STATS
AGE: 32
CAREER TITLES: 79
WORLD RANK: 1
GRAND SLAM TITLES: 17
The Serbian sports icon is one of the most successful tennis players in the open era of tennis. He holds the third position behind Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Alongside Federer and Nadal, Djokovic has dominated the male circuit as he acclaimed 79 career titles so far with 17 grand slams included.
Djokovic was a young prodigy who was already touted for great success in the game of tennis as he showed early signs of pure talent and passion for the game. His development in the game was rapid which enabled him to start playing competitively at the age of 14. Djokovic then turned professional at the age of 16.
Djokovic’s playing style is quite unorthodox compared to modern-day tennis players. He has a mix of ancient and modern techniques which give him an edge over his competitors. The Serbian’s lanky nature also enables his speed, flexibility and balance. His amazing balance propels his swift forehand and backhand returns.
For several years, Djokovic had to play second fiddle behind Federer and Nadal. This also sparked up a rivalry between the top three players in the open era. Djokovic has also had prominent rivalries with Andy Murray, Stanislas Wawrinka, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin del Potro.
In comparison to his closest rivals, Djokovic has the better head to head record overall. His closest rival is Rafael Nadal. Djokovic has credited his success on the court to his coaches. He believes in teamwork and a common ideology towards success.
Outside the world of tennis, Djokovic’s persona has attracted big brands to get him on board as an ambassador. He has worked with major brands such as Adidas, Lacoste and Uniqlo. He has also invested in the food business and managed to establish a tennis tournament in Serbia known as “The Serbia Open”.
Djokovic is regarded as one of the greats in tennis even when compared to the early trailblazers of the game. In a poll in 2011, he was among the top 10 tennis players of all time alongside Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as the leaders of the open era.
Novak Djokovic is currently the best tennis male player in the world and he will certainly continue to dominate the circuit for many more years to come.
