Novak Djokovic had one tennis idol growing up, but the Serbian star also looks up to three other sporting greats – including a legendary boxer and an NBA megastar.
Novak Djokovic will leave a lasting impact on the sport of tennis. The Serbian has essentially won it all – from Wimbledon to the US Open – you name it, he’s clinched it. Djokovic’s net worth has certainly benefited from his dominance on the court.
His legacy will cement him as not just a tennis icon, but a sporting legend who will continue to inspire fans for generations to come.
But even legends like Djokovic had idols growing up – and one in particular played a key role in shaping his career.
Who was Novak Djokovic’s idol growing up?
Djokovic’s idol is none other than the legendary Pete Sampras. He revealed this on multiple occasions, but most recently in a quickfire interview with DAZN in May 2025.
He was asked to blind-rank tennis legends, and was immediately given Sampras, to which he responded with a smile, “My idol”.
Remarkably, he had no hesitation in putting him third on his list, but seemingly the Serbian was aware of what was coming, given the list looked extremely fair after he was finished.
How Djokovic blind ranked tennis players
- Rafael Nadal
- Roger Federer
- Pete Sampras
- Andre Agassi
- Andy Murray
Aside from on the clay court, the 38-year-old does have other heroes in other sporting avenues.
Who were Djokovic’s other sporting heroes?
Alongside Sampras, Djokovic was also fond of Michael Jordan, Alberto Tomba and Muhammad Ali.
In December 2024, the cover of the newspaper L’Équipe was dedicated to Djokovic, and he told the French publication.
“My three childhood idols were Pete Sampras, Michael Jordan and Alberto Tomba,” Djokovic begins.
He continued: “Beyond these names, I appreciate Muhammad Ali, who made an impact with his incredible achievements, but also a social impact by inspiring many people with his courage and integrity.
“I respect him a lot. He suffered for it, he was sentenced to prison, and he went through many trials. And that’s why people identify with him even more.
“He put his career on the line with strong convictions. Alberto Tomba is a fantastic guy. I met him for the first time in Serbia, about fifteen years ago.
“I still remember him. It was a dinner where there were a lot of people. I was sitting next to him, super happy and he was so funny” We decided that one day we would ski together.
“I hope that day comes because sooner or later I will be back on the slopes. I played tennis with Pete Sampras, I have to ski with Tomba and play basketball with Jordan. After that, I may retire from all sports.”
A fitting list, for a sporting legend in his own right.