Tennis-Doing things the hard way made Djokovic tougher, says Pilic
(Reuters) – BELGRADE (Reuters) – Niki Pilic, Novak Djokovic’s former coach
told Reuters that the difficulties he experienced as a kid and throughout his career
aided the 34-year-old Serb in his quest to become the greatest tennis player of all time.
After winning the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon this year, the world number one will play against Russian Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final on Sunday, seeking to win a record-breaking 21st career major
and complete a calendar Grand Slam.
If he wins, Djokovic would become the first player to win the calendar
slam since Australian Rod Laver 52 years ago, surpassing long-time rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who all have 20 majors.
Djokovic defeated German Alexander Zverev in five thrilling sets in New York
with 83-year-old Laver watching from the bleachers, to come within one win of standing alone atop the list of Grand Slam champions.
Pilic, a Croatian who supervised Djokovic’s early career at his tennis school
in Germany as a teenager, said it was fair recompense for the Belgrade native who grew up in war-torn Serbia.
During the NATO bombardment of Serbia in 1999 during the Kosovo war, a 12-year-old
Djokovic practiced in an empty swimming pool turned into a tennis court, with his practice sessions often interrupted by air raid sirens.
In a phone interview with Reuters soon before Djokovic’s victory against Zverev
Pilic says You can’t know someone’s limitations when they are only adolescents, but doing things the hard way has certainly made Djokovic tougher.
It’s a fine line, and there were no assurances that he’d make it to the top 10, but his innate skill was undeniable.
identical, furthermore, by his dedication, work rate, and mental fortitude.
“It was clear from the outset at my academy that he was exceptional, which is why his father and I never doubted him.”
Djokovic loses to Zverev at Olympics, ending Golden Slam
CROSSROADS IN CAREER
Srdjan Djokovic, a former Alpine skiing instructor, inspired his enthusiasm in his son Novak, who has said that
upset about which sport to pursue at one time. link
Despite his achievements on the court, Djokovic has never achieved the same level of worldwide fame as Federer and Nadal among tennis fans.
Pilic says that because he is from a tiny nation, Djokovic is not everyone’s cup of tea. As a result, he is underappreciated by droves of Anglo-American and European tennis fans.
and he continues that whether you like him or not, he has a lot of personality and character. He has made Serbia proud, he has done a lot to enhance Serbia’s worldwide image, and he is more than simply a brilliant tennis player in his opinion.
When Djokovic led Serbia to its first and only Davis Cup win in 2010
training him by Bogdan Obradovic, a former Davis Cup coach
Obradovic says in an email to Reuters that Winning the 2010 Davis Cup championship was a turning point in Novak’s career, but it was also the culmination of an eight-year process of molding him into the player and guy he is today.
He continues that he knows how much it meant to Djokovic, and following that victory, he gained a new level of confidence, allowing him to accelerate his climb to the top of the ATP rankings.
Serbia defeated France 3-2 in the final at the Belgrade Arena, and Djokovic, who had only won
the Australian Open in 2008 at the time, went on to win three of the four majors in 2011.
Djokovic will play the greatest match of his life on Sunday
when he addressed the Flushing Meadows fans after defeating Zverev, he left no question about what it meant to him.
he states that he is all in and he is going to devote his whole heart, soul, body, and mind to that one.
He said, “I’m going to approach the next match like it’s the final match of my career.”
Tennis-Doing things the hard way made Djokovic tougher, says Pilic
