Sunday, May 24, 2009

Novak Djokovic Personal Life & Biography


Nickname(s) Nole,The Djoker
Country Serbia
Residence Monte Carlo, Monaco
Date of birth May 22, 1987 (1987-05-22) (age 22)
Place of birth Belgrade, SR Serbia
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb; 12.60 st)
Turned pro 2003
Plays Right-handed; two-handed backhand
Career prize money US$ 12,291,794

Djokovic was born May 22, 1987 in Belgrade, Serbia. He was born to Srdjan and Dijana and is the oldest of their three sons.His two younger brothers, Djordje and Marko, are also tennis players with professional aspirations.He started playing tennis at the age of four, and was spotted by Yugoslav tennis legend Jelena Genčić at the age of eight, who stated "This is the greatest talent I have seen since Monica Seles."At twelve years old, he spent three years at Nikola Pilić's tennis academy in Munich, Germany, and at age fourteen, his international career began, winning European championships in singles, doubles, and team competition.He currently resides in Monte Carlo, Monaco and is coached by a former Slovak tennis player, Marián Vajda.

Djokovic speaks Serbian, Italian and English fluently and often gives interviews and press conferences in all three. He also speaks a bit of German.

Djokovic is also known for his often humorous off-court impersonations of his fellow players, many of whom are his friends. This became evident to the tennis world after his 2007 US Open quarterfinal win over Carlos Moyà, where he entertained the audience with impersonations of Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova.

Djokovic's family purchased the ATP Tour date of the Dutch Open, which he had won in 2006, and moved the tournament to Belgrade, where it became the Serbia Open. His family also purchased the land on which a new clay court facility for the tournament was built.