Djokovic’s Regret and Sacrifice: Missing His Daughter’s 8th Birthday, Longing for Time with Family in His Hometown

Another historic victory has been secured. The 2025 US Open is unfolding almost exactly as expected by the public. Serbian superstar Djokovic swept Struff with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, advancing to the men’s singles quarterfinals and pushing forward. Although reaching the quarterfinals remains a shining achievement for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, few realize the significant personal cost behind this success.

Unfortunately, his next match coincides with a special day for his daughter Tara. Djokovic will face 4th seed Fritz in the quarterfinals, meaning he will miss Tara’s birthday.

At the post-match press conference, when a reporter mentioned this situation, the 38-year-old Djokovic could only accept the long-anticipated reality with resignation. He said, “That’s how it is; we anticipated this might happen. She’s not very happy because I can’t attend her birthday party. So please, don’t remind me again.”

The thought of missing his daughter’s birthday is already sad and unsettling for Djokovic, but the Belgrade native knows exactly what kind of gift he wants to give his beloved daughter, who turns eight this Thursday.

“At the very least, I want to try my best to win the match and give her victory as a present. Of course, I will also send some nice gifts to her birthday party. I hope the win will make her happy. But ultimately, there’s a big difference between dad being there and dad not being there. I understand that, but this is how things are this year.” The world number one and record holder for 428 weeks summed up.

From this perspective, today’s victory can be seen as an early birthday gift. Despite still struggling with injuries, Djokovic showed strong dominance against Struff. Even with noticeable neck discomfort throughout the match, he secured his 64th Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.

More importantly, he wrapped up the match in straight sets in under two hours. Given such a performance, anticipation builds for how he will play in the quarterfinals — a match that carries not only the chance to advance but also the added significance of being a birthday gift for his daughter. However, no matter the outcome, Tara might not fully appreciate it, as she values her father’s presence more than anything else.

Djokovic’s longing for home runs deeper than many realize. Although Belgrade, Serbia, is his hometown, he has spent far less time there than people might think. Childhood and growing-up memories are one thing, but his professional career has kept him constantly traveling, rarely allowing him to stay in his homeland, carrying a strong sense of nostalgia and memories across the world. Sadly, these memories seldom include moments spent with family.

“I have been traveling for 25 to 30 years, with about 15 to 20 years hardly spending much time in Serbia. My wife, kids, and I have spent little time together in Belgrade, only recently starting to make up for it, and I really miss that kind of companionship,” he revealed in an earlier interview, highlighting the subtle yet clear sacrifices he has made. “I miss being with my family, speaking my mother tongue, seeing my parents who live here, and being with family and friends. Here, I feel a sense of belonging.”

Of course, people often see Djokovic’s children cheering for him from the stands, but there is a small twist — his eldest son Stefan enjoys tennis, but Tara is not very interested. During the 2023 Australian Open, Djokovic mentioned at a press conference, “She has no interest in tennis at all.” He shared that his little princess prefers ballet and gymnastics. Although Tara isn’t keen on tennis, she supports her dad in many ways. “She keeps me grounded and humble; she can spin me around every day,” Djokovic said with a smile.

Now, Djokovic is nearing the twilight of his brilliant tennis journey. At the US Open, he admitted his body no longer recovers as quickly as before, but he is just one step away from a historic 25th Grand Slam title. Pursuing this goal means he must miss Tara’s eighth birthday celebration.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)