'Would love to see more kids from India take up tennis,' says World No. 1 Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic, the reigning champion, began his 2024 Australian Open journey in style with a straight sets victory over Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry. After the match, he took a moment to address young tennis enthusiasts in India, encouraging them to pursue their tennis dreams.

Expressing his passion for the development of kids in their early years, Djokovic shared, "I wish to be part of programs specifically designed for kids' development in their early childhood. This is something I am very passionate about, and it's also the cornerstone of our foundation. Witnessing more children picking up a racquet and playing tennis would fill my heart with joy as a tennis player."

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In a previous interview with Sony Sports Network expert panellist Somdev Devvarman, Djokovic had expressed his admiration for Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. During a conversation with Sania Mirza, he reiterated his love for India, stating, "I feel I have a special connection with India. I love the people there; they have been very kind to me and are some of the most genuine and gentle people in the world. Cricket is the most followed sport, but tennis is also widely embraced across the country."

Reflecting on an exhibition match in New Delhi in 2014 alongside Roger Federer and other tennis legends, Djokovic shared his dream of exploring India in the future. He concluded, "Hopefully, there are many years ahead of me so that I can spend more time in your beautiful country and work on the mission of empowering more kids to take up tennis."

Looking forward, Djokovic is set to face France's Adrian Mannarino in the fourth round of the Australian Open 2024 on Sunday, January 21, 2024.