Novak Djokovic thinks family celebrations are more important than sports achievements

Novak Djokovic thinks family celebrations are more important than sports achievements
Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has always found himself happy for his visits to his home country, saying that they motivate him to keep achieving big things on the ATP Tour.

In a press conference at the Vienna Open, the world no. 1 spoke about his attachment to Serbia and how spending time with family and celebrating occasions at home outweighs any of the countless sporting achievements he has earned in his career.

Novak Djokovic: “There is always a reason to celebrate”

The Serb had a fruitful clay season, winning his record-breaking 36th Masters title in Rome. He also reached the finals of the French Open. After losing to Rafael Nadal, he took a break from sports and returned home to spend time with his family.

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During this time, he celebrated his son’s birthday at home. He also visited the Bosnian Pyramids, a cluster of hills in neighboring Bosnia & Herzegovina.

At the Vienna Open press conference, Djokovic said, “There is always a reason to celebrate. You don’t have to wait for a tournament, just as you don’t have to wait for a child’s birthday or any other festive occasion, privately or professionally. There is always a reason. However, definitely family celebrations and marking some important dates in our lives are far more important to me than any sporting achievement.”

It gives me great pleasure to be home: Djokovic

Djokovic at the Australian Open earlier this year

The World No. 1, who is almost certain to be crowned the year-end world no. 1 by the ATP, is currently playing at the Vienna Open, where he has reached the quarterfinals. After this tournament, he will play at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals at London in November.

Despite his hectic schedule involving travels to various unique places, the Serb always longs to come back home. He said, “I always long for Belgrade and Serbia and I am looking forward to coming here. My stay in my hometown is always short, but filled with numerous private and professional obligations. It gives me great pleasure to be here, surrounded by my people, people who speak the same language as me, to be able to go back to my roots.”

He added that the visits provide him with some added motivation and strength to compete at the highest level and clinch as many titles as possible. On this, he added, “It fills me with energy all this, though probably to the same extent that it exhausts me at the same time. However, it gives me that additional encouragement and motivation that I need, inspires me to continue travelling the world and write some new pages in the history of tennis.”

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