Novak Djokovic: ON One of the Greatest Comebacks in History

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Novak Djokovic: ON One of the Greatest Comebacks in History

Fascinating podcast. Gives an insight into the mind of a great champion - perhaps the Greatest Tennis Player ever.

https://player.fm/series/on-purpose-with-jay-shetty/novak-djokovic-on-why-ego-is-our-friend

  1. Most people, even non-sports fans are inspired by world class athletes like Novak… but why?
  2. To be world class at anything it takes more than natural skill, it takes physical, personal, spiritual development and a healthy relationship with one’s own ego to begin a fulfilling journey to greatness - something we are all capable of, given we know how to use the appropriate tools.
  3. In today’s conversation, Novak shares everything.
  4. He even takes us back to his childhood where he remembers confiding to his tennis coach instead of his own parents about the growing pains of being a young man.
It is truly touching on how Djokovic comes from poverty - and has to wait in line for a peace of bread. He also recounts his personal development principles (https://aarifbillah.com/2018/08/02/story-of-the-snake-and-the-saw/ ).
Inspirational on how much more there is to Novak than his tennis.
 
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DRII said:
Oh please!

you, and whomever wrote such, obviously does not know what poverty is!
Click to expand...

There is no need for hate. It's not saying he is poor poor. Or that he can be compared to the truly unfortunate.
Just that Novak didn't come from a privileged background, and he had MORE than his fair share of struggles.

Isn't it incredible that someone with that background and limited resources IS one of the greatest tennis players the world has ever seen?
 
Tennis_Hands said:
He will not get more popular than Fedal on the back of such a stupid PR.

Besides, most people actually don't like poverty.

:cool:
Click to expand...

This is not PR. I think his message is actually good. Can't hurt to listen to what he says about his thinking, personal and spiritual development.

I don't even like the aesthetics of his game, but it's always interesting to hear from a great champion.

Also it's not about poverty, but most people love a story of rags to riches.
 
TennisFan3 said:
There is no need for hate. It's not saying he is poor poor. Or that he can be compared to the truly unfortunate.
Just that Novak didn't come from a privileged background, and he had MORE than his fair share of struggles.

Isn't it incredible that someone with that background and limited resources IS one of the greatest tennis players the world has ever seen?
Click to expand...

It is not hate to address a certain type of story.

He comes from a place known for struggles in the past decades. It doesn't mean that he struggled, nor that he has particularly close understanding of what poverty inflicts on the people.

I don't know about limited resources, but I will be happy to learn where that idea comes from.

8-)
 
TennisFan3 said:
This is not PR. I think his message is actually good. Can't hurt to listen to what he says about his thinking, personal and spiritual development.

I don't even like the aesthetics of his game, but it's always interesting to hear from a great champion.

Also it's not about poverty, but most people love a story of rags to riches.
Click to expand...

What is his message?

8-)
 
Tennis_Hands said:
It is not hate to address a certain type of story.

He comes from a place known for struggles in the past decades. It doesn't mean that he struggled, nor that he has particularly close understanding of what poverty inflicts on the people.

I don't know about limited resources, but I will be happy to learn where that idea comes from.

:cool:
Click to expand...

He did talk in the podcast where he says they had only $10 for the entire family and he had to stand in line for a piece of bread.

http://www.twoeggz.com/int/9704964.html

A young man from a poor family in a country with no tennis pedigree grows up in war-torn Belgrade and as an 11-year-old spends 78 consecutive night cowering in his aunt's bomb shelter as Nato shells rain down overhead.

With the Serbian economy crippled, his family then move between countless rented appartments to try and save enough money to pay for the boy's tennis lessons. Eventually they cobble enough cash together to send him to an academy in Munich.

___________________

Isn't that having struggles? Most tennis players have way more comfortable backgrounds. That makes his ascent all the more remarkable, I think.
 
Tennis_Hands said:
What is his message?

:cool:
Click to expand...

Wouldn't you rather watch the podcast and find out.

Some of his observations: Be Open minded, be self-aware, Ego could be an enemy, but learn to befriend it and not let it get to you.
Never react in anger, because you are only hurting yourself. He recounts the story of the saw and the snake - which is great.
 
