Radu Albot is stepping onto the court with more than just his racket and determination—he’s bringing a newfound source of strength: his young daughter. As he prepares to face Novak Djokovic in the first round of the US Open, Albot’s perspective has shifted dramatically. The presence of his daughter has infused him with a renewed sense of purpose, turning this match into more than just another competition.

Albot’s world now revolves around his three-year-old daughter Adeline, rather than just tennis. Every time he gets onto the court, his daughter’s presence offers a fresh viewpoint that has had a great impact on his approach to the sport.

This year at the US Open, Albot’s daughter and wife will be seen supporting him. Recently, ahead of his first-round clash, he opened up about having his support system by his side. “For me, seeing her and my wife in the stands is something special. You play all your life, and at one moment, you have an extra supporter in your team, a little one, so this is really interesting to feel,” Albot stated.

Adeline, who is only three years old, has already had the opportunity to interact with some of the top tennis players, such as Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, and Roger Federer. But the interaction that would probably stand out in her memory once she grows up was the interaction that happened earlier this week at the US Open. There, Adeline met the legendary Billie Jean King, the founder of the WTA.

For Albot, what matters the most now is the time spent away from the court. After a difficult match, he finds that he can put things into perspective by playing with his daughter Adeline. Her happy presence uplifts his spirits and serves as a reminder of what matters most, regardless of the outcome on the court.

When Radu Albot had an adorable moment with his daughter at Wimbledon

Albot’s metamorphosis was exemplified at Wimbledon last year when young Adeline ran onto the court to greet her father following a valiant victory in the qualifying stages. “They asked me, How does it feel winning and I was holding her in my hands during the interview. I said when you have a daughter like this, winning or losing doesn’t matter,” Albot was quoted as saying by ATP’s official website.

Talked about how he has changed as a person and as a player and how his priorities have shifted after the birth of his daughter, Albot added, “When you’re home, there [are many] more things to do and it’s around her. The world is around her now. So in the morning, I was waking up before and I was doing my stuff. Now, first thing I do, I go to wake her up when I’m home. I go put the clothes on, my wife is preparing breakfast, we eat and we go to the kindergarten.”

Subsequently, he stated, “Before I could do whatever I wanted. Now, I need to go to the kindergarten every time [at] eight o’clock in the morning. Everything is around her. [Around this] I need to plan the day, what I do, how I practice.

As Radu Albot faces Novak Djokovic in his 30th major main draw, the stakes are higher than ever. With his daughter Adeline watching from the stands, Albot must be motivated and ready to embrace this unprecedented challenge against a 24-time Grand Slam champion. Do you think he can pull off an upset? Let us know in the comments.