WATCH: Novak Djokovic expresses delight after receiving dates from ‘Minister of Happiness’ Ons Jabeur

Both Djokovic and Jabeur are at Wimbledon and will play their third-round match today.


WATCH: Novak Djokovic expresses delight after receiving dates from ‘Minister of Happiness’ Ons Jabeur

Ons Jabeur gifted Novak Djokovic dates (Images via Imago, X)

Novak Djokovic and his love for chewing dates is well known among tennis fans. And this is why, Ons Jabeur gifted him a packet full of dates. 

Jabeur loves to make friends on the court and she is not a person who can ‘leave someone shy alone’. She is the Minister of Happiness on the tennis circuit and Djokovic experienced that when she offered him the ‘delicious’ dates. His reactions say it all how he loved the fruit he often eats during his matches.

YouTube video
Minister of happiness, @onsjabeur, gave me a delicious present today. My favorite on court snack- dates. Thank you Ons. 
Novak Djokovic wrote on his Instagram story

Watch the video here:

FS Video

Both Djokovic and Jabeur are at Wimbledon and will play their third-round match today. Jabeur is a two-time Wimbledon finalist, having reached the summit clash in 2022 and 2023. Djokovic, on the other hand, has won Wimbledon seven times and is bidding to join Roger Federer for the most Wimbledon titles list. 

Novak Djokovic once explained the reason behind eating dates during matches

Athletes are careful about the food they eat as it helps them perform better and at the same time it can create problems during matches, which is why they pay a lot of attention to their diet. Novak Djokovic is known for maintaining a strict gluten-free diet and consuming all things healthy. Djokovic also wrote a book on his diet and fitness-Serve to Win: The 14-Day Gluten-Free Plan for Physical and Mental Excellence-published in 2013. 

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X)

During an interview, the 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed why he snacks on dates during matches. He said that dates have a low glycemic index as compared to other sweet items athletes eat or drink for instant energy. 

Well, dates are, I think, one of the fruits that give you a low glycemic index, which is very important, because you don’t want to have a strong shot of sugar, and then it takes you down very rapidly, like, okay, I don’t want to name certain brands. It’s not the place.
Novak Djokovic said in an interview back in 2016

Djokovic arrived at the 2024 Wimbledon after an operation on his knee. He injured his knee during the Roland Garros, which hampered his progress, forcing him to withdraw from the quarterfinals. The 37-year-old kicked started his campaign at the SW19 by beating Vit Kopriva in straight sets and then went past Jacob Fearnley in four sets.

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