Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player.
He is currently ranked as world No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals. Djokovic has been No. 1 for 302 weeks and has finished as year-end No. 1 on six occasions, an Open Era record shared with Pete Sampras. Djokovic has won 17 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, including a record eight Australian Open titles. He is the only player to win all of the elite tournaments on the modern men’s professional circuit.
“There are many athletes who maybe just don’t realize to what extent, and how far, their voice goes,” the 28-year-old told CNN’s Open Court show in Belgrade. “That power can be used in a very positive way.”
Djokovic and his wife Jelena are leading by example through the Novak Djokovic Foundation, established in Serbia to secure precious learning time for children six and under.
“In Serbian history, the years between 1991 and 2001 are probably the 10 most difficult years that we have had as people. The consequences of the war are still felt many years after it finished,” says Novak. He counts himself as one of the lucky few who was able to pursue his dreams – even if he had to miss youth tournaments because his parents could not afford the travel.
“It made me hungrier for success and made me more balanced. I never lost that bond and connection to other people who have struggled and are still struggling,” he says, adding that his exposure to the devastation in his homeland had created a desire to “do something when I have the spotlight.”
Sources:
- https://youtu.be/q8ag0-3Aa2U
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novak_Djokovic
- https://www.cnn.com/2016/02/22/tennis/novak-djokovic-foundation-tennis/index.html
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