Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic: the exceptional talent from Serbia

Novak Djokovic is, without question, one of the greatest tennis stars of his generation. The exceptional Serbian player has won all four Grand Slam tournaments – some of them several times over – and has spent countless weeks at the top of the world rankings. Djokovic also regularly delights fans with his playful antics on and off the court. His emotional outbursts, however, occasionally land him in rather less flattering headlines too. One thing is certain: things are never boring around Djokovic. And that's down, first and foremost, to his countless sporting achievements.

Away from home early on: "Nole's" first career steps

Novak Djokovic grew up with his parents and two younger brothers in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. It was there, at the age of four, that he took his first steps in tennis. At twelve, Djokovic left home to further develop his talent, ending up in Munich, where he attended Nikola Pilic's tennis academy. In 2003 he finally made his debut on the professional tour.

Just two years later, he reached the third round at both Wimbledon and the US Open, in each case coming through qualifying. Remarkably, he managed to beat a number of higher-ranked players along the way. From that point on, "Nole", as he's known to his fans, kept climbing steadily. His first ATP Tour titles soon followed too, with triumphs in Metz and Amersfoort. Then in 2007, Djokovic reached his first Grand Slam final – the US Open – becoming the first Serbian player ever to do so, although he lost fairly clearly to Roger Federer. He had already reached the semi-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon before that.

The leap to the top: Djokovic's meteoric rise

For a long time, Novak Djokovic came off second best against the other two great tennis stars of his generation, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. That changed in 2008. At the Australian Open he not only beat Federer in the semi-final but also won the final against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. That made him the youngest ever champion at the tournament. From that day on at the latest, Djokovic belonged among the very best players on tour.

In July 2011, Djokovic took the next major step in his career: for the first time he rose to world number one, displacing his great rivals Nadal and Federer. That same year he also claimed no fewer than three Grand Slam titles. On top of defending his Australian Open title, Djokovic won at Wimbledon and the US Open for the first time. And, as if that weren't enough, the Serb also picked up five Masters titles that year. Remarkably, he went unbeaten for 43 matches across the season, the third-longest winning streak in the history of the Open Era.

A complete Grand Slam collection and record after record

Novak Djokovic's remarkable trophy collection didn't stop growing in the years that followed. In 2016 he finally won the French Open too, claiming the one Grand Slam title still missing from his cabinet. In the years after that, though, Djokovic was also plagued by a number of injuries, temporarily dropping him out of the top positions in the world rankings. Thanks to his iron will, however, "Nole" always fought his way back and needed little time to rediscover his usual form.

Djokovic went on to celebrate numerous further Grand Slam titles, thrilling fans with plenty of memorable finals along the way. In the longest Wimbledon final in history, for instance, he saved two match points against Roger Federer before converting his own match point after almost five hours on court. His triumph at the 2020 Australian Open made him only the second player to win a Grand Slam title in three different decades. He was also the first player to pass the $100 million career prize money mark.

On 8 March 2021, Djokovic set a new milestone in his career: with 311 weeks at world number one, he overtook the previous record holder, Roger Federer. His triumph at the French Open made him only the third player to win each of the four Grand Slams at least twice – and the first to achieve that feat in the Open Era. His winning run continued at Wimbledon, where a win over Matteo Berrettini earned him the title for the third year running, drawing him level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 Grand Slam titles. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics he reached the semi-finals, but had to give best to Alexander Zverev in three sets. The historic Grand Slam eluded him at the 2021 US Open too: "Nole" lost the final in three sets to Daniil Medvedev.

Paris 2024: the dream of Olympic gold comes true

The 2022 season got off to a rocky start: because of his vaccination status, "Nole" was unable to play either the Australian Open or the US Open. But in 2023 he made a triumphant return, adding further Grand Slam titles that saw him overtake Rafael Nadal in the all-time race for the most majors. He secured his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open, matching Margaret Court's record across both the men's and women's game. In 2024, the picture initially looked different: Djokovic came up short at the season's first three Grand Slams. Yet a special highlight still awaited the Serbian star: at the Paris Summer Olympics, he crowned his career with singles gold, adding another chapter to his already remarkable story.

Even after his Olympic triumph in Paris, Novak Djokovic remained a fixture on tour. In the 2025 and 2026 seasons he set further records, pushing his tally of Grand Slam match wins past 400 to become the first player ever to reach that mark. At the 2026 Australian Open he reached the final again, fighting for a 25th major title, while at Wimbledon he made the semi-finals and served up another epic battle with Jannik Sinner on the hallowed grass. Although a further title initially eluded him and he slipped slightly in the world rankings, Djokovic showed, through consistently strong results and his presence in the closing rounds of Grand Slams, that he still belongs among the very best in the world even past the age of 38.

Everything for success: Djokovic sharpens his game off the court too

Once coached by Boris Becker, Djokovic is among the most complete players on the entire ATP Tour. Few players are as good at escaping seemingly hopeless situations and wearing down opponents through sheer athleticism and stamina. Djokovic is also known for his relentless dedication, constantly fine-tuning his diet, for example, to keep himself and his body in shape even at a relatively advanced age for tennis. That passion has even led Djokovic to publish a nutrition guide, and today he can also call himself the owner of a restaurant chain. In the summer of 2014, Novak Djokovic married his childhood sweetheart Jelena Ristic, who is now his wife and with whom he already has children. Djokovic offers a few glimpses into his private life on his Instagram channel.

Novak Djokovic's HEAD tennis racket

With his huge range of shots and his whole approach to tennis, Novak Djokovic is a true idol for recreational and amateur players alike. If you want to get as close as possible to his playing style, it all starts with the right racket. Djokovic has relied on HEAD tennis rackets for many years. His current signature model comes from the Speed range and is offered in the "Speed Legend" or Speed Pro Legend edition, featuring an exclusive design. These tournament rackets are built for maximum control at high swing speeds, offer a stable frame for powerful groundstrokes, and support precise, placement-focused play throughout the match.

The tour racket used by "Nole" combines a slightly head-light balance profile with an aerodynamic frame and a control-oriented string pattern. Modern material technologies ensure the racket delivers direct feedback and high stability, even during long rallies and aggressive returns. In our range you'll find various HEAD Speed models that let you bring the Serbian great's feel for the game onto your own court, suited to different playing standards, from the ambitious club player to the competitive tournament player.

Order Novak Djokovic's tennis kit online

To get a little closer to this all-time great, tennis players can kit themselves out with top-quality equipment at the Tennis-Point online shop. Grab, for example, the Lacoste tennis clothing that has accompanied Djokovic for many years. You'll also find the HEAD tennis rackets used by "Nole", as well as the Asics Court FF tennis shoes he sweeps across the court in. Discover the other tennis pros on the tour and their brands at Tennis-Point, and order your kit online.