Novak Djokovic: From war to Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic: In my case, I can sincerely say nothing is impossible. I started at a times when they were really critical times for our country. And when I was saying I want to become number one of the world and I was 7, 8 years old, most of the people were laughing to me. Because you know, it seemed like I have one percent chances to do that. And I've done it.

Novak's dreams began on a mountain top. It was here at this modest ski resort that a tennis court was built one summer, across from the pizzeria his family ran. Jelena Gencic was running a tennis camp there and spotted this kid watching from the fence. She handed him a racket and, within a few days, she knew...

Bob Simon: Did you think he could be a champion?

Jelena Gencic: Yes.

Bob Simon: Right away?

Jelena Gencic: Right. And I told to, to parents, "Listen me. Your child is a golden child."

Bob Simon: A golden child?

Jelena Gencic: He will be the best in the world.

Bob Simon: And he was six and a half then?

Jelena Gencic: Five and a half. They couldn't believe. They were in shock.

Young Novak became a phenomenon. So much so that at age seven he was invited on Serbian national TV.

He said his goal was to be number one in the world. He was dead serious. On visits to his coach's house, Novak admired the national trophies she had won as a player. But his visions had already gone far beyond her trophies, all the way to Wimbledon.

Novak Djokovic: I was dreaming about Wimbledon. I was visualizing Wimbledon. And as a kid, I remember I took a little improvised trophy that I think I made from the little piece of plastic. And I kinda lift that trophy and I said in English, "Hello. My name is Novak Djokovic. And I'm a Wimbledon winner."

Jelena spent hours and hours working with Novak on the court. But she wanted her prodigy to have more than a forehand and a backhand.

Bob Simon: You also played classical music for him.

Jelena Gencic: Yeah, of course.

Bob Simon: And read him poems.

Jelena Gencic: Of course.

Bob Simon: By Pushkin.

Jelena Gencic: Of course.

Bob Simon: Was this going to help his tennis or just to make him a better human being?

Jelena Gencic: A better human being.

Novak Djokovic: I had to know at least two languages. I had to listen to the classical music because it calms me down, calms my nerves down. I can be more...

Bob Simon: Did you enjoy it then?

Novak Djokovic: I did. And I still do.

• « Previous Page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• Next Page »

[kb5zzk]

Draggan Mihailovich? Related to the Serb General Mihailovich who saved over 500 US/Allied airmen in WWII from the Nazis and Tito? This name should be honored for all time.

[mikep1738]

Bob Simon speaks of Serbia as a small Balkan country even though it's more than three times the size of Israel. When he tried and failed to slander Israel with a twisted story of Christian persecution in the Middle East he never mentioned its tiny size and being surrounded by countries whose populations have been taught to hate Jews and to seek the destruction of the only Jewish state in the world.