• By Manik Sharma
  • Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:11 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Novak Djokovic made history in Flushing Meadows when he clinched his record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, matching Margaret Court’s record. However, it was his heartwarming teary-eyed return to Serbia that truly captured the world's attention. The Serbian superstar received a hero's welcome in Belgrade on Tuesday and emotions ran high as thousands cheered him on.

Djokovic was not allowed to enter the US due to visa restrictions last year because of his unvaccinated COVID-19 status. The win in the finals against Daniil Medvedev gave Djokovic his fourth US Open title. He missed out on winning the Grand Slam tournament in 2021 by a whisker when he lost to Medvedev in the final. This achievement firmly cements Djokovic's status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

The 36-year-old icon's return to his homeland was nothing short of extraordinary. The Serbian national basketball team, fresh from their success at the FIBA World Cup where they finished runner-ups, joined Djokovic in the celebrations. As he stepped onto Serbian soil, Djokovic was visibly moved by the passionate support of his fellow countrymen.

ALSO READ: 10 Days To Go For MotoGP Bharat: India's Chance To Rewrite The Speed Record Books

Nikola Milutinov, a fellow Serbian athlete, provided comfort to Djokovic during this overwhelming homecoming. Djokovic, holding back tears of joy, eventually took a microphone to convey his heartfelt appreciation to the fans who had made this extraordinary moment possible.

Tears welled up in Djokovic's eyes as he was embraced by the ecstatic crowd. In a touching moment, Serb expressed his gratitude to his loyal supporters, his voice trembling with emotion.

“I want to conclude with this sentence: No sporting nation in the world has this spirit that we have. Long live Serbia!” Djokovic said in his speech in Serbian language. In his speech, he paid tribute to Boris Simanic, who tragically lost a kidney during the FIBA World Cup, and said that he had finally realised a childhood dream of standing on the same balcony as his heroes and role models.

ALSO READ: Davis Cup 2023: Rohan Bopanna To Join Squad On Wednesday, Confirms India Captain Rajpal

With 24 Grand Slam titles under his belt, he stands on the brink of becoming the most successful tennis player ever. Next, Djokovic will be eyeing winning the Nitto ATP Finals for the record seventh time. The final will be played in Turin, Italy in November.

Also In News