The year 2023, without a doubt, is Novak Djokovic’s. The Serbian dominated the circuit with authority, reaching four Grand Slam finals (three wins and a five-set loss to Alcaraz at Wimbledon) and also scored the ATP Finals to close out another season at the top of the world rankings.
And all this at 36 years old, which adds even more merit to his achievements. “If I just played one of the best seasons of my life, why stop if I keep playing tennis so well? I maintained the desire to compete and my body responded“said the Serbian after the exhibition match he played against Alcaraz in Arabia on Wednesday.
But it was not all joy for the Serbian, who also went through very difficult times. One of them occurred in 2017, when he missed the second half of the season due to elbow problems that even made him think about leaving tennis.
Fortunately, Kobe Bryant crossed his path to encourage him and advise him in such a delicate moment. “Kobe always helps me when I need it. When I had elbow surgery, I felt bad. I even thought about quitting tennis. He encouraged me, he shared his experience, he gave me advice“explained the Serbian in statements collected by the newspaper ‘l’Équipe’.
And this is Djokovic’s devotion to the evil Lakers star. In January 2020, and with the recent Kobe accident, The Serb was in tears at the Australian Open. “When I need advice, help, he is there for me”the Serbian recalled in Melbourne when asked by John McEnroe, who recalled the importance of the basketball player in the Serbian’s career.
“He has inspired me and many people around the world. I had a personal relationship for ten years. He is my mentor, my friend“I’ve had a broken heart since I found what happened to him and his daughter,” he said then, wearing a tracksuit with a 24 inscribed on it.
At the last Roland Garros he stressed the “Mamba mentality, Kobe Bryant. You know what’s going to happen before it happens.. I sincerely believe in this power. Mental power, projecting your thoughts and creating your own future,” he said.
The number 24, the number of the lost legend of the Los Angeles Lakers, is even more special after winning the US Open in September. Djokovic has reached a record 24 Grand Slam titles, and Kobe Bryant is on his mind and heart.
After the initial celebrations, he wore a t-shirt with the motto ‘Mamba Forever’.with a photo of him with Kobe Bryant, the idol of the mamba mentality, who always gives the best version of himself.
“I thought of making this shirt seven days ago. Kobe is a good friend and I am very hurt by what happened. I talked to him a lot, also about the winning mentality, he gave me a lot of advice. He is a Lakers legend,” he stressed.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
