Djokovic’s balancing act, a great player and a perfect father
dubai — Serbian Novak Djokovic is already on the path to greatness and on course to matching and perhaps even going past Roger Federer.
He recently returned to the top of the perch following a record 8th Australian Open triumph and is just three away from Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles.
But it has been a different experience as far as fatherhood is concerned. It has been a balancing act for the 32-year-old when it comes to being a good father and being on the Tour.
Djokovic, who tied the knot with his long-time Jelena in 2014, has two children — Stefan and Tara.
And the five-time Wimbledon champion gave an insight into how it has been growing up with them and obviously the tennis.
“He’s slowly starting to understand. Tara is still too little. She’s only two. Stefan is now five, five and a half. He understands a little bit more why I’m absent from home,” Djokovic revealed what they think of him.
“That’s obviously a very difficult part for a father who is a professional tennis player. You travel a lot. They don’t travel much with me. Just certain tournaments throughout the year. I’m thrilled obviously when I’m able to have him on the stands on rare occasions,” he added.
The three-time US Open champion also revealed that Stefan knows the etiquette in tennis.
“I was really surprised. Wasn’t a long match, but for most of the match he was there watching. He was quiet. He has the education of a tennis spectator,” he said.
Djokovic said that Stefan does play tennis and the father and
Novak Djokovic
son actually had a bit of a session on Centre Court ahead of the ATP 500 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“He’s also playing tennis. He likes playing tennis. But I’m not pushing or forcing anything really for him to play, to come, whatever. It happens naturally, spontaneously day by day. He has friends here. That’s kind of a social outing for them watching a tennis match,” said Djokovic.
Djokovic said that Stefan also knows who the other players are and jokingly guessed who his favourite player would be.
“I have not asked him yet. He knows right now Rafa (Nadal, Roger (Federer), (Stefanos) Tsitsipas and Dominic Thiem and (Alexander) Zverev. Those are the players he’s familiar with. He hasn’t been watching too much tennis except when I’m playing. He hasn’t really stated who his favorite player is. I don’t know, I have a wild guess,” Djokovic smiled and said.
That’s obviously a very difficult part for a father who is a professional tennis player. You travel a lot. They don’t travel much with me