Djokovic reveals when he knew he would be a tennis legend

Diego Jiménez Rubio - 26 Sep 2026 | 17:12
Novak Djokovic ATP

The Serbian points out three key moments in his life when he understood that tennis would be his way of life and that he could become a great star.

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Novak Djokovic, sensación de tenista. Foto: gettyimages

Novak Djokovic has one of the most astonishing stories in sports history, and despite many details already being known, every time he reveals something new, it is impossible not to be moved. In a talk for a Netflix program, the Balkan explained the moments when he felt a special connection with tennis in his youth and knew that this sport would be his life.

A war in his youth, a family with a business in the mountains, tremendous financial problems to pursue his dream... There are many ingredients that make the story of Novak Djokovic one of the most spectacular tales of all time in the world of tennis. Therefore, it is so symbolic to hear his reflections on that time.

The existence of a video recording of the first time Djokovic held a racket makes it seem like everything was meant to be. In that video, you can see the unrestrained joy of a child discovering a passion. From that moment on, Novak fell in love with tennis and dedicated everything to it, even emigrating to Germany when he was a child.

His parents are largely responsible for ensuring that this talent did not get lost along the way and for allowing us to enjoy one of the greatest athletes of all time. The sacrifices they had to make and the risks they took were enormous, but they were always supported by an impeccable attitude from a Djokovic whose competitive spirit and devotion to tennis have been unmatched.

When did Novak Djokovic realize that he wanted and could be a professional tennis player?

Whenever Novak Djokovic talks about his childhood and youth, he is capable of captivating everyone who listens, but he did so in a special way on the Netflix program Cold as Balls, where he answered clearly and concisely the big question of when he knew he would be a great player and that tennis would be his livelihood.

"In reality, all my cards were on the table. The circumstances we were living as a family forced me to bet on it. We came from a war-torn country where no one could enter or leave. All of that forged my resilience and perseverance, and reinforced my desire to succeed as a tennis player."

"The first moment was when I was five years old. I thought: 'This is what I want to do; I love this sport'. But I was a child and didn't really know what the reality was. I was just playing and enjoying."

"The next moment came when I met Jelena Gencic, my 'tennis mother', as I like to call her. She laid an incredible foundation. She told my parents: 'I've trained some of the best players and I believe your son has what it takes to become the best in the world'."

"Then, when I was 13 or 14 years old, I was at a tennis academy in Germany and met another extraordinary person in the world of coaching, Nicki Pilic, whom I call my 'tennis father'. He told me exactly the same thing. Then my father thought: 'Okay, I can't ignore this'. So he invested everything he could in me, and the rest is history."

Absolutely emotional and chilling is this account from Novak Djokovic, which only serves to enhance his legend and give us an idea of how special he is as an athlete and a person. We have been privileged to witness a historic career from one of the great legends that will remain forever in world tennis.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic desvela cuándo supo que sería una leyenda del tenis