(BEFORE THEY WERE SUPERSTARS)
My goal is to become
the best tennis player in the world.
I'm relatively close to achieving this goal,
but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself.
(NOVAK DJOKOVIĆ)
(AGE: 21. DATE: DECEMBER, 2008)
(SPORT: TENNIS)
(LOCATION: MONTE CARLO, MONACO)
Monte Carlo is known as a playground for the rich
and famous and it's also where many of the world's
top tennis players have based themselves, over the years.
In December 2008, Novak had been living and training here
for three years.
Its tax-free status is motivation in itself
to live in Monte Carlo, but Novak had also relocated here
because his growing popularity in his native Serbia
was starting to overwhelm him.
It's peaceful here and I can have my privacy.
I don't get disturbed or bothered by anyone
and I live a more normal life. That's important.
You would think that I would wish to spend
as much time as I can in my homeland,
but that's not really possible at the moment.
You never know where life will take you.
At this stage of his career, a 21-year-old Novak
was already one of the brightest talents
in the tennis world. He was the reigning
Australian Open champion and was being tipped to be
a future world number one.
As my career progresses, I hope that there will be many
more big tournament victories for me.
I'm only 21 and so have plenty of time on my side.
I have some very good people around me,
helping me to develop. My team is very professional
and they support me, both on and off the court.
I hope that they will continue to do so.
Novak trained at the Monte Carlo Country Club.
He was being coached by former Slovakian professional
Marian Vajda, who's stayed with him throughout his career.
Novak often practised with fellow professional
Mario Ančić of Croatia.
Mario was also based here in Monaco
and the two were good friends.
We've known each other since the beginning
of our tennis careers. He came on the scene
a few years after me
and I've been following his progress.
He's improved so much and has enormous ability.
He's got his family right behind him
and he's definitely focused on his tennis.
He has the potential to achieve whatever
he wants to in the sport.
The environment where Novak was living and training
was a far cry from the one in which he spent
his formative years. He grew up in the Serbian
capital Belgrade, during a time of war
and economic instability.
As a boy, Novak sheltered with his family
from the daily NATO bombing raids of 1999.
Over the last 20 years or so, my country has been through
a lot of difficulties, both political and economic.
There is a lot of frustration and I'm well aware of all that.
When I play, or when I win a big tournament,
I represent myself first and foremost,
but I also represent my country and the people
in Serbia who support and follow tennis.
I would like to give something back to them
and I hope that I'm bringing them some happiness
by what I achieve on the tennis court.
It was in the aftermath of the bombing raids of 1999
that Novak left Belgrade.
He was 12 when he moved to Germany, to attend
a tennis academy on the outskirts of Munich.
After returning home, following his three years
in Germany, Djoković turned professional, at 16.
At this stage of his career, the young Serb had his sights
set on overhauling Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal,
at the top of the world rankings.
I wish to be realistic in my goal.
At the moment, there are two players in front
of me who are better than me.
I'll do all I can to improve by at least one position
in the forthcoming year.
But I can't say for definite that this will happen.
We'll just have to wait and see.
I have time on my side and there are lots of elements
in my game that are on a par with the top players.
That's encouraging for the future.
Novak was living in Monte Carlo with his then-girlfriend
Jelena, who would go on to become his wife.
The pair met in Belgrade in 2003
and they often returned home to Serbia,
whenever Novak's hectic schedule allowed them to do so.
Novak has just recently helped establish
an ATP Tour event in Belgrade.
I'm very pleased that we have managed to organise
an ATP tournament in Belgrade.
It will take place in May 2009 and will give the tennis fans
in Serbia the opportunity to see professional tennis
up close. They will be able to see what it's all about
and support the players from our country.
Away from tennis, Novak's big passion in life
remains football.
His father was a professional footballer
and Novak believed that he could have made the grade, too.
I know that my life has been devoted mainly to tennis
and this will be the case for many years to come,
but when I'm not playing tennis, I try to enjoy
whatever it is that I'm doing.
Novak's favourite football team is Red Star Belgrade,
but since he'd been living in Monte Carlo,
he'd adopted AS Monaco as his second club.
I believe that, with a smile on your face
and with a positive outlook on things,
then your life will be longer and easier.
That's how I'm trying to go about things, anyway!
In life, I think that everyone has their own
individual character and you have to follow
your own path in the world.
You have to do what is right for you.
Playing tennis was my own choice
and I think it was a good one for me.
So far, it has provided me with a healthy lifestyle
and some success, and I hope that continues.
Novak would go on to become a tennis superstar.
He succeeded in loosening Rafael Nadal
and Roger Federer's grip on the men's game
and achieved his lifelong ambition of being
world number one in 2011.
One of the proudest moments of his career
came at the 2012 London Olympics,
when he carried the flag of his beloved Serbia
at the opening ceremony.