After becoming the first tennis player topping the $100 million prize money earnings, Novak Djokovic said that he does not like it when people talk about money too much, because it’s sending the wrong message.
After being asked what the record means to him, Novak replied:
"Nothing. Money does not mean a thing to me. I do not look upon tennis as a profession and as my life through the eyes of money. It is a mean that increases the quality of my life and lifestyle, but no more than that".
Novak then elaborated why he believes media should not make big deal out of it.
"I do not pay much attention to that and I don’t like it when prize money discussions take over. Media are putting me in a very unpleasant position when they want me to talk about the amounts that I’ve won during my career – professional sport should not be played because of money. That is the number one issue and the society of today insists on that – success is being presented and explained through money and power and that shouldn’t be the unit of measure. I am 100% against it and I have completely different views and values", stated Djokovic and added:
"Money comes as a consequence, a positive one, of course, of dedication, love, passion for the sport and a consequence of your success. Can you imagine me speaking about money right now, while the average salary in Serbia is 200-300€? What would that be like? That is all I have to say. I am not trying to present myself as something I am not, being too modest or something like that. It is sad that in today's world the sport has become so tense, it has become a tool for creating unpleasant and aggressive rivalries".
Finally, Djokovic concluded.
“Sports have lost its initial purpose, now it’s a business, a machine for making money, which is pitiful. Still, there are opposite, positive examples and those should be a role-model for younger generations because money can’t be the basic and most important inspiration for a young athlete. It just can’t, that will only put him and his parents under more pressure, if you play only for the money and the fame, If your inspiration is true love for the sport and if that’s your primary emotion, then the rest will come, life will fix it for you".
Source:
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1soob6i