TennisFan3 said:
He did talk in the podcast where he says they had only $10 for the entire family and he had to stand in line for a piece of bread.

http://www.twoeggz.com/int/9704964.html

A young man from a poor family in a country with no tennis pedigree grows up in war-torn Belgrade and as an 11-year-old spends 78 consecutive night cowering in his aunt's bomb shelter as Nato shells rain down overhead.

With the Serbian economy crippled, his family then move between countless rented appartments to try and save enough money to pay for the boy's tennis lessons. Eventually they cobble enough cash together to send him to an academy in Munich.

___________________

Isn't that having struggles? Most tennis players have way more comfortable backgrounds. That makes his ascent all the more remarkable, I think.
Click to expand...

What was his family occupation?

How moving apartments would have helped him with his funding?

How does one "cobble enough cash" from such dire straights?

I have heard of people struggling during the war effort, by finding jobs, and doing apprenticeships. I have never heard of anyone struggling for food to go play tennis.

:cool:
 
TennisFan3 said:
Wouldn't you rather watch the podcast and find out.

Some of his observations: Be Open minded, be self-aware, Ego could be an enemy, but learn to befriend it and not let it get to you.
Never react in anger, because you are only hurting yourself. He recounts the story of the saw and the snake - which is great.
Click to expand...

I have already, but it is bland, messy, and full of entitlement.

"I don't want people to think that I am preaching"

Really?

8-)
 
TennisFan3 said:
There is no need for hate. It's not saying he is poor poor. Or that he can be compared to the truly unfortunate.
Just that Novak didn't come from a privileged background, and he had MORE than his fair share of struggles.

Isn't it incredible that someone with that background and limited resources IS one of the greatest tennis players the world has ever seen?
Click to expand...
he actually did come from a pretty privileged background. his parents owned 3 restaurants and a ski resort or something like that. his family and 'circle' were the upper crust of Serbia, and the NATO bombing that is always brought up did not happen in a vacuum.

but, yes regardless, its incredible that he came to be one of the all time tennis greats. it is incredible for anyone who has achieved as much irregardless of background.
 
DRII said:
he actually did come from a pretty privileged background. his parents owned 3 restaurants and a ski resort or something like that. his family and 'circle' were the upper crust of Serbia, and the NATO bombing that is always brought up did not happen in a vacuum.

but, yes regardless, its incredible that he came to be one of the all time tennis greats. it is incredible for anyone who has achieved as much irregardless of background.
Click to expand...

Saying that he had a privileged background is mockery. Serbia was under UN sanctions from 1992 to 2000 and was bombed in 1999. Sanctions had major economical effects (not to mention wars). Playing tennis under such conditions was heroism not in terms of players alone but coaches etc.. For Djokovic family having food on a plate was an issue not anything else. What you said about them owning restaurants is absolute rubbish. It is like saying that a guy selling kebabs in a war zone is Donald Trump. In 2003, Srdjan Djokovic offered 10% of Novak's whole (future) career earning for 50K USD. Nobody volunteered.
 
DRII said:
but, yes regardless, its incredible that he came to be one of the all time tennis greats. it is incredible for anyone who has achieved as much irregardless of background.
Click to expand...

I'm just saying that Djokovic has had a tougher background compared to the usual ATGs such as Federer, Nadal, Sampras, Borg, Agassi etc.

He might go down in the books as the greatest player the world has ever seen. If that happens (and it is a big if), isn't it incredible that he came from a warn torn nation such as Serbia and was not a man from privilege. Far from it.
He's probably endured far more struggles than most typical players, but succeeded despite them.
 
One of the messages that Novak is trying to give is that despite his immense fame and accomplishments - the thing that he values most is his compassion, open-mindedness, spiritual development and personal "inner" growth.
I think that is incredible for someone who has achieved so much. With this sort of attitude, he can go on winning and even being more successful.
 
