Champions from Serbia

Novak, Ana, Jelena and Nenad never cease to invite admiration from the Serbian and international public as they continue to boost Serbia's image wherever they happen to be playing.

By Vanja Savić

Serbia's best lawn tennis player of all time, Novak Djoković, still hungers for more success even after triumphing in the Australian Open Tennis Championships on January 27, 2008. He has 15 years more of active tennis playing before him, and many believe his time is yet to come.

After winning seven big tournaments, his number three ranking on the ATP list makes 20-year-old Novak the best ever ranked Serbian tennis player. He continued his winning streak in Melbourne this year by defeating Roger Federer for a second time. In the final match, he beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France to win one of the four major tennis tournaments, becoming the first Serb ever to do so.

– It's not easy to describe the feeling after winning a grand slam tournament. In Australia I was still unaware of what was going on, as everything was happening so very fast, and to my advantage. This was my second grand slam tournament final. I won and am proud of myself and my family. I feel tremendously happy having achieved my childhood dream. As a kid, I watched great tennis players winning the biggest tournaments, and now I am also one such winner and am very happy about it.

- People around the world find your imitations of tennis players entertaining. How do you go about practicing this choreography? – I don't practice, but it's something I've been doing my whole life and is a sideline to my professional career. I do this because I want to make everything I do more enjoyable. This is because year after year I will be touring the same places, cities and tournaments, and it's not a bad thing to introduce a bit of fun. Each one of us is born with a different character. I'm rather emotional both on and off the tennis court, am a rather temperamental player and like showing my emotions. These imitations that I do are not designed to offend anyone, but to show a funny side and instill a bit of positive energy.

– As you spend a lot of time travelling abroad, are you aware of the popularity you enjoy in Serbia?

– The tennis season is the longest of any sport. You play tournaments almost every week. This is why I may not be aware of the full extent of my popularity, but I am glad to hear from my friends and family just how much people here follow events in tennis, even leaving work early and cutting classes to watch me play. It's a very fine feeling.

- After achieving your boyhood dream and wining a grand slam tournament, you will need much more effort to remain on the winning course. Is this something we are right to expect from you?

– After their first successful year, many tennis players fail to remain on top in world tennis. The first year after reaching the top is invariably the toughest, but I have proven otherwise. After a successful 2007, I opened this year with an even greater success. Having won a grand slam tournament, my motivation is even greater; the desire to improve my play and bring Serbia one of two top places on the world list is even higher. I owe this, as I am already at the age of 20 if not the world's best player, then surely among the best. The way this year has started, I have a high chance of ending it at least one place higher on the best players' list. I am bent on practicing even more than previously and correcting my weak points.

- Are you aware of just how much you are contributing to improving Serbia's image in the world? – The way I see it, people there have a much better and sympathetic view of our country. Whenever I appear at some big tournament, millions of viewers around the world watch and some 20-30 thousand in the audience. This being an individual sport, in tennis you primarily represent yourself, but you inevitably represent your country too. I find it especially satisfying to be able to contribute to the promotion of Serbia, but I am not the only one here. When we qualified to the semi-finals in Melbourne – Ana, Jelena, Nenad and I – some reporters even asked why the Australian Open was not held in Serbia instead of in the Land of the Aussies. - Your family and you are opening a tennis centre in Kragujevac?

– Originally, we wanted to open a centre in Belgrade, but due to bureaucracy and the overall situation in Serbia, Kragujevac emerged as the more approachable place. I am pleased that we will have a tennis centre in the heart of Šumadija, as so many kids who are denied the opportunity to practice and evolve into professional players will at long last have all the necessary conditions.

- The word is that in Montenegro, too, people are avidly following your matches?

– I greet my brethren in Montenegro and thank them for the support. I draw a good portion of my own roots from there. My grandfather is from Nikšić and I know that he watches me with pride.

- What message would you send out to the young people in Serbia?

– My advice and recommendation to all young people in Serbia would be to take up sport, as this is one of the best ways to steer clear of the street and all that it entails. Sport will endow them with strength, sound ambition and set them on a better course in life.

Having qualified for the final match in the Australian Open Tennis Championships, Ana Ivanović became the world's number two tennis player. Although defeated by Maria Sharapova of Russia, she proved her time is yet to come. Ana is one of three young Serbian tennis players who has contributed the most over the past two years to a genuine revolution in lawn tennis in Serbia and its currently high international rating.

