Novak Djokovic Biography
- Nickname is Nole.
- Began playing tennis at age 4 and idolised Pete Sampras.
- Speaks Serbian, English, Italian, German and French.
- Wife, Jelena Djokovic Ristic; son, Stefan; daughter, Tara.
- Father, Srdjan; mother, Dijana; younger brothers, Marko and Djordje, both teamed with him on tour (Marko 7 times, Djordje at 2015 Beijing).
- Uncle, Goran, is director of Novak Djokovic Winery in Serbia, which released its first labels in 2022.
- Father, uncle and aunt were pro skiers. Father was also an excellent football player and wanted Novak to be a football player or skier.
- Lived at times as a child with his grandfather, Vlada, in Belgrade while his parents worked at pizzeria they owned in Kopaonik (4 hours away).
- Credits his family as his inspiration.
- At age 12, attended Niki Pilic Academy in Munich and practised there for almost 2 years before returning to Belgrade.
- Now coached by 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic. "He’s practising even harder than when he was at the age of 22 and that’s why he’s still so good and that’s why he’s going to be even better," said Ivanisevic.
- Favourite surface is hard and favourite shots are down-the-line backhand and return of serve.
- Member of ATP Player Council for 3 terms (2008-10 and 2 terms as President from 2016-20).
- Received ATP Tour No. 1 Award a record 7 times in 2011-12, 2014-15, 2018 and 2020-21; Most Improved Player of the Year Award in 2006 and 2007; Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in 2012 and Comeback Player of the Year in 2018.
- Also received BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2011; Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019; Eurosport Athlete of the Year Award in 2015; the Order of St. Sava in 2011; the Order of Karadorde's Star in 2012 and the Order of the Republika Srpska in 2013.
- In December 2012, received the Centrepoint Premier Award for Contribution to the Lives of Youth across the world from HRH the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William (Winter Whites Gala 2012).
- In 2013, addressed United Nations on behalf of world athletes when the UN passed resolution proclaiming 6 April the International Day of Sports for Peace and Development.
- Named UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in August 2015.
- Received ATP ACES for Charity grant in 2013, 2017 and 2020 for Novak Djokovic Foundation, which was founded in 2007 with goal to help children from disadvantaged communities gain access to preschool education. NDF motto is "Believe in their Dreams." To date, NDF has successfully finished 37 projects, renovated or built 17 schools, offered training to more than 600 teachers, donated 3,000 books, and built a sensory park for autistic children and a tennis court in Priboj, among other contributions. NDF directly helped 7,500 children have a better starting point in life by investing in their development from an early age. In August 2015, NDF partnered with World Bank to promote early childhood development in Serbia and around the world, including global advocacy on the importance of investing in early childhood education, as well as investments to help disadvantaged children in Serbia. NDF, thanks to Original Magazine founded by Jelena Djokovic, is reaching more than 35,000 students.
- In January 2020, donated $140,000 to his foundation and $25,000 to support Australian bushfire relief.
- In March 2020, donated €1 million for purchase of ventilators and medical equipment to support Serbian hospitals and other medical institutions battle against COVID-19.
- Serbian scientists named a new species of beetle after him in 2022 (Duvalius Dokovici).
- Adopted a gluten-free diet in 2011.
- Appeared in the 2007, 2014 and 2015 Vogue Magazine September issue.
- Launched official app on iOS and Android in August 2017.
- Appeared at 51 straight Grand Slam events before missing 2017 US Open following season-ending right elbow injury suffered at Wimbledon. Underwent surgery on elbow following 2018 Australian Open.
Professional Career
- Record-tying 6-time Nitto ATP Finals champion owns ATP/WTA record for most weeks at No. 1 (399 as 13 November) as well as Peppers tone ATP Rankings records for most years ended at No. 1 (7). Has finished in Top 3 for 10 consecutive years from 2007-2016 and overall in Top 5 for 15 of 16 years (except 2017 at No. 12).
- All-time leader for most Grand Slam men’s singles titles in history (24) and achieved record by capturing his 3rd Roland Garros crown in 2023 to become 1st man to win each Grand Slam event at least 3 times. Has a record 10 Australian Open titles and is 1 of 3 men to hold all 4 Grand Slam championships at same time (also Budge, Laver).
- Owns record for most wins vs. Top 10 (253) and won a personal-best 31 Top 10 matches in 2015.
- Only player to win all 9 ATP Masters 1000 events since start of series in 1990, doing so multiple times for a record total 40 titles (has won 8 of 9 at least 3 times, except for Monte-Carlo-twice).
- Owns 3rd-most men’s singles titles in Open Era (97) and 3rd-most men’s singles wins in Open Era (1,082).
- Boasts winning records against both Federer (27-23) and Nadal (30-29), as well as win streaks of ATP Tour-record 43 matches (2010-11), ATP Masters 1000-record 31 matches (2011) and Open Era-record 30 Grand Slam matches (2015-16)
