A record 24th Grand Slam title, most weeks as No. 1, most Major finals, are not enough for him to be satisfied.
It was supposed to be a celebration of the silver medal won by the Serbian national basketball team at the FIBA World Cup, but the occasion was proverbially gatecrashed by a history-maker.
A 24th Grand Slam singles title and fourth US Open in tow, Novak Djokovic arrived in his home country to a raucous reception, thousands waving flags and cheering as the World No.1, who is now the outright record-holder in Open Era Majors, was overawed by the occasion. “This is a childhood dream come true, because once upon a time I was down there and celebrating,” he was quoted as saying by tennismajors.com, holding back tears.
Djokovic has always worn his Serbian heritage on his sleeve, in acknowledgment of all that he has had to overcome to achieve what he has, and in defiance of the kind of stereotypes that are associated with his home country. Stereotypes that, he believes, continue to hold him back in international acknowledgment of his greatness despite his resume suggesting so.
Novak Djokovic in tears at the triumphant welcome that Belgrade gave him for his 24th Slam
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“One thing is a fact, though – if I wasn’t from Serbia, I’d have been glorified on a sporting level many years ago, especially in the West,” he was quoted as saying by tennismajors.com, translating his Serbian post-US Open press conference. “But that’s part of my journey, I am grateful and proud to come from Serbia – because of that, all of these accomplishments are sweeter and even more fulfilling.”