“Federer grew up in happy country,” Stefanos Tsitsipas’ mother lauds Novak Djokovic for his accomplishments despite hardships in war-torn Belgrade
Stefanos Tsitsipas's mother Julia Apostoli said Novak Djokovic deserves a lot more praise for the way he became a top tennis player.
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Roger Federer, Julia Apostoli, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic (Images via X, Greek City Times)
Former World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas‘ mother Julia Apostoli lauded Novak Djokovic for his determination and resilience and his rise to the top at a time when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal dominated tennis.
Djokovic, although he was just another tennis player when he turned pro, started to challenge the Big 2 that is Federer and Nadal and gradually he joined his rivals and formed the formidable Big 3. Djokovic has surpassed his rivals to become the player with most Grand Slam titles.
Apostoli said Djokovic has shown anything is possible as she explained to those who condemn him that the 37-year-old achieved everything that he has with his own efforts.
Djokovic is a self-made man. No PR. In other words, he entered tennis when Federer and Nadal were at the highest level. They were already the fathers of tennis.
Julia Apostoli said on the Mr Tennis YouTube Channel
Apostoli talked about the hardships of a young Djokovic and his family in war-torn Belgrade and compared it with Federer’s childhood in peaceful Switzerland. Djokovic, who was born in 1987, three years before the Yugoslav wars, has often recalled the horrors of those times as there was a ‘fear of the unknown’.
He had a very difficult childhood. That can be explained. He had to hide in an air-raid shelter as a child. Federer grew up in a happy country: Switzerland. That’s also worth bearing in mind. He hasn’t experienced those moments when you have to risk something to achieve something else.
Julia Apostoli added
Federer and Nadal have retired from tennis, at the 2022 Laver Cup and 2024 Davis Cup respectively. Djokovic, although he ended 2024 without a tour-level trophy, has his eyes set on next year’s Australian Open and has planned to keep playing for the next few years.
Novak Djokovic recently played an exhibition match
On Sunday (December 1), Novak Djokovic participated in ‘The Last Challenge’ an exhibition match for the farewell of his rival Juan Martin del Potro. Del Potro officially retired from tennis at the 2022 Argentina Open but wanted to leave tennis with good memories by forgetting his injury troubles at least for a while.
Del Potro’s knee injuries not only forced him to retire, but it’s causing him pain in his daily life even now. In a video ahead of the match, he talked in length about the harrowing details about his life post that injury and multiple surgeries.
In that farewell match, Djokovic let del Potro win the last point and eventually the match 6-4, 7-5. It was the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s first match (though unofficial) since his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the final of the Shanghai Masters.
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Gouri Das
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