Ana was, along with Jelena Janković, the first tennis player from Serbia to make it to the world's top 20 women players. But, with the passing of time, and with the number of her appearances in final matches of major tournaments increasing, her play and her strongest point – the forehand shot – seems to be lacking that final, indefensible edge.

This was also a time when Ana was declared one of the most beautiful women players that ever graced tennis courts.

- How helpful, and how harmful, can beauty be in life and on the tennis court?

Appearance is not decisive in the work that I do and how one looks on the tennis court doesn't mean much on the tennis court. Of course, as regards marketing, that's another story. - You are now second on the WTA list. How would you describe this feeling, and how much greater a commitment is this to work harder and practice more?

– I have set myself the goal to become number one and this is from where my motivation derives to practice harder towards continual advancement. It is nice to be at the very top, but it also implies a commitment to work ever more strenuously because that is the only way to remain at the top.

- In the two grand slam tournament finals in which you have appeared so far, you seemed to not always be as focused. Jat Review had written as early as in 2005 – when you were the world's number 16 – that you were a tennis player "not given to intimidation by great names". Would you care to comment on this?

– My first grand slam tournament final was imbued with overwhelming emotions that got the better of me. As for the other thing, that was a match that either one of us could have lost. Still, I made several errors at decisive moments and this proved fateful. At any event, I am proud of the fact that by the age of 20, I've already played in two grand slam tournament finals.

- Do you think any of your playing skills need perfecting?

– My play over the past year has been on a continual upturn. I have attained remarkable results and I am very pleased indeed with the team of people around me. On the other hand, I do believe that my career is just starting and that there is much room for improvement in elements of my play.

- You have been UNICEF Ambassador since last year. How do you see yourself playing this role?

– It is an honour indeed for me to have been presented with an opportunity to help children as part of UNICEF activities. It is a most rewarding feeling to know that something you do may bring happiness to people, especially the youngest generations. It pleases me greatly to do humanitarian work; in some respect, this is a way for me to pay people back for all the support I receive from many people each day.

- How would you describe your attitude towards playing for the national team?

– Jelena and I are one of the strongest national teams in the world and I hope that in the coming period our joint efforts will bear fruit and bring Serbia to the very top of the Federation Cup competitions. Our recent triumph in Budapest is the first step towards achieving this goal.

- Your impressions when you travel by Jat?

– I always find these trips pleasant, and the staff very kind.

- A message to the would-be tennis players in Serbia?

– Persevere, and never give up on your dreams!

Jelena Janković won her first WTA title in 2004. Last year she won four tournaments, played four final tournament matches, won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon, reached the semi-finals in seven other tournaments and jumped from the 12th to the 3rd place on the list of the world's best ranked women tennis players. The Olympic Committee of Serbia has declared her the country's best woman athlete. She currently holds the fourth place on the WTA list.

- You've played the largest number of matches and scored the highest number of victories among all women players last year. You played, despite an injury, at the Hopman Cup and in Melbourne. How is to play under extra pressure of this kind and where do you find the strength to continue stringing successes and playing for Serbia's national team?

– Injuries are an integral part of sport. I have suffered injuries on several occasions playing in major tournaments. At such moments, I force myself to continue playing with assistance from doctors, but this can only go so far. I am a great fighter and I never give up. Playing for the national team has always been a greet pleasure for me and has inspired me to drive myself to the maximum to help my team.

- You know Maria Sharapova. How would you describe your friendship, which is coupled with rivalry on the tennis court?

– I have known Maria since I was twelve. We trained together in Florida at Nick Bollettieri's. We spent free time together when we had free time. Maria would practice for several hours each day, while I went to school and practiced only after classes. We don't hang around together, but we have high respect for each other. We have different types of commitments outside tennis, so that very little time is left for additional activity. It is logical that when facing each other on the tennis court each of us wants to win. Perhaps I differ from other players when it comes to rivalry because I don't see my opponents as rivals but merely as additional incentive to work harder to achieve my goal.

- You are capable of beating any woman tennis player in the world, but Justine Henin has on several occasions appeared as an insurmountable obstacle. What would you say are the main reasons for this, and how does one go about beating her?

– There will always be players whose style of play one finds tough to counter. Justine is a full-blooded player, always fully prepared and motivated. I believe she has reached full maturity as a player; nevertheless, I will do my utmost to defeat her in the coming matches. I must be constantly on the offensive and make good use of my opportunities to score whenever they emerge during the match.

