Novak Djokovic has opened up on what he hopes his legacy will be to tennis, as he admitted he wants children to be inspired by his success.
Father-of-two Djokovic is edging 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 stated that he still believes there is more to come, but the retirement of Roger Federer in 2022 and Rafael Nadal’s announcement that he will call time on his career after next month’s Davis Cup Finals brings down the curtain on the most remarkable era in the history of the men’s game.
All three of the game’s greats will have golden legacies, with Djokovic hoping he will be a source of hope for those who have doubts about their ambitions.
“I want to leave a legacy that will survive,” he told La Nacion. “Of course, I am proud of my achievements on a global level, but I would like my main legacy to be to inspire young people to lead a healthier life through activities, sports, being conscious 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 had not 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 he would like to return to his roots in Serbia.
“I have seen so much of the world that I want to go back to my country, to my region, because I miss it,” he stated.
“I fell in love with tennis when I saw the Wimbledon final on television with Pete Sampras, when he won for the first time and I said to myself, “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.
“What are the odds of something like that happening? Back then there were no courts, especially in that mountain vacation spot, where basically my whole family would go to eat. We went there a lot and every time we had a break at school I would go help the builders, hand them something to drink, and they would let me help build those courts with my own hands.
“And I fell in love with it. I said to myself: “I’m building the courts that I see on TV. That’s it for me: I’m going all in with this sport.”
“I’m 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 the coach. So I always tried to keep all that in mind and, speaking of legacy, I also tried to be an example.
“I make mistakes, like everyone else, and I try to be aware of them, but at the end of the day I am a human being who tries 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 in need, especially in the countries in the region to which I feel emotionally connected.