Djokovic exclusively for Telegraf: It is great that Red Star in the Champions League and my return happened in the same year. Family before tennis

If the morning shows how the day, the next ATP season - another one where Novak Djokovic starts as the world number 1 - could be another long day of successes, symbolically speaking. Will it have a special significance in the career of our ace and is he an entirely "new Novak" - according to him - whose work ethic, philosophy, and faith represent the essence and the source of commitment of every other action - that we could see in the match against Khachanov, and we could hear that in his statement of Telegraf.

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When asked what will be the new challenge in the new season where he starts as number one - besides himself and new incoming challengers - Novak answers: 

- The greatest challenge will be answering the questions: How much quality time can I invest in tennis, to dedicate to it in a way the demands require - and how to balance it with family life. Simple, I don't want to be in a situation again where I will compromise my relationship with the children in order to chase some professional goals, which I already achieved basically. That is really important for me in this phase of life. Of course, that doesn't mean that I don't want to be the best in what I am doing, and I will certainly try to accomplish that in all possible ways. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here now, talking to you - that often.

Nole continued speaking about the motives that move him: 

- But, these attitudes present significant change, so to say, in relations to the first 10 years of my career. Now I am a father of two children and I really want them to be my priority. They are now in Abu Dhabi with me, and it is certain that they won't be with me on all of the tournaments. As long as I am able to keep the family in harmony, balanced with tennis obligations, I will continue to do to that, at this rate. Perhaps I will sacrifice some tournaments in the future - in this or in the next seasons - we will see. It is not easy to place some things in life and in a career. In the last several years, especially recently, my family is before tennis, and I stated that many times. To adjust one thing to another, with the family as an absolute priority, will probably be the greatest challenge, but I don't look at it as a challenge, but a possibility to settle all happy circumstances - and I am very grateful for that! - said Djokovic.

Foto: Tanjug/AP

The public knows you as a passionate "Red Star" fan. How do you compare the return of the Red Star in the Champions League with your return to the first place of ATP list?

- Red Star made an incredible success and I congratulate on it. I have been a Red Star fan for my entire life, and I had the opportunity to attend the Champions League match with Paris Saint-Germain. The atmosphere was incredible, something that I never experienced before. Perhaps I have, but I was 4 years old at the time, so I don't remember those games when my father took me. And is it a coincidence that both Red Star and I achieved such great successes in the same year? I don't think so. Simply put, there are no coincidences, everything happens for some reason. I am very glad that it all happened like that. I am following other sports as well, especially the clubs that I and my brothers support the entire life. I am especially proud of the fact that they accomplished such success with such a small budget. Today, unfortunately, the success in football and other sports is often predetermined with the fact who has a bigger budget and who can afford a better player - and that creates a small circle of strongest teams. But, Red Star has shown that, even with such a small budget, but with a great heart and organization, they can achieve significant success in football.

Red Star was always a great club, so this was just encouragement not only for Red Star but for other clubs in Serbia and the region to accomplish their dreams and to secure more frequent performances in the strongest international competitions. It is nice to see that because football is the most popular sport in most of the countries; here as well, including basketball.

Foto: Marko Jovanović

Will you be able to spend Christmas and New Year in our church - in Australia, or wherever you may be in that time? And, of course, what would you wish for our citizens regarding the upcoming holidays?

- I don't know if I will be traveling at that time but I hope that I will make it that day. I wish for peace; harmony with themselves and the world around them - and of course, strong belief - which is crucial in life - whenever you decide to dedicate yourself to it!

Novak Djokovic did something that many people thought impossible.

Encouraged by his entire family from the stands and the central court, Nole opens another life and sports chapter - where his primary motivation is his love for family, the strength of religion and dedication to human values. His new tennis accomplishments, which could set new standards and records in the history of this sport, will be celebrated in the Djokovic family as a joint success, another source of happiness, harmony, dedication, and accomplishments of real human values.

Let it be like that! Good luck and all the best to Novak and Djokovic family!

(Telegraf.co.uk / V. Brajovic)