Djokovic: “Every euro I’ve won has been through sweat and tears”

Novak Djokovic With his participation in Turin, he has become the first tennis player to overcome the barrier of 160 million dollars (155 euros) in earnings from competing, apart from sponsorships and advertising contracts. Players receive $320,000 for being in the ATP Finals, $383,300 for each win in the group stage, $1,070,000 for winning in the semi-finals, and $2,200,400 for winning in the final. Thus, Djokovic has already won 2.5 million in the tournament and can take a record number in tennis in a single event: 4.7 (4.6 million euros). With the prizes that he has accumulated these days in Italy, Djokovic accumulates 162 million dollars (157 euros).

And what does the Serb think of this? “I only think in euros and dinars”, joked Novak laughing when asked, after beating Taylor Fritz this Saturday, if dollars come to mind when competing. Jokes aside and after telling an anecdote about the footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the LA Galaxy (“They asked him if money was not important when he rejected 100 million dollars to go to another team, and he replied: ‘Money is not important, a lot of money yes, and 100 million is not enough”), made an interesting reflection: “Everything is public. People can see how much we are earning. What the media don’t write about is all the taxes and other expenses there are. But that’s okay. I can’t sit here and talk about money as a problem in my life. I have been very blessed and lucky. But It comes as a consequence of my tennis and the success that I have had, together with my family and my team”.

Djokovic went further to explain what he thought of the matter: “I think every euro I’ve earned was through sweat and tears. I don’t take anything for granted, because I know what it feels like to have zero on the table, five family members, war, sanctions… Let’s not forget where I come from, what kind of era I grew up in. I know exactly the opposite side, which helps me in life to appreciate more everything I win.