Searching for Novak: The man behind the enigma

by Mark Hodgkinson

Overview

'A fantastic and fascinating exploration of the life of a great champion... Full of compelling insight.' - Tom Hiddleston

'This book captures the deep complexities in Novak's mind and his life and how he's dealt with them in a thoughtful, soul-searching way.' - Chris Evert

'A fascinating insight into the greatest tennis player of all time.' - Evening Standard tennis correspondent, Matt Majendie

'An absorbing insight into the story behind the greatest player of all time.' - The Times tennis correspondent, Stuart Fraser

'Mark Hodgkinson goes memorably deep on Novak Djokovic - from his hard-luck beginnings to his gluten-free diet to his unorthodox mind - helping us better understand one of the most fascinating figures in sports.' - Christopher Clarey, author of The Master

'Meticulously-researched, this is a go-to book for anyone who wants to get a real insight into what has made Novak Djokovic such a champion.' - Simon Cambers, author of The Federer Effect

No man or woman has won more Grand Slam singles titles than Novak Djokovic, who took his 24th major at the 2023 US Open. Based on fresh interviews with people close to Djokovic - including his friends and mentors, along with his former coaches and his rivals - this is an in-depth exploration of the psyche of one of the most fascinating and controversial sporting characters ever. From a bomb shelter in Belgrade to an immigration detention centre in Melbourne, and everywhere in between, this book uncovers his relentless pursuit of perfection and the unconventional beliefs that have propelled him to greatness.

Rage. Forgiveness. Shame. Pride. Love. Searching for Novak examines the psychological and emotional side of rewriting tennis history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781788405164
Publisher:	Mobius
Publication date:	08/06/2024
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 6.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Mark Hodgkinson, a former Daily Telegraph sports journalist, is known for his compelling biographies of Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Serena Williams. He's ghostwritten for Lawrence Okolie, Robbie Williams, Bjorn Borg, and Martina Navratilova. He's collaborated on two fitness books with Daniel Craig, Tom Hiddleston, and their trainer Simon Waterson, one of which became an Amazon bestseller. Additionally, Mark has authored a bestselling book for Naomi Osaka's coach, Sascha Bajin, and has worked with performance psychologist Charlie Unwin and former Marine Nick Goldsmith. Outside of writing, Mark consults for international sports brands in Europe, the United States, and Japan.

Editorial Reviews

07/15/2024

In this mostly successful account, biographer Hodgkinson (Ivan Lendl) traces the life of Serbian tennis champion Novak Djokovic. After starting tennis lessons at age five, in 1992, Djokovic was immediately recognized for his preternatural focus and dedication, and his parents shelled out for lessons they could scarcely afford in the hopes that he would strike it big. Their sacrifice paid off; Djokovic eventually won 24 Grand Slam men’s singles titles and spent “more than 400 weeks as the world number one.” Hodgkinson provides enlightening analysis of Djokovic’s technique, explaining that the athlete’s economical movements help him conserve energy and he has an “ability to redirect and change the direction of the point” without providing any “visual clues about what he’s about to do.” Elsewhere, the author explains that Djokovic’s attraction to New Age spiritualism began in 2010 after an alternative medicine practitioner turned his faltering career around by suggesting his sluggishness stemmed from gluten intolerance, leading Djokovic to embrace outside the box thinking in his personal and professional life. Unfortunately, the brief treatment of Djokovic’s politics raises troubling questions Hodgkinson fails to answer. For example, he notes that Djokovic has been photographed consorting with war criminals from the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s without further commenting on what such associations reveal about his political outlook. This doesn’t have all the answers, but there’s enough here to satisfy curious fans. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

'A fantastic and fascinating exploration of the life of a great champion... Full of compelling insight.'—Tom Hiddleston

'This is a terrific book. Mark Hodgkinson has spoken to those who really know and get Novak. This book captures the deep complexities in Novak's mind and his life and how he's dealt with them in a thoughtful, soul-searching way.'—Chris Evert

‘An excellent read - I learned so much about the great man.’

—John Lloyd, former British number one

‘Fascinating, excellent.'

—The Times chief sportswriter Owen Slot:

‘Excellent.’

—The Sun

‘The Novak Djokovic story was crying out for high-class biographical study - and here it is.’

—Paul Hayward, sportswriter and author

‘As someone who has met and interviewed Djokovic, and spent hours listening to him in press conferences and watching him play, Hodgkinson’s portrayal of him rings true to me. He’s a likable, respectful guy in person, who tries his best to meet other people on equal terms, and to listen to them. For anyone who has doubts about that, Searching for Novak may give you a reason to give the GOAT another chance before he waves goodbye.’ 

—Steve Tignor, senior writer for Tennis.com

‘An outstandingly well-researched biography of one of sport’s finest ever athletes. Searching for Novak is a deep dive into all aspects of Djokovic's career and what drove him to reach the summit of tennis.’
 —Tennis broadcaster Nick Lester

From the Publisher