DRII said:
he actually did come from a pretty privileged background. his parents owned 3 restaurants and a ski resort or something like that. his family and 'circle' were the upper crust of Serbia, and the NATO bombing that is always brought up did not happen in a vacuum.

but, yes regardless, its incredible that he came to be one of the all time tennis greats. it is incredible for anyone who has achieved as much irregardless of background.
Click to expand...

There is also one more thing that you deserve to hear. The major/only thing that kept them going was Gencic's judgement that this boy will get his first GS when he is 18. This is what she said when Novak was 5. When he won AO2008, she said "You are 2 years late. If you had money, you would make it on time".
 
Justice Underworld said:
So many negative comments for such a great champion and his incredible story. Isn't this what sports is about? Teaching people about hardships, character and never giving up on your dream? There are so many miserable and negative people in the world today who do not have any understanding or compassion for anything outside of their bubble or likeness.
Click to expand...

Pretty disgusting comments in here

Shows what some are all about
 
Justice Underworld said:
So many negative comments for such a great champion and his incredible story. Isn't this what sports is about? Teaching people about hardships, character and never giving up on your dream? There are so many miserable and negative people in the world today who do not have any understanding or compassion for anything outside of their bubble or likeness.
Click to expand...

Sport is about entertainment.

If you want to learn about hardship, go to hospitals, mental institutions, factories with child workers, asylums for victims of traffic and forced prostitution, and actual war victims.

See if you can sell that story and come back to report.

8-)
 
Tennis_Hands said:
Sport is about entertainment.

If you want to learn about hardship, go to hospitals, mental institutions, factories with child workers, asylums for victims of traffic and forced prostitution, and actual war victims.

See if you can sell that story and come back to report.

:cool:
Click to expand...

how is the workout routine going?
 
125downthemiddle said:
how is the workout routine going?
Click to expand...

Leave that stuff off the other threads, but since you are at it: we have to pick the remaining two poses, so you propose one and I one. Post it in the thread where it started, when you make up your mind.

Did you agree with Hitman's suggestion about the neutral pose? I haven't seen your response.

:cool:
 
Tennis_Hands said:
Leave that stuff off the other threads, but since you are at it: we have to pick the remaining two poses, so you propose one and I one. Post it in the thread where it started, when you make up your mind.

Did you agree with Hitman's suggestion about the neutral pose? I haven't seen your response.

:cool:
Click to expand...

I take it you haven't started yet.

I'm fine with whatever you want
 
125downthemiddle said:
I'm fine with whatever you want
Click to expand...

You have to decide, and post it, so that Hitman knows what the poses are. Once you decide, you confirm your choice and that is the measuring stick. So, if you agree with his suggestion confirm it, and pick one additional pose. I will pick the other.

Don't worry about my preparation: my trainer is already working on my program.

8-)
 
Does anyone know when exactly Djokovic arrived at the academy in Germany?

I get conflicting results, but all say "before he turned 13".

In the meantime, an interview with Djokovic when he was 7 (so, around 1993-1994):


:cool:
 
Tennis_Hands said:
You have to decide, and post it, so that Hitman knows what the poses are. Once you decide, you confirm your choice and that is the measuring stick. So, if you agree with his suggestion confirm it, and pick one additional pose. I will pick the other.

Don't worry about my preparation: my trainer is already working on my program.

:cool:
Click to expand...

I don't care what it is, I will do whatever you want. I know nothing about lame bodybuilding poses (lol). I am more of an athlete than a bodybuilder :) You can pick all 3. If you want my confirmation in the thread, post what you want and send me a link and I will confirm it as the conditions.
 
Tennis_Hands said:
Sport is about entertainment.

If you want to learn about hardship, go to hospitals, mental institutions, factories with child workers, asylums for victims of traffic and forced prostitution, and actual war victims.

See if you can sell that story and come back to report.

:cool:
Click to expand...
Look, he was not the poorest kid in the universe. He was not in rags, begging for food, or working 12 hours a day, or more, as Dickens actually did.

But it's still an impressive success story. There are many who do far less with much more. I see your point, but I also think you are being unnecessarily harsh and argumentative here.

