Djokovic Establishing Serbian Tennis Tradition
What a time it is for Serbian (men’s) tennis. First, Novak Djokovic and company won the Davis Cup in front of their hometown fans last December and now Novak is on a 26 and counting match win streak. This week, Djokovic and his fellow Serbian tennis stars, Viktor
Troicki, Janko Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic are in Belgrade competing at Djokovic’s own ATP World Tour tournament, which is now run by Novak’s uncle. The tournament was established three years ago. How many other top sports stars actually have their own event in the prime of their career? It’s incredible and a brilliant marketing and business move for Djokovic and his family as they cement their places at the forefront of the Serbian tennis boom.
Fortunately, the Serbs have played well at home and Djokovic will face Tipsarevic in one semi (of course I’m sure they wished they could have faced off in the final…) and doubles star, Zimonjic, is playing in the doubles semis on Saturday. As with the recent success of the German women at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, it’s fantastic for the local tennis scene when native “sons” play well at home. Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic have had their “moments”, but for now it is the Serbian men who are propelling Serbian tennis into the future.
Fortunately, the Serbs have played well at home and Djokovic will face Tipsarevic in one semi (of course I’m sure they wished they could have faced off in the final…) and doubles star, Zimonjic, is playing in the doubles semis on Saturday. As with the recent success of the German women at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, it’s fantastic for the local tennis scene when native “sons” play well at home. Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic have had their “moments”, but for now it is the Serbian men who are propelling Serbian tennis into the future.
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