those tracks with my own hands.

“And I fell in love with it. I said to myself: ‘I’m building the courts I see on TV. That’s all for me: I put everything into this sport.’

“I am very grateful to my parents for giving me so much support because at that time it was very, very difficult for them to buy me an extra racket or shoes or pay for the coach. So I’ve always tried to keep that in mind, and speaking of legacy, I’ve also tried to lead by example.

“I make mistakes, like everyone else, and I try to be aware of that, but at the end of the day I’m a human being trying to be a good person, someone who will be remembered as a good friend.

“As an athlete who not only achieved great results, but also used his position to help those most in need, especially in the countries of the region I feel emotionally connected to.”

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