By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday June 12, 2023
After winning his record 23rd major singles title in Paris on Sunday, Novak Djokovic wanted to make sure that he didn’t forget the kids.
While at the podium, after raising the Coupe des Mousquetaires for a third time, he 36-year-old made a special dedication to all the young dreamers in the world, telling them to be present, and think big.
“I would just like to send a message to every young person out there, whatever you're pursuing in the world whether it be tennis, sports or anything else,” Djokovic said. “I was a seven year old dreaming that I can win Wimbledon and become number one in the world one day, as I said, “I'm beyond grateful and blessed to be standing here with so many incredible achievements. But one thing is for sure:
“I feel that I had the power to create my own destiny. I tried to visualize every single thing in my life. Not only believe it, but really feel it with every cell in my body. And I just want to send a message out there to every young person: be in the present moment, forget about what happened in the past, future is something that is just going to happen – but if you want a better future you create it.”
Djokovic, a father of two, also took time to thank legend Yannick Noah, who was on hand to hand the Grand Slam juggernaut the trophy after he defeated Casper Ruud in the final.
"I would like to say that it's a great honour to have Yannick Noah today, on the 40th anniversary of his Roland-Garros title," Djokovic told the appreciative crowd, while addressing the French legend. "I was really, really young when you were retiring from tennis, but I watched your videos with great joy and I just appreciated and loved your enthusiasm, that was transformed into music after your tennis career."
This Roland-Garros, the 40th anniversary of Noah’s iconic title was celebrated – the charismatic Frenchman is the last Frenchman to win a Grand Slam title.
"What you bring to the people, the kind of positivity and energy – it is something very special," Djokovic said. “So I just wanted to say that, it's great to have you here.”