Novak Djokovic - David Nalbandian (R16) Montreal 2007

2007. ATP Masters Series Canada R16

Time: 70 minutes
Winner Novak Djokovic
6-2 6-3

Last game...
Poslednji gem u mecu...

This took place in the Kopaonik tennis camp, whose head coach at the time was Jelena Gencic, and the boy was none other than Novak Djokovic.

The Djokovics can be said to be a family of sportsmen and women. As a boy Srdjan put on a pair of skis in Zvecane, where he lived at the time, and then went on to compete for a number of years on the white slopes. His life changed in 1984 when he finished the skiing academy and began work as an instructor in the prestigious 'Genex' school in Kopaonik. It was there one winter that he met a beautiful and slender ski instructor Dijana, a recent DIF graduate. People started seeing Srdjan and Dijana together on the slopes with increasing frequency. It was the shared love of the mountain and the white pistes which brought them together. Forever!

Novak was the first of three sons. He was four when he took up tennis, while living in Kopaonik. Racquet in hand, he would run after the older kids at summer tennis camp, attempting to get the ball over the net. This went on for a while. He was eight when he was spotted by the eagle-eyed Jelena Gencic. Ever reserved in her statements, this time she could not but comment: 'This is the greatest talent I have seen since Monika Seles.'

Jelena began to follow his progress and look after little Nole. He took to tennis easily. As they say, he was a natural.

- It was hard then, but even now it is difficult - admits mum Dijana. - Novak was developing, he needed to be accompanied everywhere, and we weren't rich. Society, as a rule, only remembers such kids later, when the accolades and medals begin to arrive. You can imagine how we felt when Novak left home on his own for the first time when he was twelve. He spent three months in Munich, Germany, at Nikola Pilic's tennis academy. Nikola looked after him as if Nole was his own child. Still, there were some positives in this experience. Novak began to develop a sense of independence early on, so that later he didn't seem to mind spending long periods away from home.

Jelena is our family coach - says Srdjan, smiling. - She created Novak. He owes her a great deal. Jelena instilled in him a certain attitude, both to sport and to life. She is the same with his two brothers. I believe that they too will succeed. Jelena has not been wrong in her judgement yet.

Novak embarked on his stellar career path when he was 14, in 2001, a year he finished as European champion (singles, doubles, team). He won gold in San Remo with his national team ('the Blues') that year, while they came second at World Championships. The following season he continued to impress with great matches and became the best under-16 player of the old continent, having won the prestigious 'La Boule' and 'La Poet' tournaments in France, previously won by today's great tennis stars such as Hewitt, Grosjean, and Roddick. He was also victorious at the prestigious Prince's Cup in Miami, as well as the ITF tournament in Pancevo (under 18) where he beat rivals up to three years older than him. After five ITF tournaments played, he became the 40th best junior tennis player in the world.

In the 2003 season he continued to impress with great results and titles. It began with his appearance in the final of the Nurnberg ITF tournament, a match he was unable to finish due to injury. He then went on to win another gold medal for his country. In the French city of Latne he competed together with his team mates, under the leadership of selector Jovan Lilic, and became Europe's best under-16 player. He won all of the six matches played.

He found himself part of the SCG Davis Cup selection in matches against the Ivory Coast and Bulgaria. He will remember the summer of 2003, not only by the gold won in Latne, but also by his first professional tennis match. At the Futures tournament organised by TK 'Red Star' he beat the fourth seed in the first round, earned his first ATP point and went on to defeat all who stood in his way to the title.

- 'My dream was to get through the first round and win my first professional point, so what happened was beyond my expectations, I won the title. In my home country, my hometown, I showed that I can compete with professional tennis players and beat them' - said the member of Humska camp.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Novak
• Djokovic
• David
• Nalbandian
• R16
• Montreal
• 2007
• atp
• tennis
• tenis
• race
• masters
• series
• canada
• serbia
• serb
• nole
• djoker

[Leksandraaa]

djokovic is the best now ! :D

[aca8025]

nole car

[MaratSafinVideos]

Djokovic's massive head must add at least an extra inch than any normal persons would, it's huge.

[Sumyfore]

very great, montreal, the best masters 1000; and Novak D has played with perfection here. superb tournament

[ranhoranzo]

i miss this djokovic

[BrotherTree1]

didnt play his best here tho, david.

[copavida]

1:01 cant decide wich side to hit it, then just aim for the middle as u would for doubles.

[profesor1988]

federer y novak son mis idolos y kbt1993 novak por algo es numero 3 del mundo asi q no vengai a tirar mierda

[kbt1993]

mierda ese novak es bueno en el saque

vamos nalbandian no te rindas

[manzaymenza]

vamos david!!