Novak Djokovic has come from Serbia, but has laid down an impact on tennis audiences worldwide with his tennis career.

Jelena and Novak Djokovic (via X)

Novak Djokovic‘s wife, Jelena Djokovic, hopes that her husband will leave a lasting legacy in tennis. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is considered by many to be the greatest tennis player of all time, as he leads in nearly every major record.

However, Jelena offers a broader perspective beyond the record books. She has encouraged Novak to become the “people’s champion,” hoping he will be remembered for having fans from all walks of life, especially those with common jobs and limited financial means who can’t afford to travel the world to support him.

Novak’s roots are in Serbia, though he also has a residence in Monte Carlo. Given the economic challenges in Serbia, it took tremendous effort for Novak to achieve what he has. Despite these hardships, the former World No. 1 has garnered global appeal and admiration.

Serbia has shown overwhelming support for Novak on several occasions. One significant example is the 2022 Australian Open when the ten-time champion was deported after being detained by the federal government over an unverified vaccination status. The entire country, including the president, stood by him during this difficult time. Upon his return to Serbia, he was greeted by thousands of supporters.

The storyline in 2024 is nearing its end, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominating tennis headlines. The two stars have won all four Grand Slam titles this season and secured the top two spots in the ATP rankings.

L: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, R: Novak Djokovic (Image via Imago/X)

A major storyline this year has been the decline in Novak Djokovic‘s performances. The Serbian has gone the entire season without a Grand Slam title, marking only the second time this has happened since 2011. The only other exception was in 2017 when he missed half the season due to injury.

Even more surprising is that Djokovic has not won a Masters 1000 event this year. He skipped the last three Masters tournaments to focus on prolonging his career and prioritizing Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic’s only significant achievement in 2024 was winning the Olympic Singles Gold medal in August, defeating Alcaraz in the semifinals to claim the one missing piece from his career. However, due to his inconsistencies this season, his ranking may drop outside the top 8.