Novak Djokovic made history by winning his 10th Australian Open and 22nd Grand Slam on Sunday in Melbourne, CNN reported.
The tennis player shares the record with the Spanish Rafael Nadal and became number 1 in the world in the ranking of the Association of Professional Tennis Players (ATP)..
“This is probably the biggest victory of my life considering the circumstances,” the champion said after his victory, according to The Telegraph.
Novak Djokovic’s story
Djokovic grew up in Serbia at a time when the country was devastated by war in the 1990s, having a tough childhood, eventually joining the ranks for humanitarian aid, Spanish newspaper AS reported.
The young tennis player became the best ranked player aged 14 and under in Europe. He then went on to be the continent’s 16 and under number one until turning professional in 2003.
Djokovic won his first Grand Slam tournament at the 2008 Australia Open, becoming the first Serb to win one of tennis’s four most prestigious singles championships.
A tennis legend
In the last four years, the Serb has only lost five of the 45 games he has played against opponents under the age of 23.
Djokovic has won six of his seven Grand Slam finals in that span against players born in the 1990s, with Russia’s Daniil Medvedev the only one capable of defeating the world champion at the 2021 US Open.
Currently, Djokovic is the second man to win more than 10 titles in the same Slam. Only being surpassed by the Spanish Nadal, who has won the French Open 14 times.
In addition to being a tennis player, a philanthropist
The Serbian tennis player has the Novak Djokovic Foundation that builds preschools and supports the training of school teachers in Serbia.
“I am aware that in the world there are people less fortunate than me and, through my Foundation, I try to help people as much as possible,” Djokovic said in an interview with Sony Sports Network..
“I know it’s not enough and that I can give more, but I always do my best,” added the Serb.
Djokovic also advocates for children’s rights and early childhood education through his role as UNICEF National Ambassador to Serbia since 2011.
The outstanding tennis player has received different recognitions for his humanitarian work. In 2012 he was awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award.
He also received a special Centrepoint Award from the charity’s patron, HRH the Duke of Cambridge.
The Novak Djokovic Foundation received an ATP ACES For Charity grant in 2013, 2017 and 2020, specified the ATP Tour website, a top-class men’s tennis circuit organized by the Association of Professional Tennis Players.
