SUMMARY
- Novak Djokovic's path to greatness came with sacrifices, one of which was chocolate.
- Djokovic recalled how he treated himself to a single piece of the treat after defeating Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final.
Novak Djokovic is synonymous with excellence, and his athleticism and prowess with a racket are exemplary. The Serb’s rise to the top has not been an easy journey, and he has had to forego a lot of old habits. However, one of his biggest sacrifices was probably giving up chocolates.
Novak has always had a sweet tooth; therefore, giving up chocolate was not the easiest choice. His decision to stick to a strict diet did pay off, though, as his health improved. With a strict regime, Novak left his mark on the tennis court as he kept collecting trophies.
In a recent interview at the United Cup, Novak revealed that he had helped himself to some vegan dessert the night before. Viktor Troicki, Djokovic’s compatriot, joked that that was the reason his wrist was hurting. Novak and the rest of the Serbian team laughed at Troicki’s statement.
Novak Djokovic is all of us during the festive period 🍫🍨🍰 pic.twitter.com/oT4fC3Wlyh
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 2, 2024
The world number one had always loved chocolate, and in a way, he was addicted to it. Eventually, the Serb managed to carry on without the temptation. However, there was a time when Djokovic caved to the temptation. After defeating Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final in 2012, Novak had earned it.
“After I won, I sat in the locker room in Melbourne. I wanted one thing: to taste chocolate. I hadn’t tasted it since the summer of 2010. Miljan brought me a candy bar. I broke off one square—one tiny square—and popped it into my mouth, let it melt on my tongue,” recalled Djokovic about what it took to be the world number one.
Novak Djokovic is very particular about what goes into his body. He has even switched to a vegan diet in the last few years, and the changes are visible.
How changing his diet helped Novak Djokovic
In 2010, Djokovic discovered that he was sensitive to gluten, a protein found in wheat and bread. It explained why he kept collapsing so much during his matches.
Since the discovery, though, Djokovic transformed his diet, and just 12 months later, he became the world number one. Novak was much stronger, healthier, and mentally sharper as well.
Djokovic cut gluten and dairy from his diet immediately after the tests. He has eventually moved to a more plant-based diet, which suits him just fine.
Novak Djokovic is very meticulous about what he eats. The Serb has found a formula that works for him best and earns him results in the process. And if, after a difficult match, he craves a bit of chocolate, he has earned it.