Tearful Novak Djokovic remembers his first coach as he celebrates his maiden Olympic Gold medal win, video goes viral

Novak Djokovic expressed his gratitude to everyone, including his first ever coach, as he celebrates his maiden Olympic gold medal.

Tearful Novak Djokovic remembers his first coach as he celebrates his maiden Olympic Gold medal win, video goes viral

Novak Djokovic (Image via Imago)

Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic ended a long wait for the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He defeated reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final to clinch the only title that has eluded him for many years. He has been on an emotional ride ever since the win.

While the 37-year-old tennis star was sobbing like a kid when he defeated Alcaraz in the final, he once again teared up as he was shown the image of the moment the Serbian first picked up the racket. After seeing the picture oh him with his first tennis coach, the 24-time Grand Slam champion got teary-eyed and said that he is grateful to everyone including his first coach for this moment.

YouTube video
I feel very grateful to all the people, including my first coach who helped me fall in love with tennis. I feel very grateful to all the people, to God for giving me this mercy and blessing and this opportunity. At that time it was almost impossible to achieve all these things but nothing is impossible. When you have faith, when you have power, and belief in yourself, nothing is impossible.
Novak Djokovic said

Notably, while there is no account of who was Djokovic’s first-ever tennis coach, the Serbian referred to Jelena Gencic as his tennis mother and called Nikola Pilic his tennis father.

FS Video
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Novak Djokovic never forgets to thank his tennis mother

Years have passed by but Novak Djokovic has not forgotten what his tennis mother, Jelena Gencic, did for him. He never forgets to express his gratitude to her whenever he achieves a milestone.

Novak-Djokovic-Jelena-Gencic
Jelena Gencic, Novak Djokovic (Images via Imago)

Last year, at the French Open, when Djokovic bagged his 23rd Grand Slam title, he remembered how Gencic would help him in every possible way. The Serbian ace hailed her as his “true mentor” who would teach him things other than tennis when not on the court. 

She was a true mentor. And she worked closely with my parents, who gave her space and permission to spend a lot of time with me, also when we were not training on the court. I used to go to her home, and we did many different things that were shaping my mind as a human being, but also as a professional, as a young player who dreams of becoming a professional.
Novak Djokovic said about Jelena Gencic (H/T: Reuters)

Gencic, who passed away in 2013, also coached the likes of Monica Seles, Goran Ivanisevic, and Mima Jausovec, to name a few.

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