"99% of people were laughing at us" - Emotional Novak Djokovic opens up about his parents' unconditional support despite 'obvious' early struggles

Novak Djokovic expressed his gratitude to his parents in a recent interview, thanking them for believing in his dream of becoming a tennis player while growing up in war-torn Serbia. He said he could never repay them for all they have done for him.

Djokovic was interviewed by British broadcaster Piers Morgan, with the hour-long conversation later shared on YouTube. The Serbian star opened up about various aspects of his life, including his parents, wife, and children, as well as his tennis journey and how the sport has evolved over the years.

When asked whether he still believes he can win a 25th Grand Slam title, more than two years after his 24th, Djokovic reflected on how far he has come since growing up in war-torn Serbia.

"My childhood had boundaries all over the place. I came from a country that was war-torn, under sanctions and embargo, with zero tennis tradition. Tennis was one of the most expensive sports... I picked the most expensive sport, and 99% of people were obviously laughing at us," the Serb said (from 19:10).

Djokovic explained that when he says “us,” he’s referring mainly to himself and his father, and that he expresses deep gratitude toward both his parents.

"When I say “us,” I mean primarily my father and I. Both of my parents they've done [so much] I cannot ever repay them for what they've done for me enough. My father often believed in me even more than I believed in myself, which is why I always say 'us,'" he added.

Djokovic was recently spotted with his parents after lifting his 101st ATP title in Athens, Greece. His father, Srdjan, and mother, Dijana, joined him to click pictures on the court.

---

"Love you, thank you so much" - Novak Djokovic's heartfelt message for his parents after winning US Open 2023

Novak Djokovic with the US Open 2023 trophy - Source: Getty

Novak Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final of the 2023 US Open to capture his 24th Grand Slam title. With the victory, he set multiple records, including the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era and tying the all-time record for the most Major singles titles in tennis history.

After winning the title, he spoke about the sacrifices his parents made for him to become one of the greatest tennis players. He reflected on his journey, recalling the difficult circumstances he and his family faced during the wars in Serbia in the 1990s.

"Coming from a very difficult circumstances in adversities during 90s, couple of wars in our country and being able to push through that, especially for my parents, giving a lot of sacrifice to support me to play. Love you, thank you so much," he said during the trophy ceremony.

Djokovic added that no one in his family had played tennis before, making his path an unusual one, and credited his success to the resilience and belief of his parents.

Since winning his 24th Major, Djokovic has reached five semifinals and one final at the next eight Grand Slam events. However, he is yet to win his 25th.

Edited by Aliasgar Ayaz