What defines a top athlete's legacy? The answer can be multifaceted and is generally summed up by a number of factors.
One of them is their success at their craft. For history-making Novak Djokovic, it is quite simple. He has thrived against different generations of champions and emerged as the best of all of them. The byproduct of Djokovic's efforts and two decades of work will live far longer than his existence.
Djokovic has built his identity to become an elite athlete, and in this modern era of hybrid sports, he is the perfect role model for aspiring sportsmen and women who want to excel at what they do. But the man who has won a record 24 Grand Slams, wants to be remembered for much more than just tennis and stats sheets.
In as much as tennis has been individualized as a sport, Djokovic has been a socially responsible tennis player who has always looked at the interests of his peers, by co-founding the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA).
He's also been an active philanthropist through his foundation and has donated handsomely to global relief efforts in the past. In an interview given to Marca before he secured Serbia's place in the semifinal of the 2023 Davis Cup, Djokovic stated that he would like to leave a legacy that extends beyond tennis records.
Instead, he wants to use his status as the world's best tennis player to help other players make a living from playing tennis. Testament to this, Djokovic has helped Serbian Next Gen star Hamad Medjedovic in his young career with adequate financial resources.
"Apart from the records, I would like to leave a legacy for those to come. I would like to be remembered as someone who used the platform that tennis allows me and my status to help other players so that more can make a living from the racquet."
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