Novak Djokovic has opened up in one of his most emotional interviews, as he revealed the pain of his childhood can come back to haunt him.
Djokovic grew up in war-torn Belgrade, with the memories of the bombs landing around him inevitably leaving a lasting scar.
In a compelling conversation with La Nacion, the 24-time Grand Slam-winning legend has revealed the flashbacks to his childhood are never far from his mind, as he recalled a chilling image involving his family.
“It’s the fear of the unknown. Not knowing if the next bomb is going to hit your head,” said Djokovic, as he reflected on his earliest memories.
“And so it was every day, the alarms, the sirens that woke us up every night when the planes were approaching.
“I remember my mother one night… because you’re sleeping and in the middle of the night you wake up because you hear the siren and you have to grab a bag and go down to the basement of the building to try to take shelter.
“The first time it happened, my mother got up in the dark because we all slept together, we didn’t know what was going to happen and we cried every night and she hit her head against the heater and was knocked unconscious.
“So it’s 3am and my father has his wife unconscious. I was 12 years old, and my younger brothers, 8 and 4, were crying. There was total panic, but it’s an experience that strengthened us as a family, as people.”
Djokovic also called for the end to all wars that are raging around the world, as he admitted it is his biggest fear.
“When I see these wars and everything that is happening… I lived through the war, my city was bombed day and night for two and a half months,” he added.
“It’s a horror. The worst thing anyone can experience. It’s the fear of the unknown.
“I saw dead people and now that I see wars in other parts of the world, I don’t understand.
“I want to make it very clear – I don’t think anyone should suffer through war to develop mental strength, there are other ways to do it.
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“For me, it was a very important part of my development and as a small child, I was forced to grow up. I had to take responsibility and share my father’s role because I was the eldest son and there was no time.
“My father spoke to me as an adult: “You have to do this, take your brothers there, go here.” It was war.
“Everyone is panicking, lost, everyone is screaming, everyone is afraid. Just remembering it gives me chills and gives me goosebumps, it’s a terrible feeling.
“I remember the day I turned 12 and I saw a plane in broad daylight. I was at the tennis club and the alarms started going off.
“You hear them and suddenly you see the plane firing rockets over a military base or also over hospitals, schools and bridges… and then you think:
“What can I do?” You can’t do anything. And that’s the worst feeling, fear. You have no control, you have no power. There is a stronger power that can destroy you at any moment.”