Novak Djokovic says his young son is a big tennis fan who likes picking up a racquet, but he won’t be pushing him to follow in his footsteps.
The Serbian star has two children with wife Jelena and five-year-old Stefan told his dad he was “born with a backhand”.
“Obviously he’s exposed to tennis a lot when he travels with me but also on the TV. He knows what is going on. He knows Roger (Federer), he knows Rafa (Nadal),” Djokovic said after easing into the Australian Open quarter-finals Sunday.
“He knows a couple of the other guys. His favourite shot is forehand so far. I’m trying to get him to hit a few backhands. He’s been telling me that he is born with a backhand.”
The 16-time Grand Slam winner, who began playing the sport aged four and was sent to a Munich tennis academy at 12, said he would not press his children into the sport unless they showed genuine desire.
But the ultimate call might come down to his wife.
“I really want him and my daughter (Tara) to express honest desire to take the racquet and the ball and just hit. Go to the court or up against the wall,” he said.
“I would be more than happy to support them in their tennis careers and journeys but it’s still very early to talk about it... my wife says!”
Djokovic swept past Diego Schwartzman and into an Australian Open quarter-final with big-serving Milos Raonic Sunday as he zeroes in on an eighth Melbourne Park title.
The rampant Serbian second seed was on another level to Schwartzman, the 14th seed, crushing the Argentine 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena to book an 11th appearance in the tournament’s last eight.
Raonic is his next hurdle and the Canadian has also been in fine touch. He is yet to drop a set, blasting past fellow former world number three Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.
“Milos is one of the tallest, strongest players on tour and has one of the biggest serves,” said Djokovic, who is into his 46th Grand Slam quarter-final, second only to Roger Federer’s 57.
“I’ve got to be ready for missiles coming from his side of the net. One key element will be how well I’m returning.”
(With AFP inputs)
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