Novak Djokovic continues to fascinate the tennis world, both with his dominance on the court and his candidness off it. The legendary 24-time Grand Slam champion, now 38, recently appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored, where his words drew headlines and sparked further conversation about his family and competitive fire.
Novak Djokovic Wouldn’t Let His Son Beat Him
Djokovic has always spoken openly about the importance of family in his career, especially his connection to his son Stefan. With Stefan growing increasingly passionate about tennis, the Serb has described how his son follows his matches closely, even pressing to travel with him to tournaments.
The English broadcaster was very well aware of this special bond between the Serb and his son, and during the show, Morgan posed a playful question: if Djokovic ever played his son professionally, would he let him win? Djokovic replied with classic directness and humor:
“Oh, no. I don’t want, No, I wouldn’t want that. Of course, I wouldn’t let him beat me. I would kick his *beep*”
These remarks have quickly become viral, as they reveal the humorous as well as competitive side of Djokovic regarding his family.​
Despite wanting to travel with Djokovic, school commitments have kept Stefan from joining his father in China for the Shanghai Masters this year. Djokovic commented, “Yeah, well, my son, he plays tennis more, and so he follows what’s going on. He was really insisting on traveling with me to China. He wants to travel with me everywhere, but he has to go to school, and it’s not that simple. But he’s really in love with tennis and the sport.”
Djokovic and Morgan had a complex history, with the Englishman publicly criticising the Serb during the 2022 Australian Open, when he was deported from the country. Morgan gave him many names, including “Covid rule cheat,” “immigration form liar,” and “anti-vaxxer icon,” all while celebrating Djokovic’s deportation on social media.
However, his tone shifted dramatically during last year’s Wimbledon Championships as Djokovic was visibly frustrated and walked out of a BBC interview. He publicly defended the 24-time Grand Slam Champion, stating he “deserves way more respect” and invited him for an interview, where he would treat him properly.
Morgan began the program by acknowledging past criticisms, issuing an on-air apology for his 2022 comments, where he accused Djokovic of bending rules regarding the Australian Open vaccination mandates. The interview steered away from controversy, giving Djokovic space to reflect on his career twilight and doubts about new rivals.
Still, the friction between Morgan and Djokovic’s public image lingers, especially for fans who remember the tense debates during the pandemic era.​