There is a similar story for Pancho Gonzalez, the kid who was dirt poor and came from nothing. Turns out his family was not incredibly poor, and young Pancho made a lot of problems for himself. That said, I can't see anyone else making it to the top of tennis in his time, and compared to most young kids, Novak had to overcome a lot. Same with young Tiafoe. I think it's a relative thing, because some kids really do have everything from day one - like Nadal and I think also Fed.
 
125downthemiddle said:
I don't care what it is, I will do whatever you want. I know nothing about lame bodybuilding poses (lol). I am more of an athlete than a bodybuilder :) You can pick all 3. If you want my confirmation in the thread, post what you want and send me a link and I will confirm it as the conditions.
Click to expand...

I don't know anything about bodybuilding or poses as well. I had to actually google the pose he suggested, to know what he means.

I will pick one, and you will pick one, to keep it fair, so that no argument is made afterwards.

I am not even an athlete, so what do I know, but I take my challenges seriously, and so should you: after all, you think that you are better, so it will be slightly awkward, if an old fat geezer puts you in the corner.

Make sure that you pick one pose and inform @Hitman and me: a certain modicum of seriousness is necessary, if you take it on you to compete.

8-)
 
Tennis_Hands said:
I don't know anything about bodybuilding or poses as well. I had to actually google the pose he suggested, to know what he means.

I will pick one, and you will pick one, to keep it fair, so that no argument is made afterwards.

I am not even an athlete, so what do I know, but I take my challenges seriously, and so should you: after all, you think that you are better, so it will be slightly awkward, if an old fat geezer puts you in the corner.

Make sure that you pick one pose and inform @Hitman and me: a certain modicum of seriousness is necessary, if you take it on you to compete.

:cool:
Click to expand...

Where did I say I was better?

Your own insecurities and creepy agenda are showing in this
 
Gary Duane said:
Look, he was not the poorest kid in the universe. He was not in rags, begging for food, or working 12 hours a day, or more, as Dickens actually did.

But it's still an impressive success story. There are many who do far less with much more. I see your point, but I also think you are being unnecessarily harsh and argumentative here.

There is a similar story for Pancho Gonzalez, the kid who was dirt poor and came from nothing. Turns out his family was not incredibly poor, and young Pancho made a lot of problems for himself. That said, I can't see anyone else making it to the top of tennis in his time, and compared to most young kids, Novak had to overcome a lot. Same with young Tiafoe. I think it's a relative thing, because some kids really do have everything from day one - like Nadal and I think also Fed.
Click to expand...

You are right: he doesn't need the melodramatic background to be appreciated for what he is: an amazing athlete with an amazing success.

:)
 
Poverty is not the main issue here. It is about state of war that creates unique type of (in addition to economics) psychological pressure. He played under war and war-like conditions when he was 5-12. It is not just about you, it is about pressure on your parents, coaches, surroundings.
 
Tennis_Hands said:
latest


Just stick to the deal: no excuses.

This is the last I will say in this thread, as it is wildly unnecessary to comment on that here.

:cool:
Click to expand...

I'm not engaging in this creepy thing. You are attempting to insult me and create a competition with a weird agenda LOL. No deal.
 
ABCD said:
It would be melodramatic if it was made up, but it was not. This is his background.
Click to expand...
I have to respectfully disagree a bit. The man does get awfully preachy at times. It grates on my nerves a bit too, though not a great deal. I see him as an essentially good man, but a bit flaky at times.
 
Gary Duane said:
I take the melodrama with a grain of salt. And a great deal of his pop-philosophy is pretty under-cooked! ;)
Click to expand...

Me too: I just choose to express it, so that I see some discussion that might bring something beyond the excessive adulation that will inevitably occur, after which an inevitable victim mentality will follow it. In the podcast itself Djokovic speaks about being a "black sheep" which indicates that he isn't quite far off from that mentality as well. A kind of contradictory with his message, no?

8-)
 
Tennis_Hands said:
Sport is about entertainment.

If you want to learn about hardship, go to hospitals, mental institutions, factories with child workers, asylums for victims of traffic and forced prostitution, and actual war victims.

See if you can sell that story and come back to report.

:cool:
Click to expand...

I bet every flower that you walk by in real life just withers and dies from all that salt and bitterness.
 
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