Djokovic is more open than ever: ‘It breaks my heart if I have to leave the children behind’

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Novak Djokovic (36) has made himself scarce since winning the US Open in mid-September. He only returned to the tour this week at the Paris-Bercy Indoor Masters.

In the run-up to the tournament, the Serbian spoke in an interview with former player and compatriot Ana Ivanovic (35), now working at Eurosport, about his life as a 24-time Grand Slam champion and father of two children. “I have two children, aged nine and six – and it breaks my heart every time I have to leave them,” Djokovic said. Together with his wife Jelena (37), he has son Stefan (9) and daughter Tara (6).

Although saying goodbye hurts, the children are also a source of motivation: “If I go on a trip and decide to play, I want to win because I want this trip to be worth it.”

The search for motivation

His coach Goran Ivanisevic (52) has made it clear in recent weeks that motivation is not always easy after so many years as a tennis professional and so many successes. “Goran is right, I need more extra motivation these days than five or ten years ago,” Djokovic admits.

The world number 1 explains that the fact that he has not picked up a racket competitively for a long time is not due to a lack of motivation: “Sometimes I feel like a cat with nine lives. I now lose one at every Grand Slam because I have to put in so much energy, both physically and mentally – more than before. At 36 you simply experience some moments more intensely.” He therefore needs more breaks to recharge his batteries.

The Serbian fans do not want to give their national hero such breaks. You’re already talking about 25 to 30 Grand Slam titles. Djokovic can only laugh about it: “I was told not to talk about it.” (cmu)

Source : Blick