Novak Djokovic may be the World No. 6 and 24-time Grand Slam champion, but at home, he’s simply “Dad.” And it turns out that his son, Stefan, is just as much a tennis fan as the thousands watching from the stands at Wimbledon.
After his latest victory at the All England Club, Djokovic was asked about a moment spotted earlier in the week. Apparently, his young son was wearing one of his signature white hats, completely covered in autographs from ATP and WTA stars.
“Your son Stefan was wearing one of your white hats and it was covered in player autographs. Are you helping him get those? Who’s he got?” a reporter asked during Djokovic’s post-match press conference.
Djokovic shared the story behind the hat, and it seems like the autographs are collected quite independently.
“Most of them, he’s been independently approaching and asking for autographs,” he said. “I think I might have asked only Jannik [Sinner] or someone. Everyone else he’s approached himself.”
Stefan, now ten years old, often accompanies his father to tournaments. However, despite having one of the greatest tennis players of all time at home, he’s been enjoying the fan experience.
“He even got a chance to play with Cobolli, my next opponent. They hit a few days ago. He’s over the moon. He loves tennis,” Djokovic added.
The highlight of the story? Stefan has nearly every big name in the game signed on that hat — except for his father.
“He has everyone’s signature except mine,” Novak laughed. “But that’s okay. I’ll accept that.”
The moment went viral on social media, eliciting a plethora of reactions online. Djokovic’s relationship with his children has been a recurring theme throughout his recent seasons. Stefan has been spotted mimicking his father’s warm-ups, practicing on adjacent courts, and sitting in the player box during key matches.
As Djokovic prepares to face Italian player Flavio Cobolli in the next round. Interestingly enough, Cobolli is the same player who recently practiced with Stefan.
With that being said, the bond between father and son is built not just on legacy, but on love for the sport. And while Stefan might be missing one key autograph, he’s already got the most adorable connection.