What qualities do you need to become a champion athlete?

Persistence: too many talented players do not have it. The ones that do are able to reach their full potential.

How did you become a professional tennis player?

By chance – I started practising in a local school. I was very fortunate that, early in my career, I was a very good junior (Number 1 in Europe under-12 and 14, and Number 1 in the world under-16 and 18), so for me and my family it was always a clear path.

Do you share any similarities with fellow Serbian player Novak Djokovic?

As Novak is one of my closest friends, we share similar views on life. Our families go on holiday together quite often. In my view, he is the best tennis player of all time.

What advice do you have for young players who want to follow in your footsteps?

Keep your head up when things don’t go your way, and work out your problems.

How do you handle the pressure of being at the top of your game?

Cancelling the outside noise by focusing on my game plan.

How can we perfect our serve? Can you share three pro tips?

1. Stabilise your feet on the ground.
2. Left arm follows the ball upon the toss.
3. Make sure your follow-through is on point.

World-class tennis