Djokovic looks back on his debut: "I needed parents".

In a lengthy interview with Serbian television, Novak Djokovic looks back on the early years of his career, as well as his beginnings as a child in Serbia.

He explained that a number of decisive encounters helped him gain confidence. Referring in particular to Jelena Genčič and Niki Pilic, his "tennis" mother and father, as he calls them himself.

Without filter, he declared: "I started playing tennis during the war.

I needed parents, someone who believed in me.

I always tried to respect my opponent, but believing in myself was essential.

Every word, every thought has its own power.

It came from home, and then, of course, it took shape with Jelena Genčić, who was my tennis mother, and later with Nikola Pilić, who was my tennis father and coached the biggest names.

Jelena was until I was thirteen, then Pilić until my early professional days.

In the end, I can say I was lucky, because my family and I met some top experts.

Experts who knew not only how to impart knowledge about tennis, but also how to help me mentally and emotionally."