“I still want to chase titles and records” said Novak Djokovic during his Bulgaria outing on “brother” Grigor Dimitrov’s invitation. With his memorable win at the Paris Olympics, Djokovic completed a career Golden Slam and many people wonder what might be the source of motivation for the Serbian ace going forward. While motivation does play a role in helping a player continue pursuing excellence, other factors like spirit, heritage, and passion for the sport also contribute almost as much as motivation. And in Bulgaria, Djokovic detailed why he can’t be discounted for short despite prioritizing his schedule during the season.

After steering Serbia into Davis Cup 2025 qualifiers, Djokovic headed to Bulgaria for a charity match for Dimitrov’s foundation. Before the clash, the 24-time Grand Slam champion sat down with Dimitrov for a joint press conference where he was asked whether the fact that he was from the Balkans had helped or harmed him professionally.

For the unversed, the Balkans usually refer to southeastern Europe encompassing Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia, among other nations. The Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Aegean Sea, Black Sea, and Turkish Strait define the boundaries, taking their name from the Balkan mountains.

Djokovic has credited his achievements throughout his career to his roots. And he iterated it again, saying, “Everything I have and have achieved is because of where I come from. The DNA of the people of the Balkans is unique. We have a spirit of warriors. We never give up and we fight to the end for what we think is right, we are very passionate people, and we all make mistakes. Sometimes we are too temperamental, but I prefer that to indifference.”

This is not all, the World No.4 further went on to say that he likes to see emotions on people’s faces, which somehow reflect the passion of life! Now fans certainly know the reason behind Djokovic’s occasional outbursts on the court. He is a proud and passionate Serbian and a Balkan.

Djokovic’s spirit and passion have also helped him connect with fellow Balkans throughout the region. Although linguistic barriers sometimes present a roadblock, the Balkan Spirit sorts it out perfectly! “I got along very well with Grigor from the beginning, as well as with the other players from the Balkans–Croats, Bosnians, even Greeks. It is a little different with the Greeks because of the language barrier. But we all understand this Balkan spirit that unites us,” the Serb said.

Djokovic, for the first time in his professional career, is living in the moment. That is, he might not have a plan for how the next few years would look like for him in the circuit.

After completing his collection with Olympic gold, Novak Djokovic decides to live in the moment

Novak Djokovic has it all, an Olympic Gold along with a record 24 Grand Slam titles, the most by any player in the men’s singles category. Margaret Court also has 24 Grand Slam singles titles to her name, but in the men’s singles, Djokovic is at the top, having surpassed both Federer and Nadal.

Now what is left for the former World No.1 to achieve? Maybe nothing, or just breaking Margaret Court’s record and winning the record 25th Slam title. But he is not in a rush to abide by the demanding schedule. The 37-year-old has decided to take a step back after over two decades of grueling tennis. After the successful Paris Olympic conclusion, Djokovic has no long-term plans!

During a recent interview, the Serbian maestro opened up about how his motivation took a hit after Paris and what his future would look like. He said, “For the first time in my career, I’ve no long-term plans. I’m living for the moment, and we’ll see what happens.” Djokovic is, however, sure about one thing: after years of staying on tour, and away from family, the Serbian star wants to spend his time with his wife and children now.

The fans will still get to see Djokovic play in China and Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks. But right now, the former World No.1 is enjoying his time in Sofia, Bulgaria where he gifted the fans a mouth-watering treat!