"He hid in shelters": Tsitsipas’ mother on Novak Djokovic’s resilience compared to Roger Federer

Stefanos Tsitsipas' mother opined why Novak Djokovic has a stronger mentality than Roger Federer. In her opinion, Nole's difficult childhood made him develop a different mentality, which distinguishes him from the Swiss, who went through a happy childhood.

According to Julia Apostoli, mother of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic’s challenging upbringing forged a mental toughness that sets him apart from Roger Federer, who enjoyed a happier childhood. Apostoli shared her perspective during a recent interview on a Russian YouTube show.

Djokovic’s early years were shaped by the Yugoslav Wars. Born in Belgrade in 1987, the 24-time Grand Slam champion grew up amid the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, which culminated in the creation of six smaller countries over a decade of conflict that claimed approximately 100,000 lives.

Apostoli, herself a former tennis player, highlighted the stark contrast between Djokovic’s and Federer’s childhoods. “I lived in Belgrade for a while, so I speak Serbo-Croatian. By the way, Djokovic, although they write about him as a Serb, is actually Bosnian by birth. But he chose one of the nationalities that existed in Yugoslavia. He had a very difficult childhood,” she said.

She elaborated on Djokovic’s struggles during the war. “He had to hide in air raid shelters as a child. Federer grew up in a happy country—Switzerland. This is also worth considering. Federer didn’t face those moments when you have to risk something to achieve something else.”

Djokovic recently reflected on his wartime upbringing during an interview with La Nación, an Argentinian newspaper, while visiting the country for Juan Martín del Potro’s farewell match.

"I remember standing in line with my grandfather at 5 in the morning to get bread to feed our whole family—my grandfather, my aunt, my uncle, my cousins, my siblings, my parents, and I. We all lived together in a small apartment because we had no other choice, and those are the things that became an integral part of my character, of who I am today as a person," the Serbian star shared.