Exclusive! Novak Djokovic tells Telegraf about the tears seen around the world: "When I realized that..."

Novak Djokovic had an emotional breakdown during the famed "reception on the balcony" at the Belgrade City Assembly - where Serbians traditionally gather to welcome their victorious athletes back home - and where this year's US Open winner went, along with the country's basketballers (who won silver at the World Cup) and gold medalists from the 3x3 Cup world championship.

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Emotions overwhelmed Djokovic, and him tearing up was an image that went around the world.

We met the greatest tennis player of all time in front of a restaurant where the success was to be celebrated last night.

"First impressions, yes and no, somehow everything happened so quickly for me in New York, that historic success and everything I experienced there in a month, is something that marked the season for me, today (Tuesday) I arrived in Belgrade, I had family obligations, I was not even supposed to be here, but with the national (Davis Cup) team in Spain, where I am joining them on Wednesday. So it turned out spontaneously in a way that I joined the welcoming event. Thank you to everyone who invited me to that celebration, to be on the same balcony with basketball players who are my friends, people I admire, fantastic guys who made the nation happy with a silver medal, but also more than that, with the human values they showed, Borisa who is a national hero and who pushed the team to reach the final."

"Everything somehow turned out that way, few believed that they could go far, but they showed that harmony and unity can take them to the greatest heights. I had the privilege of being on the balcony several times, but this is the most beautiful welcome for me, I had someone to share it with, there were also basketball players, whom I have watched for the past two or three decades, I was in front of the crowd, this is unreal for me."

We asked Novak what affected him so strongly that he couldn't hold back the tears.

"Before I went out (in front of the fans), Beogradski Sindikat performed a song they dedicated to me, I knew about that song, but I didn't know that the basketballers knew the words, and when I realized that they were singing it, when I saw the energy of those people singing that song, it was overwhelmingly emotional."

 

 

 

 

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(Telegraf.rs)