Novak Djokovic: “I was raised by negativity”

(Dan Tri) - In an exclusive conversation with journalist Piers Morgan, Novak Djokovic opened up about many issues in his career such as his deportation from Australia in 2022 and the debate about the greatest tennis player.

Piers Morgan began the interview by apologizing for his criticism of Djokovic nearly four years ago, when the Serbian was deported from Australia for not getting vaccinated against Covid-19. Djokovic accepted the apology and insisted he “has never been against vaccines,” but simply believes “people have the freedom to choose what is right for their bodies.”

Journalist Piers Morgan apologized for harshly criticizing Djokovic in 2022 (Photo: Piers Morgan).

When asked about the debate about “who is the GOAT” (greatest tennis player of all time), Djokovic refused to call himself the best. He said that comparing generations is unfair: “I will not say I am the greatest, because it is not my position to assert. That would be a bit disrespectful to the predecessors like Federer, Nadal or other legends. It is difficult to compare eras, because tennis has changed a lot in the last 50 years.”

The Serbian cited John McEnroe and Björn Borg as pioneers of his generation, while also paying tribute to his former coach Boris Becker, whom he considers “family”.

He believes that differences in rackets, balls, courts, nutrition, competition data and modern training methods make comparisons between generations unfair.

At 38, Djokovic admits he is in the final stages of his career. The Serbian frankly admitted that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are dominating the top of men's tennis: "At this point, my best form is still not as good as theirs. That's the truth."

Djokovic refuses to accept that he is the greatest tennis player of all time (Photo: Getty).

He said he did not go to the stadium to watch the 2025 Roland Garros final between Alcaraz and Sinner live because after his retirement, he always wanted to “separate himself from tennis to relax with his family”. However, his wife and children watched on TV and Djokovic was eventually drawn in by “the tactical appeal and class of both”.

The former world No. 1 tennis player expressed: “I feel admiration (for both players), which has only happened a few times in my life. It is great to see the young generation rising strongly.”

Regarding the feeling of being "dethroned", Djokovic said: "It's the natural process of sport . I dominated for more than 20 years, now they have surpassed me. That's good for tennis."

However, Djokovic still believes in his abilities every time he steps onto the court: "I still think I can beat anyone on the other side of the net."

Djokovic admits that at this age, maintaining form has become another battle: “Sometimes I still think I am a man of steel, unable to get injured or weaken. But the past few years, reality has given me a slap in the face.”

After the “painful slaps”, Nole realized the most important thing is to “know your body, know your limits, and find a way to stay motivated” in the final stage of your career. The Serbian also revealed that he wants to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, although he admitted that it would be “a huge physical challenge”.

Recalling his childhood during the Kosovo war, Djokovic said that he always carries unforgettable memories of his years in Belgrade. However, adversity has "molded" Nole into an indomitable, thorny, unyielding Nole, to rise up and become the strongest person.

Djokovic admitted that he was raised with negative emotions, but as he grew older, he realized that positive energy was what helped him go further (Photo: Reuters).

I don’t just step onto the court as a tennis player. I also have to deal with everything that’s going on in my private life, things that the audience doesn’t know and doesn’t need to know. I was nurtured by negative emotions, anger, pressure, and doubt. But as I grow older, I understand that positive energy is what helps me go further,” the 1987-born tennis player confided.

As a man of experience, Djokovic said the change in mindset came when he decided to prioritize his family: “I wanted my two children to see their father win a Grand Slam. And I was lucky to have had many of those.”

Djokovic also humorously said that he "wished to play against his son Stefan (11 years old)" and "would not hold back".

Recalling his peak period, he chose the 2015-2016 period, when he won 5 out of 6 consecutive Grand Slams, losing only 9 matches in 135 matches. “No one could stop me at that time, but when my form declined, I felt empty,” he confided.

When asked about Jannik Sinner's controversial doping scandal in August 2024, Djokovic was cautious but straightforward: "That cloud of doubt will follow him, just like the shadow of Covid-19 followed me," Djokovic said.

Nole believes that tennis is unfair in the way it handles cases, with famous players receiving "preferential treatment" compared to those in lower groups.

“If Sinner was ranked 500th in the world, he would probably be banned. The difference in money, lawyers, time and influence is huge,” Djokovic said.

The former world number one believes in Sinner’s innocence, who trained with him at the Riccardo Piatti academy in Italy: “I was really shocked when I heard the news. I don’t think he did it on purpose, but the way he handled the case was very unusual.”

At the end of the conversation, Piers Morgan asked Djokovic how he wanted to be remembered. The Serbian mentioned his mentor, Nikola Pilic, the legendary Croatian coach who passed away in September:

“His funeral was the first time I attended a funeral in my life. I used to avoid sadness, but this time I couldn’t,” Djokovic shared.

He said what moved him was not the praise for his achievements, but the affection people had for Mr Pilic: “People don’t talk about the titles he won, but about the way he lived, the way he treated others, the way he helped change the lives of young people. That is the real legacy.”

“And that's how I want to be remembered, not just as a great tennis player, but as a good person,” Djokovic concluded.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/novak-djokovic-toi-tung-duoc-nuoi-duong-boi-nhung-dieu-tieu-cuc-20251112101941988.htm