The documentary shows footage of a young Djokovic being interviewed on television. Asked how he feels about tennis, he calls it a “responsibility”.
“My goal in tennis is to become a champion,” he says.
Djokovic’s career, from his style of play to his attitude on court, has been shaped by his childhood experiences in a way that few other players can possibly relate.
Born in Belgrade, Djokovic was a young child during the Nato bombings of the Serbian capital between March and June 1999.
He recalls running from his building – which did not have a bomb shelter – to another for safety. On the way, he tripped, and his unaware family continued running. Djokovic turned to look at his building and watched a plane drop two bombs on a nearby hospital.
“Pretty much every day, for years, we had to wait in line for bread and milk,” Djokovic told BBC 5 Live in July.
“These are defining moments, something I want to portray as a building block for me as a player and a person.
“There is no regret or resentment. In contrary, it’s appreciation and gratitude. Everything in life happens as a reason.”
In an expensive and often elitist sport, the young Djokovic was an outsider. Djokovic speaks about his father borrowing money from “wrong people” to fund his early tennis career.
When he broke through, he disrupted the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal rivalry that had come to engross fans. More emotive and more vocal than the pair on court, Djokovic was not universally beloved by fans.
“I had to suppress a lot of emotions which, later on, surfaced on the court,” he told BBC 5 Live.
“On the court, that’s where I felt safe and comfortable. It was a familiar ground.
“Tennis is much more than a game and competition. It is defining ground for who I am as a person.”
