Beneath the greatness of Novak Djokovic, a hidden narrative reveals the secret sauce of his success!
It extends far beyond his athleticism and is a tale of a deeper devotion, one that he proudly declared in 2011. However, as he steps into the familiar grounds of the Olympics for the fifth time, the 37-year-old player holds on to the same faith, witnessing which the Nole fans are left in awe!
Winning a gold medal in the Olympics has eluded the former World No. 1 since his debut in 2008. Even though a bronze medal victory did come his way that year, Djokovic is not the one to be satisfied with it. Hence, he began his journey to reach success in the Olympics. Unfortunately, almost 16 years have passed, and meanwhile, he has performed in the Games four times, but the scenario remains the same.
However, this time, Djokovic, who has not won any title so far this season, has come back for a fifth attempt, has already surpassed his first opponent, Matthew Ebden, and is onto his next opponent, Rafael Nadal, (who is a known atheist). Interestingly, apart from his magnificent performance, fans caught a glimpse of his unwavering determination from a different perspective during his R1 clash. He was wearing the same cross that fans had seen earlier!
Remember the year 2018 when Djokovic, sidelined for six months due to a persistent elbow injury, made a triumphant return to the tennis court at the Australian Open? The former world number one, renowned for his dominance from 2014 to 2016, showcased his resilience with a decisive victory over Donald Young. His unwavering faith in Orthodox Christianity, a cornerstone of his life, is often cited as a source of strength and inspiration. Djokovic openly expresses his religious beliefs, prioritizing them over his impressive career achievements, which include numerous Grand Slam titles.
“…before being an athlete, I am an Orthodox Christian,” he said in April 2011. His words still echo in every fan’s heart, and he has once again proved his ability to put his devotion to everything that he puts his mind into. Naturally, fans are going gaga over it!
In April 2011, when he received the order of St. Sava in the first degree from the hands of Irenaeus, the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Djoker declared, “This is the most important title of my life.” Since then, he has often worn it to various matches. After his showdown with Ebden, Djokovic celebrated the victory by holding his cross-necklace, the one he wears in various tournaments. Pointing this out, one fan wrote on X, “A man of principles ❤️.”
Another fan wrote, “Love this but not surprising ♥️🦾🦾.” It is indeed not a surprise to see him embracing his religious belief. Even during his 2019 Australian Open match, he was seen praying, looking upwards with his arms up in the air. Besides, his wife, Jelena, is also an ardent believer in the same religion and is often seen praying during Djokovic’s matches. Their wish indeed came true as Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in the finals of that game, winning it for the seventh time!
The order of St. Sava is the highest honor one can receive from the Serbian Orthodox Church. And Djokovic received that for his financial contribution to build more infrastructure in Serbia. “As an athlete and a religious person, it is hard for me to find appropriate words to describe my feelings of gratitude for the confidence I gain from the Holy Synod. I can only say that it can be earned only with hard work and self-belief, belief in your loved ones and in God,” he said in 2011.
Perhaps it is this confidence that has helped him reign in the top of tennis for 428 weeks. However, arguably, he is among those players who have been the target of criticism many times. Referring to this, one wrote on X, “We don’t deserve Novak.”
Djokovic, whose bronze medal aspiration came to an end in 2021 Olympics at the hands of Pablo Carreno, has always openly discussed his religious beliefs. Raised in an orthodox Christian family, according to him, his religious belief has not set a “limit” for him in any aspect. “I consider myself an open-minded and open-hearted person that respects and embraces everything that religions and knowledge have around the world that could enrich my life and my family’s lives. So I’ll keep it to that,” Djokovic once said. And fans know his outlook too, as one fan wrote, “Djokovic always leads by example how to sound unapologetic for your own identity.”
Another fan wrote, “Amen. He is the most caring and principled athlete I’ve ever witnessed as well. He has integrity in spades and guided by high moral standards. And he questions things publicly that others are too afraid to tackle.” Djokovic’s pursuit of greatness is an inspiration story in itself. And it is not only the Serbian church which has recognized his contribution to religion but the Russian Orthodox Church also honored him in 2012 for promoting his religious values in society.
Whether he fulfills his lifelong dream of achieving a gold medal in the Olympics is something that we will discover soon. However, either way, his journey continues to inspire millions of fans worldwide!
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