Via Twitter, the 14-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic congratulated his eight-year-old Serbian compatriot Subject Mihailo for his most recent success. “I am proud of Mihajla who won his first and only tournament he has played so far.
Every time I’m in Belgrade, we play tennis, we talk about tennis and life, and I try to help him as much as possible as a mentor. Great Mihailo,” Djokovic wrote, posting a photo of them together. Djokovic pays Mihailo’s tennis expenses, around €5,000 a year, and he cares a lot about this very promising kid.
Djokovic’s parents, father Srdjan and mother Dijana, suggested that Topic’s family not play any tennis tournaments until he turns eight so that he would not be under pressure. The 31-year-old is currently training in Belgrade, Serbia, ahead of the Asian swing he is committed to only at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated about Mihailo, Drajan Serer, the head coach of the Serbian Tennis Federation, said: “Mihailo is about two to three years ahead of his age group. Novak was like that too. This tells us that he might be very good in the future, but we really can’t tell until he grows up and starts playing tournaments; that’s when we’ll know what it’s really made of. READ ALSO : David Ferrer: “This will be my last US Open. Facing Rafael Nadal is a gift’
