Novak Djokovic laughs in the face of jet lag. For more than two decades, the world’s most successful male tennis player has traveled the world to compete, collecting 24 Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal along the way. During that time, he’s perfected his form when it comes to smashing travel fatigue as well as tennis balls.
“There are so many little things you can do to avoid jet lag,” the 38-year-old Serbian tells Travel + Leisure. “On the plane, I over-hydrate, adding lemon, mint, and salt to my water if I can. When I arrive at the hotel, I ground myself with bare feet on natural ground as soon as possible, followed by a hot bath with Epsom salts. Then on the first morning, I try to watch the sunrise, to reset my brain.”
Djokovic is now far from the dawn of his career, but he still has daylight left to chase down an elusive 25th Grand Slam. It’s a title that would break his tie with the legendary Margaret Court-Smith to become the single greatest tennis player of all time.
With Novak Djokovic
Aisle or window seat?
Window.
Go-to plane snack?
Salted sorghum popcorn.
Past or current player you’d choose to sit next to on a long-haul flight?
Can I have two? It would be Pete Sampras and Monica Seles. They were my idols growing up, and I still look up to them both. I’d sit in the middle seat between them on the longest flight possible and enjoy that time so much.
Dream travel destination still on your list?
It would have to be Antarctica; I love the idea of traveling to the edge of the world. Either there or Bhutan because I’ve always wanted to visit the Tiger’s Nest.
Item you cannot travel without?
My pillow. I have a longer neck, and for years, hotel pillows were just killing me. So now I carry my own Tempur-Pedic pillow with me everywhere.
What is your travel pet peeve?
Hotel rooms where you can’t open the window. I can’t stand that. I need fresh air. It doesn’t matter how hot or cold it is; I need to open that window.
Weirdest item in your carry-on?
Ha! Quite a lot of unusual stuff, actually. How about my vagus nerve stimulator? That’s quite weird.
On that career-long quest, Djokovic has stayed in countless hotels around the world and now knows exactly what he does—and doesn’t—like when it comes to accommodation.
“A great view and a great mattress are two of the most important aspects of a great hotel room,” he says. “I’m also a big fan of less cables and healthier minibars.”
His favorite international hotel group, he says, is Aman. Back in the summer of 2014, he married his wife Jelena at the sumptuous Aman Sveti Stefan in Montenegro, and that love affair with the brand has only grown, with Djokovic naming Thailand’s Amanpuri as his favorite hotel in the world today.
Now the seven-time Wimbledon champion has taken that relationship to a deeper level, launching his own Aman wellness retreat. Over a curated three-day program, guests will get to experience Djokovic’s personal fitness regime—from dynamic strength training and breathwork to professional nutrition and recovery, with a healthy chunk of tennis tuition.
“The retreat is an opportunity for me to share some of the best tips and advice I’ve received during my career,” he explains. “These are the fitness routines and wellness practices I’ve followed for years, and continue to follow to stay in shape and compete today.”
Novak Djokovic on the tennis court, and in the banya sauna, at Amanpuri.
Aman
Many athletes retire with a fistful of ideas so up in the air they need parachutes. But Djokovic has his feet firmly on the ground, with plenty of post-tennis plans already in play. Aside from the new Aman retreats, there’s the successful hydration range called SILA (Serbian for “force”) as well as the intriguing Regenesis Pod–a space-age recovery capsule promising to rejuvenate body and mind thanks to a combination of light therapy, sound frequency, and pulsed electromagnetic fields.
Despite these new business ventures, Djokovic has no plans to retire from tennis in the immediate future, with one eye firmly on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. But when he does finally zip up his racket bag for good, one of the first things on his to-do list is a big family vacation.
“I’m a serious history lover, and one of my favorite things to do on family holidays is visit local museums and archaeological sites with my two children,” he says. “I haven’t been to Africa yet, and I’d love to take them to Egypt to see the pyramids. It’ll be there or a big trip to South America to see ancient Mayan and Incan sites. When it comes to travel, I feel I still haven’t visited many of the places that will leave the biggest impressions on me.”
One place that has left a big impression on the tennis star is Montenegro: the scene of many happy childhood vacations, and a country he still returns to regularly.
“I love Montenegro so much; it’s truly one of the most stunning places in the world,” he enthuses. “You’ve got Boka Bay, with these titanic mountains thrusting out of the sea, like Hawaii. Then there’s other insanely magical spots like Durmitor National Park. Also, Black Lake—seriously, Black Lake is the most beautiful lake I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”
A regular at the U.S. Open, Djokovic is not averse to an American road trip either, with one state a particular favorite. “I love California, specifically the stretch of coast between San Diego and Los Angeles,” he says. “I’m a massive fan of the beaches, the nature, and the lifestyle there. It’s just so beautiful and so easygoing.”
Despite often appearing invincible on the tennis court, Djokovic confesses to one major weakness off it. “I am possibly the worst person on the planet when it comes to packing,” he laughs. “My wife is constantly freaking out because I’m always leaving open suitcases around the house, but folding clothes just kills me. Honestly, my new strategy is just to never unpack. If you never unpack, then you never have to worry about packing.”
Whether he folds his clothes or not, one gets the impression that Djokovic still has a long way to go. With his infectious curiosity and energy, he’s the kind of elite athlete—like Tom Brady or David Beckham—who’ll continue to demand as much, if not more, attention in retirement. Whether that’s in the world of wellness, hospitality, or technology–or all three–only time will tell. In the meantime, there’s the small matter of that record-breaking 25th Grand Slam to win.