On September 10, 2023, Novak Djokovic made history in New York. He beat Russian Daniil Medvedev in the final of the US Open and became the first player in the Open Era (male or female) to have won 24 Grand Slam titles. With his 24 titles, Novak Djokovic also tied Margaret Court’s record of the most Grand Slam titles in tennis across eras (she won only 11 of her 24 titles in the Open Era though). There are numerous articles about Novak Djokovic’s upbringing and success online, so we will look into something a little different this time. In this post, we will take a look at Novak Djokovic’s playstyle and some other off the court things that he does. 

Novak Djokovic: Just A GOAT Doing GOAT Things

During the late 2000s, Novak Djokovic was a young, talented Serbian brat who usually ended up losing to the titans at the top of the tennis world, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. However, he underwent a total physical and mental transformation in the 2010s and threw a monkey wrench into the Federer-Nadal domination engine. Eventually, he overtook both of them in the career Grand Slam tally and is currently sitting with 24 Grand Slam titles (Nadal has 22 and Federer 20). 

What is Novak Djokovic’s playstyle?

Tennis fans note Djokovic’s good physical characteristics (height 187 cm and weight 80 kg) and his special playing style. He is a versatile athlete who can play equally well on any tennis court, be it grass, concrete, carpet, or hard court. Agile movements on the court allow the Djoker to make accurate and powerful blows. Djokovic’s backhand, performed with great speed and extreme accuracy, is recognized as one of the best in the world. Djokovic is widely considered to have the greatest return of serve in tennis history.

Novak’s agility on the tennis court makes him difficult to beat. During his younger years, Djokovic seemed to lack the mental and physical endurance to finish matches. However, he has since transformed himself into the most iron willed tennis player of all time. Novak Djokovic seems indefatigable and is seldom seen huffing and puffing during matches these days. His mental focus is as sharp as an eagle’s and it terrifies his opponents.

Novak Djokovic: Philanthropy

Novak is an Orthodox Christian, he helps financially in the restoration of the oldest churches, for which he received the Order of St. Sava, first degree. The athlete is a philanthropist and willingly engages in charity work; he has his own foundation, which has been operating since 2007. The organization supports Serbian children and refugees from other countries.

Novak Djokovic’s homeland of Serbia was hit by floods in 2014. At that time, Djokovic won a sports competition that took place in Italy. The tennis player donated the prize money, amounting to 750,000 euros, to help those affected by the natural disaster.

Djokovic donated 1 million euros to stop the coronavirus spread in Serbia. This money was intended for the purchase of respirators and medical equipment. In general, the athlete’s fortune is estimated at $175 million.

Novak Djokovic: Business Ventures

In 2017, Novak Djokovic signed a multi-year contract with Lacoste to produce a collection of sportswear in the colors of the French and Serbian flags. All polo models feature Novak’s initials. Joker tests clothes from new collections on the court.

It is known that Novak is involved in business projects. In 2005, his family created the Family Sport company, and this company also founded the Novak Cafe chain in Serbia. Novak Djokovic is also a vegan and has been professing the philosophy of proper nutrition for a long time and introduces the public to his experience. In 2016, Novak Djokovic and his wife opened a healthy food restaurant, Eqvita Restaurant, in Monaco.

Novak Djokovic: The Impersonator

In addition to his athletic qualities, the young man has an incredible sense of humor. Djokovic is not against showing parodies of his colleagues, which makes the spectators at the stadium burst with laughter. For example, in his younger days, he learned to impersonate Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal. Fans of the athlete assume that it was precisely because of his cheerful disposition that the tennis player received the nickname Djoker, which contains an allusion to his last name and the English word joke.

Novak Djokovic: The Family Man

In 2006, Novak began dating Elena Ristic, who, according to the athlete, was the love of his life. They got married in 2014 and later had a son, Stefan. As the young man said, his wife is a source of inspiration. Despite rumors of a separation, happy photos of the family regularly appear on the official Instagram account which demonstrates the well-being of the tennis player’s personal life.

At the beginning of September 2017, Djokovic became a father for the second time. His wife gave birth to a daughter, who was named Tara. Currently, Elena holds the post of director of the Novak Djokovic Foundation. The purpose of this charitable foundation is to support young and talented tennis players from ordinary families.

Novak Djokovic: A Record Breaking 2023

With the hope of new victories, Novak began the 2023 season, while realizing that at 35 years old, his physical condition is no longer the same as 10 years ago. Nevertheless, he remained the favorite in Australia and lived up to the hopes of fans at the tournament in Adelaide, defeating Sebastian Korda in the final.

Before the Australian Open, Novak suffered a hip injury, which forced him to train with tape. Such circumstances did not prevent him from defeating Roberto Carballes Baena at the first meeting of the tournament. By the way, his parents came to support their son, who last accompanied him to the Australian Open in 2008.

Meanwhile, the situation with the hip was getting worse. But the Serb had no intention of withdrawing, reminding reporters that he had already played through pain when he suffered a torn abdominal muscle. In the quarterfinals, he faced Andrey Rublev, scoring a dominant victory. Having reached the final, Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas and won the Australian Open. This allowed the athlete to once again become the first ranked player in the world. 

Djokovic continued his dominance in Paris and won the French Open by defeating Casper Ruud in straight sets in the final. 

In the summer, the champion went to compete in his favourite tournament, Wimbledon. His stellar play allowed him to reach the final. However, he lost in five sets to electric Spanish youngster Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Novak couldn’t hold back his tears in his post-match speech but admitted that Carlos deserved the victory.

But in September, Djokovic went on to become a 4-time winner of the US Open (only Roger Federer has more with 5) and a 24-time winner of Grand Slam tournaments, defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final of the US Open.

How many languages does Novak Djokovic speak?

The athlete has an extraordinary mind. He calls himself a fan of languages. Novak speaks five languages fluently: his native Serbian, English, Italian, German, and French. He has some level of proficiency in six other languages including Spanish.

Which sports does Djokovic love aside from tennis?

In addition to tennis, the young man also loves another sport – football: he supports Italian, Serbian, and Portuguese football clubs.

Is Novak Djokovic vegan?

Djokovic is the author of the book “The Taste of Victory. 14 Days Without Gluten for Perfect Body and Spirit,” where he talks about his diet, proper nutrition, and a little about his life. According to Novak, a gluten-free diet made him the best tennis player in the world. Djokovic was part of the production team for the documentary The Game Changers, directed by James Cameron. The film talks about the popularity of plant-based nutrition in sports.