Tennis and its Effect on War-Torn Serbia
Tennis in Serbia has certainly made a lot of progress over the past few years. Not so long ago, some of the top players of the country were forced to train inside empty swimming pools, the Serbian Capital of Belgrade being a literal
war zone.
Players such as Novak Djokovic, who is the current World No. 3 and the 2008 Australian Open winner, and former Women’s Tennis Association World No.1s Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic were raised and brought up in the country at
a time when its troubles and horrors were at their peak. All three of these players, however, have made it so far in the game and with such a degree of success that their prowess has managed to place Serbia on the map, not as a war stricken nation, but as
a country brimming with talent.
Now, after Serbia’s jubilant victory over France to seize their first Davis Cup title, the country has become a tennis nation to be reckoned with. Belgrade once reduced to rubble, played host to the Final of the Davis Cup. Novak
Djokovic declared before the Davis Cup weekend, “It is maybe a unique opportunity for all of us. So we have to find this little piece of energy that is left and give everything on the court. It is a unique opportunity to have the Davis Cup Final played at
home – you will never have this opportunity again. We all are looking forward to that.”
When Serbia set out to meet the nine-time winning country, France, in the finals of the event, they had almost made it from being a war-ravaged country to becoming role models of tennis and with this victory they have completed
their transformation. Djokovic said at a press conference in London, where he played the Barclay’s ATP World Tour Finals, “We all know that the Davis Cup is a very special competition and playing in the Davis Cup final is the biggest success that my country
ever had.” Nole will probably revise his statement, as now, winning the event is his country’s biggest achievement.
Djokovic, World No. 30 Viktor Troicki, Grand Slam doubles winner Nenad Zimonjic and World No. 49 Janko Tipsarevic made up the team that secured sporting fame for their homeland, in front of a stadium seating over sixteen thousand
people. However, they looked forward to the pressure, as testified by Dejan Cavolski who works for BBC’s Serbian division. Calovski said, “Serbia is definitely the huge favourite. They are very much looking forward to playing on their home court and that should
not factor any pressure – it will only be an advantage for them.
The story of these players has inspired and impressed many young Serbians to take up racquets, and it is now one of the most played and best loved games in the country. As Calovski added, “They are massive, massive stars in Serbia,
they are gods. They are viewed as heroes as they are giving the country an identity and something to be proud of. Their stories are quite inspirational and the tennis schools are filled with young girls and boys who want to play like them.”
Their success is seen as an example of the country’s tennis prowess, and they have proven themselves champions on their own turf. Not only that but the players have given a legacy to countless generations – hopefully, they will
go on to win many more Davis Cup titles to come.
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