Slowly but surely, Djokovic is winning hearts as well as trophies

WHO IS the Wimbledon champion? His name is known, obviously, but what is it that makes Novak Djokovic such an uncommon player?

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic holds the trophy at Wimbledon.

WHO IS the Wimbledon champion? His name is known, obviously, but what is it that makes Novak Djokovic such an uncommon player? In the maelstrom of Sunday’s final, when the Centre Court was 90 per cent in the corner of his opponent, something stirred the 27-year-old Serb — it was nothing that could be seen, nothing tangible or touchable, yet there it was, laid bare.

There is little chance that anyone can be Roger Federer, of the imperious brushstrokes and graceful movement, or Rafael Nadal, whose gargantuan intensity and work ethic is a little frightening, and as it took 77 years to find a British player who could win Wimbledon, people can only wonder what it is to be Andy Murray. But there is a relationship with each of them that, for the most part, is settling. Djokovic far too few people really understand, and what you don’t understand you rarely appreciate. Thus his 6-7 6-4 7-6 5-7 6-4 victory over Federer in the singles finale to the 2014 Championships was received with the kind of adulation he has been used to all his life outside Serbia; nice for him but most people rather wish that the other guy had won. Djokovic is seriously undervalued, even after the seventh grand slam title that elevated him back to the world No 1.

At present, his company William Morris Endeavours is seeking ways best to use Djokovic’s personality, so they can use him to sell more products and deliver investment opportunities. I tell you what does it, the spontaneity that, after the final, led to him signing a hundred tennis balls and hitting them from an All England Club balcony into the throng below, so that as many people as possible could carry home a memento of his triumph.

He is the Unicef ambassador for Serbia and the ethos of his Novak Djokovic Foundation is to allow as many children there to enjoy the opportunities his parents provided for him.

“My heart goes out to all kids suffering around the world, whether from lack of nutrition, education, through illness or loss of parents,” he writes. “I see this a lot at home and, through education, many kids can be part of our collective effort to decrease poverty and social exclusion.”

He ought to have won the first set from Federer but missed a handful of backhands; he took sets two and three in mesmerising fashion; led 5-2 in the fourth and lost five games in a row; faced the first break point of the final set; heard the crowd roar “Roger, Roger” and stuck out his chin and won the match by seizing on the only time in the match that Federer showed the slightest sign of doubt in his serve.

“I don’t take tennis as a job, an obligation or commitment,” Djokovic said yesterday before departing London to prepare for his wedding next week to Jelena Ristic, who is five months pregnant with their first child. “I take it as a love and something I enjoy. Having a racquet in my hand is remarkable.

“This passion and positive emotion is something I bring on the court.

“I am always trying to be sincere and respectful of the game and of my opponents. I don’t take anything for granted, I’m grateful for every match I play, every opportunity that I have and I believe that this kind of mindset and also the past that I have in my childhood has made me appreciate and value what I have right now even more.

“I know I have to earn love and respect. Playing tennis is not just being successful but representing the game as a top player in a proper way and representing myself as a person in a proper way.

“People want to see you not only as a tennis player but also the human side.

“Playing Andy Murray last year in the final, how could I expect the majority of the support? It is normal that they all support their home favourite and the hero. And on the other hand, against Roger, probably the most loved player in the world, he deserves it for being so many years who he is, and successful as he is.

“I have no complaints. It is something I expected and, in my opinion, totally normal. I need to work more, establish myself for many more years, but I already feel that the love I am getting from the people around the world is increasing each year gradually.”

Right now, Djokovic’s next test comes when he hopes to perfect his wedding vows.