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Written by

Alla Zakarian

09-03-2021 | 22:54 Tennis
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"Dreams do really come true": Novak Djokovic


Novak Djokovic broke Roger Federer's all-time record for the most weeks spent as the men's world No.1. The Serb topped the ATP rankings for a combined 311 weeks. He won 18 grand slams, five ATP Finals titles and numerous other records. "Well, it's just happiness, joy," the 33-year-old tells CNN's Christina Macfarlane of his emotions. "I mean, I am so thrilled and proud, very proud [of] this achievement and it's kind of like a crown of all the achievements that I had in last 15 or 15 plus years of [my] professional tennis career. "On this special day, obviously, I go back in time and remember my humble beginnings, when I grabbed a racquet for the first time and the way I fell in love with the sport and the support that I had from my parents and people that helped me realize my dream. So, of course, I'm overjoyed with all the emotions. "I think the reason for that is there are so many people here in Serbia where I am at the moment that have contacted me, that have congratulated me, that it made me feel that this is a celebration o the country and the city and not just my own." Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open in February. "So I feel that has allowed me to more intrinsically and more profoundly live these emotions, because I woke up today and it was kind of, you know, any other day where I stand up and I work and I go through my own routines and I didn't feel the significance of it yet until I took my phone, until I started meeting people and then I realized: 'Wow, it is a really special day and I'm very thankful for it.'" Djokovic credits much of his success to his parents' support and resilience. "That dreams are achievable," he said. "Everything is possible if you dream big. You should dare to dream big, you shouldn't get discouraged by what society or the surroundings are telling you if it's opposing some of the big dreams that you are nurturing, that might make you happy, that really bring joy to you when you think about that, when you dream them. "I've been so fortunate in my life to have parents that were very strong in the midst of the war and hardship that we were living through during the 90s and have their unconditional love and support to to play the sport that wasn't even a tradition in our family or in our country. "It was very expensive sport, but somehow they managed to do it, to actually buy me racquets and I could have a coach and I could have conditions that were fair enough or good enough for me to grow up to be a professional tennis player. So dreams do really come true."
Source: CNN/ *Join us on Telegram!/ Follow us on Twitter!

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