Djokovic Born: Tennis's Record-Breaking Champion
Novak Djokovic learned to play tennis on a cracked outdoor court in Belgrade. His family ran a restaurant near the mountains where he trained; his parents mortgaged their business to fund his development. He was 12 when NATO bombed Belgrade in 1999; he practiced through it, hitting balls in an empty swimming pool when the outdoor courts were too dangerous. He's won more Grand Slam singles titles than any player in history — 24 as of 2024. He beat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal enough times to be considered their equal, then enough more times to be considered their superior. He went unvaccinated for COVID-19, was deported from Australia before the 2022 Australian Open, and then won it the following year. He doesn't do anything the easy way.
May 22, 1987
39 years ago
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