'Either break it or make it,' Novak Djokovic opens up about the memories of a war-torn Serbia as he leans into the stark difference of the past and the present

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Laxman Naren | Last updated 1/30/24

Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis icon, has put his body on the line every time he steps on the court. Over the years, the 36-year-old had achieved more than anyone could dream of, making him one of the most feared players on tour. But only his closest people know the real Djokovic behind the mask of a champion. Fighting through the Serbian wars, the World No.1 made his mark on the court.

Still agonized about his past incidents, Djokovic revealed some of the horrifying moments in his past. Fueled by many diversities, parts of Serbia were bombed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for over two months. The war might have ended, but the horrors of it still flash in the head of Djokovic.

In a recent interview with Karl Stefanovic on The Today Show, the Serbian talked about the repercussions of war and how it has affected him mentally. He revealed some positives and negatives of his terrifying childhood.

I was 12 when we had bombings for two and a half months day and night.

Djokovic further continued,

I think it is connected to that, the grit, the resilience, the never giving up spirit. I think it surfaces normally in the moments when you know it’s either break it or make it.

According to the World No. 1, his resilience and determination on the court have grown from his past experiences, particularly the hardships of war, shaping his strong mental fortitude

Novak Djokovic reveals his traumatic fear of firecrackers post his tough upbringing

Djokovic also recounted his traumatic tale of surviving the war in Serbia en route to being the toughest athlete. While the Serbian wars might have gotten Djokovic mentally tough, it also has left a mark that refuses to go away even after many years.

Growing up amidst the many bombings in Serbia, Djokovic revealed to have developed a fear of firecrackers as it links it to the memory. Two minutes into his interview with The Today Show, the 36-year-old Djokovic opened up about feeling a bit of trauma upon hearing fireworks.

Ah, at times it appears, mostly when I hear fireworks, when I hear that sound, it really reminds me of those bombs exploding so it’s not really super pleasant but you know still have a little bit of trauma.

Having survived through a tough childhood, Djokovic developed an immense mental toughness that got him through many tough times on the court. What the fans see as a great comeback, is actually his mental toughness that pushed him to produce some miracles on court.

After a heartbreaking loss at the 2024 Australian Open semi-finals against Jannik Sinner, Djokovic gears up for his next tournament. Despite losing in the semi-finals, he held his No.1 spot in the ranking and moved on to his 410th week as World No.1.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: