Novak Djokovic: "Italy is the most important country in the history of humanity."

The Serbian champion opens up to Vanity Fair Italia about his career goals, his love for Italian culture, and his dream of another Grand Slam.

There's a break in Novak Djokovic's schedule—he withdrew from both the Miami and Monte Carlo Masters 1000s—but the Serbian champion never really stops. In an interview with Vanity Fair Italy, the 24-time Grand Slam winner spoke about himself from every angle: his goals, affections, philosophy of the time and, above all, a visceral love for Italy that goes far beyond simple tourist appreciation.

“I could talk about this for hours”

Djokovic called Italy "the most important nation in the history of humanity," with an enthusiasm that leaves little room for doubt as to the sincerity of his assessment. He cited history, culture, music, food, cars, and fashion as reasons for the universal love for the Bel Paese, but the connection is also very personal: Djokovic has worked and continues to work with Italian collaborators on his team, is proud to speak the Italian language, and considers it one of the most beautiful in the world.

There was also a tribute to Italian tennis: Djokovic praised Italy's successes in men's and women's tennis over the last 10-15 years, calling Italy the current leading nation on the circuit, and extending his sincere congratulations to all those who contributed to this achievement.

Time, family, spirit

One of the most touching reflections in the interview concerns his relationship with time. Djokovic admitted he wants to be present for his children's milestones and for his family, knowing that his frequent travels often take him far from home.

On the pitch, however, time becomes almost mystical: during matches, he's so focused he loses track of time, but looking at his watch helps him mentally reset. And off the pitch? When he notices matching numbers on the clock, like 11:11, he sees something spiritual in it.

An unusual and intimate Djokovic emerges from this interview: a champion who looks ahead with intact ambition, but who has learned to find meaning even in the little things — like the words of a foreign language he has made his own, or the numbers on a clock that seem to tell him something.