ABU DHABI // Growing up on Mount Kopaonik, a Serbian ski resort where his parents ran a fast-food restaurant, Novak Djokovic probably never imagined he would be the owner of seven grand slam titles and 20 Masters 1000 crowns, as well as winning US$72 million (Dh264m) in prize money before his 28th birthday.
The world No 1 has also spent 127 weeks at the top of the men's rankings, and he has done all this in an era that boasts two definite claimants to the greatest-of-all-time tag, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Yet Djokovic says these achievements pale in comparison to the joy he felt when he and wife, Jelena Ristic, had a son they named Stefan on October 21 last year.
“It has definitely given me a larger dimension and perspective in life,” Djokovic said as he talked about parenthood.
“It has deeply fulfilled me like nothing before. Everything that I have achieved so far and done in my life – and I have experienced some very joyful moments – but nothing could really compare to becoming a parent. My wife and I were really blessed to have this opportunity to become a parent, and we try to enjoy every moment of it.”
Parenthood has brought about a few changes in Djokovic’s normal routine. Although he has been kept awake by his son on a few nights, the proud father is not complaining.
“Well, you wake up a few times in the night here and there, but there are worse things in life that can happen,” Djokovic said.
“It’s not easy, but I find it a source of positive energy and just pure love. I don’t look at it as a commitment or engagement – something that I have to do. It is something that just comes naturally as a parent.
“This is what my wife and I have planned and wished for – to be parents. We have been blessed and now we are enjoying it.
“It’s going to require a little bit more organisation, more people travelling and more bags, more overweight. But generally, it’s just a very positive thing that happened.”
Djokovic plays his first match in this year's Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Friday when he faces No 4 seed Andy Murray at Zayed Sports City.
arizvi@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
