PHOTO: First Novak Djokovic: Novak's Great-Grandfather Goes Viral Due To Resemblance

| by Evita Mueller

Novak Djokovic had a great-grandfather also named Novak Djokovic, and they have an uncanny resemblance.

Ah, genetics. It's a fascinating thing; some would even say funny a thing because you never truly know what to expect. The science has been getting a lot of attention in recent years due to the chance for many of us to trace down our heritage.

Yes, spoken words and family stories are all great, but it's very hard to trace back your roots for generations. Novak Djokovic knows his origins story rather well, however, not many know how much he looks like his great-grandfather.

Some of us are mirror images of our parents, some of us don't even look like our parents while some look like people from a few generations ago. That's the case for Novak Djokovic, who shares a striking resemblance with his great-grandfather.

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Some might argue that they're more similar than he is to either of his parents or brothers, for that matter. A retouched photo of his great-grandfather while he was young, appeared online, showing the resemblance. What's even crazier about the story is that he was also named Novak Djokovic.

He hailed from the village of Jasenovo Polje near present-day Nikšić in what's Montenegro today. He emigrated to the US, where younger Djokovic recently returned to competition, in 1905 but returned to the Balkans in 1912, fighting in the ensuing Balkan Wars. He worked as a judge later in his life.

The only living son of the first Novak Djokovic spoke to the media recently, describing his father as an incredibly brave man who was a patriot and fighter. The 85-year-old Radonja Djokovic spoke about his father to Blic.rs.

My father Novak Djokovic went to Chicago in 1905 but came back twice to fight in the war with his brothers. He fought in Skhoder and then on the Salonica front. They told him not to go becaues he'll die but he wouldn't listen. He wanted to help his people. He returned to Jasenovo Polje becoming a judge.


85-year-old Radonja on the first Novak Djokovic

Could be. My father was beloved in the final. He was one of the most respected Djokovic, a great fighter and a good man. He was widely respected.

Radonja on Novak possibly getting his name after the original Novak Djokovic.

It seems like the fighting spirit survived many generations as the other Djokovic is one of the best players in the world right now. He just returned to US soil for the first time in two years, making a winning start. His heritage might have easily been American if his ancestor elected to remain there. If you're wondering what the original Djokovic looked like, check it out below.

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