On the tennis court, there is no one else like Novak Djokovic. One of the most well-known tennis players in history, he has 94 ATP singles trophies to his name. He also has 23 Grand Slam titles.
It’s possible that Nole this year will become the third player to win Wimbledon five times in a row, behind Roger Federer and Bjorn Borg. This may be the third time in his career that he has won three major tournaments in one calendar year after winning the Australian Open and the French Open. Djokovic is also looking at tying Federer with most Wimbledon titles, that is 8.
Like various sports players, Djokovic is not left behind in having unusual traditions. The Serbian crouches down low toward the ground and then eats grass from the court after winning the championship. He has been doing this ever since his first victory in 2011. After defeating Rafael Nadal, he knelt down to taste the court’s surface.
Novak Djokovic literally eats the grass at Wimbledon to celebrate his insane victory. Greatest tennis match I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/Z36SCYFFbm
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) July 14, 2019
When people asked the reason behind his peculiar tradition, Djokovic said he didn’t know how to convey his emotions and triumph and tasted the grass in a spontaneous decision. He added that it tasted “very, very good.”
That spontaneous decision then became a tradition, as he never misses eating the grass after winning the championship. He only repeats this tradition at Wimbledon and not at other grass courts.
Novak Djokovic and his Balkan tradition for good luck
Superstitions are deeply ingrained in the brains of many players, and they affect the player’s performance and psychological health. These superstitions range from wearing lucky charms to adhering to rigid pre-game rituals. Some of the most talented and admired athletes follow odd rituals, beliefs, and practices. They might not have anything to do with how well they perform on the court, yet they are followed rigorously.
The 36-year-old has always been an advocate and representative of his country. Djokovic hails from Serbia, which was formerly Yugoslavia. Serbia is a part of the Balkan Region, which is in southeastern Europe. The Balkan region is enriched with historical and geographical definitions.
Djokovic, who has always respected and celebrated his traditions and culture, was recently seen following a Balkan tradition for good luck.
Djokovic leaving for Wimbledon this morning…
‘According to folk belief [in Balkan Peninsula countries], spilling water behind the person who goes on a journey or to do a job will bring good luck, and is done so that the travel or the job will end happily’ 🍀
(h/t @frani23121) pic.twitter.com/6xhjfvYTRz
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) July 16, 2023
Important Balkans tend to spill water behind you as a good luck charm for delaying work or travel when departing or going somewhere. In an online video, people who appeared to be Djokovic’s family or teammates were seen spilling water as they traveled to Wimbledon in preparation for today’s final.