![\"Novak](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/djokovic-jovic-feature-april-2026.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Player Features
\n Djokovic \u2018makes time for young players\u2019: WTA star Jovic on Novak the mentor<\/p>\n
ATP Tour icon has frequently offered advice to fast-rising 18-year-old American<\/p>\n
April 02, 2026<\/p>\n
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Clive Brunskill\/Matthew Stockman\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Novak Djokovic and Iva Jovic.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n
Novak Djokovic<\/a> has become one of tennis\u2019 great leaders, in every sense of the word. <\/p>\n The Serbian is a 101-time-tour-level champion, a tally which includes a record 24 men\u2019s singles Grand Slam trophies, and he has spent a record 428 weeks as the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. As time has passed, Djokovic has also developed into someone to look up to for newly emerging talents in the sport. <\/p>\n Iva Jovic can certainly attest to the 38-year-old Djokovic\u2019s skills as a mentor. The 18-year-old American, who is currently at a career-high No. 16 in the PIF WTA Rankings, has in recent months enjoyed getting to know the ATP Tour icon who hails from the same country as her father, Bojan. Jovic first met Djokovic at Wimbledon<\/a> last year and says he has been more than happy to offer her advice as she finds her way on Tour. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s given me some great tips. I can tell that he has watched my matches, which is surreal,\u201d Jovic told Tennis Channel on Wednesday in Charleston<\/a>, where she is competing at a WTA 500 event. \u201cI\u2019m like, \u2018How do you even have time for that? How am I on your priority list?\u2019 But it\u2019s incredible. <\/p>\n \u201cHe gives me some very specific takes about some tactics I can play, some different versatility I can add into my game, so I\u2019ve been trying to do it. Me and my coach have a joke, where he says, \u2018If you don\u2019t want to listen to me, listen to Novak at least!\u2019, because they\u2019re saying the same thing but it\u2019s a little different when it comes from Novak.\u201d <\/p>\n Jovic is not the first teenager to speak about feeling supported by Djokovic in recent weeks. At last month\u2019s Miami Open presented by Itau<\/a>, #NextGenATP Frenchman Moise Kouame<\/a> revealed that the Serbian sent him a congratulatory text after he became the youngest match winner in tournament history aged just 17. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how he does it,\u201d said Jovic. \u201cHe\u2019s a husband, he\u2019s a father, he\u2019s the greatest tennis player of all time. He knows, what, seven languages? I don\u2019t know. Everyone needs a time-management plan from Novak, because I don\u2019t know how he does it. But he really makes time for young players and wants to help them, which is great.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n