"My parents had to endure a lot, lack of resources, war, embargo" - Novak Djokovic reflects on his adverse tennis journey coming from war-torn Serbia
Novak Djokovic played his 100th match at the Australian Open on Friday, taking down Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets in the third round to reach the second week of the 2024 edition.
The Serb has won 92 and lost eight, also becoming the most decorated player in the tournament's history with 10 titles. Only Serena Williams (105) and Roger Federer (117) have played more matches than him at the Melbourne Major.
In his on-court interview after the 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(2) win over Etcheverry, Djokovic reflected on his journey over the years, admitting that it has been an "interesting" one.
Coming from war-torn Serbia, the World No. 1 credited his parents for putting up with a lot of adversity to help him live out his dream and play a sport that was far more expensive than others at the time.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion grew up during the Yugoslavia Wars in the 1990s. He has repeatedly emphasized how his mental strength has been molded by the NATO bombings and the embargoes erstwhile Yugoslavia was put under at the time.
"Obviously I've been blessed to go through an interesting life journey, coming from Serbia in the 1990s wasn't easy for my family and my parents had to endure a lot of adversity economically in order for me to live my dream, to allow me to play a sport that was very expensive," Novak Djokovic said.
"Still is in our country but at the time it was super expensive when compared to some team sports. I chose to play it and my parents did everything possible to provide, the conditions and the possibility for me to train. I wasn't traveling for a couple of years in junior days because of a lack of resources, the war, the embargo, a lot of different things." he added.
"An incredible blessing to be here" - Novak Djokovic on playing 100 matches at the Australian Open
Novak Djokovic considers it an incredible achievement to have reached the 100-match milestone at the Australian Open, proclaiming that it's one he's very grateful for.
"At the end of the day, when I reflect on all of the journey that we've been through as a family or as people of Serbia, it's honestly an incredible blessing to be here and very grateful for that," Djokovic said.
Up next in the Round of 16, he will take on either Adrian Mannarino.