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Djokovic ‘making time for young players’: WTA star Jovic on mentor Novak
ATP Tour icon regularly offers advice to fast-rising 18-year-old American
April 2, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic and Eva Jovic.
Written by ATP Staff
In every sense of the word, Novak Djokovic has become one of the great leaders of tennis.
The Serbian is a 101-time tour winner, including a record 24 men’s singles Grand Slam trophies, and he has remained No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings for 428 consecutive weeks. Over time, Djokovic also grew into an admirer of the new talent in the sport.
Iva Jovic can certainly attest to the 38-year-old Djokovic’s skills as a mentor. The 18-year-old American is currently ranked No. 16 in the PIF WTA rankings, a career-high. In recent months she has had the pleasure of getting to know the ATP Tour icon, who is from the same country as her father Bojan. Jovic first met Djokovic at Wimbledon last year and said he was more than happy to advise her as she found her way on tour.
“He gave me some good advice. I could tell he had watched me play, and it was surreal,” Jovic told Tennis Channel on Wednesday in Charleston, where she is competing in the WTA 500 event. “I thought, ‘How do you have time for this? How am I on your priority list?’ But it was unbelievable.
“He gave me some very specific advice on some plays I could make, some different versatility I could add to my game, so I’ve been working on that. Me and my coach have a joke where he says, ‘If you don’t want to listen to me, at least listen to Novak!’, because they’re saying the same thing, but it’s a little different when it comes from Novak.”
Jovic is not the first teenager to speak of feeling supported by Djokovic in recent weeks. At last month’s Miami Open hosted by Itau, #NextGenATP Frenchman Moise Kouame revealed that the Serbian sent him a congratulatory text message after becoming the youngest match winner in the tournament’s history at just 17 years old.
“I don’t know how he did it,” Jovic said. “He’s a husband, he’s a father, he’s the greatest tennis player of all time. He knows, what, seven languages? I don’t know. Everybody needs Novak’s time management plan because I don’t know how he does it. But he does make time for young players and is willing to help them, which is great.”
Jovic cherishes being able to seek advice from one of the most successful athletes of all time, especially as Djokovic continues to pursue titles on tennis’ biggest stage.
“I have straight lines [to him]. I try not to disturb him too much, but I will text him throughout the game, especially when we are in the same place. “Jovic said. “Every time I see him, we have a great chat, so I hope he can stay on the tour longer! ”
