Novak Djokovic: Tennis Will Not Be My Top Priority When The Baby Comes, And I Can’t Wait To Change Diapers!

by Tom Gainey | May 3rd, 2014, 11:08 am
  • 14 Comments

In an interview earlier this week with Italian sports paper Gazzetta dello Sport, Novak Djokovic talked for the first time about the announcement that he and fiancee Jelena Ristic are expecting their first child and how the baby will fit in with his playing schedule.

“I’ll try to return 1 because tennis is my passion, my love and my work, and it’s what I do best,” Djokovic said via Google translation. “I’ll try the strength to win all the tournaments. But with the arrival of baby tennis is no longer the No. 1 priority.”

Djokovic also sounds more than happy to take part in “baby duty (dooty?)”.


“I have several friends who have done it, as Ljubicic. Cant wait to experience these situations,” he said via translation when asked about changing diapers. “Yeah, even stay awake at night … I see it in a positive: you get tired a bit, but gives you new energy. Ljubo wanted to stop with the court and has found new motivation.”

Djokovic, who has been recovering from a right wrist injury, is the second seed at Madrid.


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14 Comments for Novak Djokovic: Tennis Will Not Be My Top Priority When The Baby Comes, And I Can’t Wait To Change Diapers!

Okiegal Says:

@Bad Knee Rules

Where are you????

May 3rd, 2014 at 4:35 pm


jamie Says:

There is no way Nole is winning 10+ slams now… Players who are fathers win very few slams. Look at Federer, just won 2 slams after Mirka gave birth.

May 3rd, 2014 at 6:04 pm


Steve27 Says:

10 slams? He is not even in the league of Connors, Lendl and Agassi.
Well for him but babies and tennis is not good a combination.

May 3rd, 2014 at 10:00 pm


metan Says:

@Jamie, who’s your picking for Madrid. Give me your prediction. I am not gonna ask Sean coz he jinx my guy. Hehehehe!

May 4th, 2014 at 4:29 am


metan Says:

Nole is going to be a good dad..😜

May 4th, 2014 at 4:34 am


Hippy Chic Says:

Metan i agree Nole will make a great dad,but please take those predictions with a pinch of salt,they are made by a poster who wants to provocate and cause trouble on this forum,and really i think we have had enough of that lately,lets stick to the tennis?

May 4th, 2014 at 5:52 am


Hippy Chic Says:

Not a hater by any means,but there has to be some truth in what Steve 27 says,talk of this player winning this or that is unrealistic until/unless it actually happens,Rafa is almost 28 and reaching that point in his career where players traditionally start to get past their best,people are forgetting that Nole and Andy will also be 28 next year,Nole lost at his best GS and IMO it will probably be difficult to try to regain next January,not saying he wont or cannot but just saying that it will be difficult,things get harder each year not easier,Andy is struggling to find the form that won him Wimbledon,and Nole unbelievably doesnt hold a GS ATM,winning GS aint easy and with age it only gets harder….

May 4th, 2014 at 6:08 am


Giles Says:

Hope you have half a dozen kids joker!

May 4th, 2014 at 7:47 am


Hippy Chic Says:

Nole is already an all time great with 6 GS,hes up there with his coach Becker,Vilas,Kuerten etc,this is already a fantastic achievement,Rafa has 13 GS which is already also a fantastic achievement,but this is what they have and what they could have is of no relavance,the thing is its natural to want more for your favorite,but i also believe fans should be happy with what they have and not get greedy,domination can be a today thing but not nesassarily a tomorrow thing,such is the fickle nature of this sport….

May 4th, 2014 at 7:49 am


jamie Says:

@Metan

I only care about predicting the slams. The smaller tournaments don’t matter tbh.

May 4th, 2014 at 12:49 pm


SG1 Says:

Playing pinnacle level tennis with distractions will be tough for Novak (…or anyone for that matter). We’ll just have to wait and see how he balances out family and tennis. It’s not easy to be a great tennis player if your goal is to be a great parent. Those goals, to some degree, are in conflict with one another. I still expect Novak to be a major factor over the next 2 to 3 years on talent alone. Of course this wrist thing is another variable that could muddy the water. Pro tennis is unpredictable which is why I think, we all enjoy it so much.

May 5th, 2014 at 12:31 pm


SG1 Says:

I agree with HC. 6 slams puts Novak in some very lofty tennis air. Being in 12 slams finals is quite a fantastic achievement as well. Not up there with Roger/Rafa/Sampras/Lendl yet but he is definitely an all time great.

May 5th, 2014 at 12:36 pm


Hippy Chic Says:

SG1 Personally i would like to see Andy win a few more to get up there in the status,with Nole,Becker,Villas,Kuerten etc.

May 5th, 2014 at 2:33 pm


Nadal Struggles Continue In Rome; Father Federer Falls To Chardy; Thoughts On The Clay Says:

[…] Djokovic also says tennis will take a backseat once the baby comes at the end of the year, so might that mean this is his last best chance to win the French? […]

May 14th, 2014 at 8:41 pm

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