“Pure Love”: Novak Djokovic in Awe of Cameroonian Kids Eagerness to Play Tennis

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has shared a video clip of a tennis school in Cameroon, Africa, praising the energy and “passion” of children queuing up to take turns at hitting tennis balls.

The current World Number 1 posted the clip on his Instagram handle, also lauding the coaches for thinking up a unique training regimen to keep the aspiring tennis stars motivated in the sport.

Novak Djokovic lauds how the kids in the video hop and sing, waiting for their turn to hit tennis balls

In the footage shared by the 18-time Grand Slam champion, children in shorts and racquets in hand are seen being shepherded into a line by one of the coaches from where each of them takes turns to enter a practice court, knock a couple of tennis balls and come away in an orderly fashion.

However, what stands out in the video is the way the children hop and hum a song, eagerly waiting at the chance to get cracking at the practice court.

The enthusiasm among the little ones didn’t escape the Serb’s notice as he tagged his post with a message saying, “This is pure love and passion for tennis. I love this video and send my gratitude to the coaches who made this happen.”

Lauding the “creative” way of putting the children through their paces and also giving them early lessons in the game, Djokovic said he loves how “they sing and hop while waiting for their turn to hit the ball”.

The video was reposted by former French tennis star Yannick Noah.

Novak Djokovic has been on an extended break since rupturing an abdominal during his successful title defense at the Australian Open

Having honed his early tennis lessons in war-torn Serbia, often rushing to bunkers to shelter himself from bombs that came flying out of screaming fighter jets overhead, it’s hardly a surprise that the enthusiasm for the sport in a country where grinding poverty and hardship are ways of life would have gladdened the cockles of his heart.

Djokovic has returned to the Tour since the incredible run to his ninth Australian Open title this year.

Midway into his title defense at Melbourne Park, the Serb suffered an abdominal muscle tear but he chose to play on.

Read More: Why Has a Raft of Top Stars, Including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Pulled Out of Miami Open 2021?

Going on adrenaline and willpower that’s hardly human, he reached the tournament final and pulled out his best tennis when it mattered to humble Daniil Medvedev in the championship clash.