š„ HOT NEWS: No Trophies, No Pressure, Just Passion ā Novak Djokovicās Spontaneous Padel Session in Belgrade Wins Hearts ā”IH
Novak DjokovicĀ has evolved in his interaction with fans. From being booed to being one of the most loved players in tennis, he has turned around his personality in the final stages of his career.
Just a few days ago, a photo of Djokovic dropped alongside four pedal-playing girls from the court in Belgrade. On Saturday, a video finally came out on what happened behind the scenes.
In the clip that is doing the rounds on the internet, Djokovic appears to be passing by a pedal court in which four girls were playing doubles. The girls couldn’t believe that they were in the presence of a 24-timeĀ Grand SlamĀ champion.
“I wanna see what’s going on here,” Djokovic said in the video. “Don’t worry! I’m not judging.”
One of the girls asked for some pointers from the tennis star. Djokovic said that he first needs to observe them playing before he can give any advice. As the clip progressed, the Serb advised the girls to take it easy with their grips on the racket.
Later, Djokovic himself took the spot of one of the girls and enjoyed some pedal time. He even made a false shot, resulting in a point for the opposing team.
Novak Djokovic acknowledges the rise of Padel & Pickleball
Tennis is now an old sport. Today’s youth are now more inclined to play pickleball and pedalball instead of lawn tennis.
Even tennis legend Novak Djokovic acknowledges the rise of padel and pickleball, particularly at the club and recreational level.
āWell, I think that the future, at least on the recreational club level of the tennis clubs, will be racquet clubs, to be honest,ā Djokovic said via Tennis 365.
He went on to explain why learning pedal is easier:
āI think the growing popularity of pickleball in this country, but overall padel, more than pickleball globally, is so big and so vast, itās such a great — you know, padel, for example, is such a great sport for recreational players who never maybe held a racquet in their hands. Easier to learn to play padel than tennis, certainly. And itās fun. You know, itās social and itās engaging.”
According to the Serb, the future of the clubs is a hybrid of all these sports. He even teased that maybe a competitive format could be arranged for that hybrid sport. Djokovic said he is looking forward to see how this other racket sports rise in comparison to tennis in near future.
How Novak Djokovic can still claim 25th Major – Avoid the wars, seize the moment
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Ā© Stream screenshot
The debate around Novak Djokovic’s future at the sport’s biggest events refuses to fade, and for good reason. As the Serb approaches the 2026 season, respected coach Rick Macci believes there is still a clear and realistic path toward a historic 25th Major title.
At 38, the formula is no longer about domination week after week, as in 2023. Now, it’s about timing, recovery and seized opportunities. Djokovic’s 2025 run confirms he remains a formidable presence at Majors.
The veteran reached all four semi-finals, losing them but repeatedly reminding the Tour that experience still matters when pressure peaks. After all, Novak has been through everything our sport has offered in the previous two decades.
17 Australian Open 2nd week in his last 18 appearances
š NOVAK DJOKOVIC špic.twitter.com/k9NIJKqIFL
ā We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis)Ā January 17, 2025
The key, according to Macci, lies in avoiding physical marathons. Five-set epics, once an easy task for Djokovic, now come at a steeper cost, which we clearly witnessed in 2025.
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A cleaner route through a demanding draw would significantly increase the legend’s chances, as it would allow him recovery days and minimize extended battles. He is still capable of passing them, but his body takes increasingly more time to recover.
Another key factor is the current hierarchy at the top. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have won every Major title since the beginning of 2024, defeating Djokovic en route to notable trophies.
However, as always throughout tennis history, even the most dominant eras leave room for surprise. Should openings appear, few players are better equipped to exploit them than Novak.
Novak Djokovic, Shanghai Masters 2025
Ā© Stream screenshot
His familiarity with the moment separates the 24-time Major winner from the rest. After all, the Belgrade native has carried expectations, survived chaos and delivered under pressure more times than any player in history.
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If the conditions align in the upcoming 2026, Djokovic’s pursuit of another Major trophy may be more than nostalgia – it may be unfinished business, as he still feels hungry for more despite achieving everything.
“Asked if the Joker can win a Major in 2026. Yes! 1. If Sinner/ Alcaraz get upset or injured. 2. If he does not have five-set street fights and has time to recover. Can the Serbian Sniper the Rubber Band Man win another Major? Yes, because he has been there, done that!” Rick Macci said.
