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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Lizzie Edmonds

Novak Djokovic warms up with son Stefan, 8, ahead of first Wimbledon match

Wimbledon favourite Novak Djokovic was spotted practicing with his young son Stefan on the first day of the Championships.

The 23-time Grand Slam Champion - who is widely tipped to take home the men’s singles title - played with his eight-year-old son Stefan on an outside court at the All England Club on Monday.

Tennis fans arriving on to the site stopped to watch the duo - who were warming up together ahead of the world number two’s first match on Centre Court.

The Serbian champion plays Argentinian star Pedro Cachín in the first round.

Stefan watches his father from the side of the court (PA)

Djokovic, 36, also shares daughter Tara, five, with his wife Jelena. The couple, who are high school sweethearts, married in Montenegro in 2014.

He is not only defending champion, but he is in search of a 24th Grand Slam singles title this Wimbledon.

Djokovic’s victory at the French Open earlier this year saw him pass rival Rafael Nadal to stand alone at the summit of the men’s game for most Grand Slam wins.

Stefan carries out boy ball duties (PA)

The 36-year-old Serbian could go on to equal Margaret Court’s all-time singles mark of 24 Grand Slam titles with another triumph at SW19 when the competition comes to a close on July 16.

Speaking ahead of his opening match, Djokovic said he was as ambitious as ever.

“I don’t feel more relaxed, to be honest. I still feel hungry for success, for more Grand Slams, more achievements in tennis.

Novak Djokovic walks through the grounds after practicing (PA)

“As long as there’s that drive, I know that I’m able to compete at the highest level. If that goes down, then I guess I’ll have to face probably different circumstances and have a different approach.

“So far there’s still the drive – a few days after Roland Garros, I was already thinking about preparation for grass and what needs to be done.

“The tennis season is such that it doesn’t really give you much time to really reflect or enjoy. Of course, I did enjoy with my family, but not for so long.”

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