We have a harder way to succeed in life as Serbs because of the past that we had and because of the history we had.Collection: History
My nutritionist has done a great job in changing my diet after we established I am allergic to things like gluten - I can't eat pizza, pasta and bread. I have lost some weight, but my movement is sharper and I feel great.Collection: Diet
I don't think there has been enough communication between the players and the tournaments. In one sense it's just as much the players' fault. Players talk between each other and in the locker room about things that can be improved and then when the time comes to talk and really do something about it they stop.Collection: Communication
And when I was saying I want to become number one of the world and I was 7, 8 years old, most of the people were laughing to me. Because you know, it seemed like I have one percent chances to do that. And I've done it.Collection: Chance
I had to listen to the classical music because it calms me down, calms my nerves down.Collection: Music
The tradition in Serbia has always been team sports - football, basketball, handball, volleyball and water polo, individual sports are not supported.Collection: Sports
I'm a happy man, because I am successful in what I do, of course; but what makes me most happy is I have people around me that I love and who love me back. This, for me, is the most important thing. Nobody likes to be alone.Collection: Alone
Tennis is a mental game. Everyone is fit, everyone hits great forehands and backhands.Collection: Great
I stopped thinking too much about what could happen and relied on my physical and mental strength to play the right shots at the right time.Collection: Strength
In terms of playing ability there is nothing to choose between number one and 100. Instead, it's a question of who believes and who wants it more? Which player is mentally stronger? Which player is going to fight the hardest in the big points? These are the things that determine who is the champion.
Building a solid foundation in the early years of a child's life will not only help him or her reach their reach their full potential but will also result in better societies as a whole.
Mostly the problems when I was down were caused by myself. There were times when I was not responsible enough or decisive enough.
Those born into poverty or on the margins of society require our extra support to realize their dreams.
It gives me goose bumps and little butterflies in the stomach when I start thinking about the 'golden slam.'
Tennis is my life, obviously; I need to focus, I need to win. But it's not the only thing. I'm not going to play forever.
In order to stay where I am - and I want to do that - I have to stay dedicated as well as I have been before I became No. 1.
You have to consistently be successful to be one of the top players in the world, and everything is possible in life.
Serbian history tells that the family is the most important thing and you have to stick with the family.
It's always easier if you have the support of your family, if you're not alone. I came from a country that has been through a lot of troubles in the last 20 to 30 years, but we have been through them together.
My mother is a special story. She went through so much to bring us up, four men at home, especially when our country was going through really difficult times.
I have been through two wars in my 24 years, and I know what it's like to be without anything, to see the bombs flying above your head.
The history of our country is cruel. We have to face those issues or, should I say, we had to. Not anymore I hope, because we are going in the right direction, and we are ready to forgive, ready to move on.
Well, I do feel that I carry the responsibility of representing my country wherever I am, and this responsibility came with the success that I had in last couple of years, not just myself but the whole group of tennis players that comes from Serbia. And athletes in general are, in this moment, the biggest ambassadors that our country has.
I'm trying to enjoy my lie as much as I can and I know that tennis hopefully is going to be my life the next 10, 15 years.
In my case, I can sincerely say that nothing is impossible... When I was saying I want to be No. 1 of the world, and I was seven or eight years old, most of the people were laughing at me because it seems like I have one percent of chances to do that, and I've done it.
I embraced, I think, the process of becoming No. 1 of the world, which was long and difficult, but it's sweeter in the end.
The confidence is there, the game is there, but physically you can't fight nature sometimes. You can't do much about it.
Not everybody can like what I do, and if you feel that somebody is coming up closer to you and starting the rivalry and everything, you maybe change your position to him.
Even though now I'm pretty popular in my country and tennis is the No. 1 sport, and I'm very flattered that the people recognise me and come up and give me compliments, I'm more a person who likes to have privacy and peace.
I like my groundstrokes, I can say. I like it. That's my game - I'm a groundstroke player and I play pretty aggressive.
Tennis players we're always playing in center courts that feel like arenas. And when we get on the court and the crowd cheers your name or salutes you - it's like you're a gladiator in the arena. And everyone is cheering - and you're fighting, you're screaming, during your strokes - it feels like you're an animal, fighting for your life.
It's interesting that I had such a close relationship with my grandfather. Because your parents always judge you: they say, 'You shouldn't do this, you shouldn't do that.' But with your grandparents you have a feeling that you can say anything or you can do anything, and they will support you. That's why you have this kind of connection.
My father had never watched tennis, never liked tennis too much. He said, 'OK, we buy a racket, we watch together,' because we didn't know anything. It was a process of learning together that made it more interesting.