- Would you say you are content with your present coach?

– I am currently running a trial period with a coach, and will decide shortly whether we will continue our cooperation or not. I want to find a permanent coach who will help me advance my play to a higher level.

- You are a UNICEF Ambassador. How do you perceive the future of children growing up in Serbia?

– Serbia is a land rife with talent and it is very important to exert a positive influence on the young and set them on a proper course. This is the reason I took this role seriously and I will always strive to set aside as much of my time as possible to help adolescents gain an understanding of priorities in life. Namely, how to appreciate education, family, culture, work...I want to work towards creating the best conditions for advancing youth in Serbia and I have no reservations that the future of Serbia will be bright some day and will be brought about precisely by those whom today we call young people.

- Your impressions about travelling with Jat?

– I have travelled with different international air companies, but the feeling when I travel home with Jat is somehow special. I hear my mother tongue, meet with my compatriots and enjoy the splendid organisation on board the airplanes. I sincerely hope that in the future Jat will continue to evolve and offer me and other passengers an even greater number of destinations, because you have great staff who invariably devote their full attention to the passengers along with great service.

- Your plans for the future?

– I have come to appreciate that I must take one step at a time because some disruption regarding long-term plans always tends to crop up and divert the flow of events. I am fully committed to tennis and my goal is to become the world's number one player. This is the hardest step to attain, as the competition is stiff. But by applying diligence, I hope to persevere and have my wish come true.

- A word of advice to would-be tennis players in Serbia?

– Two words may suffice to convey my advice to future tennis players in Serbia: work and patience. Also, I cannot stress too strongly diligence and as much practice as possible, as well as persevering in the things you like and the results are sure to materialise. For precisely this reason, patience is a pivotal element in tennis, as it is not easy to attain excellent results in individual sports. One must, therefore, remain strong to the end. I see that tennis is currently the most popular sport in Serbia and I am happy about that. I am certain new champions will come out of Serbia.

Serbia's best doubles tennis player Nenad Zimonjić, ranked seventh on the ATP list, won the Australian Open Tennis Championships in the mixed doubles category with Sun Tiantian of China. In the final match, the winning pair defeated India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza. For Nenad Zimonjić, this was the third successful grand slam tournament, his second in Melbourne.

– This is my great success; seven finals and three grand slam tournament titles. It is a great honour to play under national colours and I think all of us Serbian players who participated in the Australian Open have represented Serbian tennis in the best possible manner.

It is noteworthy that the 32-year-old Nenad has been in professional tennis for 21 years.

He was national champion in 1994 in all three categories; he welcomed Novak in the best possible way and joined him in what he is best at – the doubles. This could also be seen in the Davis Cup match against Australia, held in Belgrade last year, as well as in the match against Russia held in Moscow on February 8-10. Teaming up with Novak, Nenad once again scored a point for Serbia.

– From the outset of my career, I have played well in the doubles. Playing mixed doubles tactically differs from singles in that one must assist one's partner. This could best be seen in Melbourne and in the matches I have played with Sun. The successes of Novak, Ana, Jelena, but also the appearances of Viktor Troicki and Boris Pašanski in the tournaments such as the one in Melbourne, contribute to the popularity of tennis in Serbia. I am confident we will continue playing well and win medals in this year's Olympic Games.

The 2008 Beijing Games will be Nenad's second participation in the Olympics after Sydney in 2000.

– Although I have so far been most successful playing mixed doubles, I do foresee greater success playing doubles with Novak. I have played two grand slam tournament finals so far – in Athens in 2004, there was no partner for doubles, but I think that Novak and I have a great chance to win a medal in Beijing. The two of us have joined forces seven times so far and were particularly successful paying the last two times for the national team. It turned out we could play to win even without practicing together.

Serbian Women's Tennis Team Wins in Budapest   Serbia's women's tennis team beat Romania, Poland and Holland in the Federation Cup held on January 28-February 2 this year. Headed by head Coach Dejan Vraneš, Jelena Janković and Ana Ivanović made it possible for Serbia to win through to the World Group II play-offs. They need to beat Croatia in a play-off match to be played in Croatia on April 26-27.

Virus Prevents Triumph over Russians   Serbia's Davis Cup team lost to Russia in a qualifying match for quarterfinals played in Moscow on February 8-10. Victory against one of the world's strongest national teams was thwarted by a tough virus that both Zimonjić and Djoković caught. Serbia plays in September this year to survive in the top-16 group.