Nikola Gnjatovic was born on September 15, 1979 in Belgrade, then Capital of Yugoslavia, current Serbia, where he is famous nothing more and nothing less than Novak Djokovic. Chico was interested in tennis and had family support to do so. The results came at an early age and it was thought that he could be the best tennis player of the next litter, but everything would be truncated later and would not show his potential. It should be noted that it is from the same litter as Ivo Karlovic and Ivan Ljubicic, just one year older than Marath Safin and two than Roger Federer.
His beginnings in tennis
In 2023, Nikola Gnjatovic spoke with the Serbio Sportal and reported how his beginnings were in tennis and who faced him: “Dragan Serer, my first coach, proposed to go to the Pocec tournament and it was a brave decision, because I also won that tournament and that made Goran Bubanj take me to the party. There I was national champion with less than 10 years ahead of names such as Ivo Karlovic or Ivan Ljubicic”.
In addition, he added: “Until 18 years I was Serbia champion at all ages and won in the training of Nenad Zimonjic, three years older than me. But in the party they did not help me achieve a professional contract and went to the Red Star and there I was U-18 champion with only 16 years”.
Davis Cup and Victoria against Federer
The Serbian, who is currently 45 years old, recalled his foray into the Yugoslav team of Davis Cup: “I played to Serbia in the Davis Cup against Türkiye and Morocco with Tipsarevic, Vemic and Tosic. I became the sparring of Jelena Jankovic and signed a contract with Head, which also sponsored Goran Ivanisevic”.
Also, his training with Roger Federer: “Before that I had won Marath Safin and Fernando González in my youth stage and won Roger Federer in training”It should be noted that Gnjatovic was born in 1979, Marath Safin and Fernando González in 1980, while Roger Federer is 1981.
Federer EN 2002. (Photo: Getty).
Heroine ruined his career
“I received a Contract to be a coach at the Brcko Prohema Club in Bosnia. There I work with a colleague and friend who was addicted to drugs, but I didn’t know at that time. I consumed heroin for the first time with 21 years. There began my hell. I indebted myself, I got hooked on drugs and started stealing to achieve my dose”Said Gnjatovic.
In addition, he added: “I tried to continue playing tennis, but I didn’t put my family. If it weren’t for the heroine, it would have been another novak djokovic”.
Djokovic en 2006. (Photo: Getty).
The stigma that could not overcome
Nikola Gnjatovic feels stigmatized for his past with drugs and tells him raw: “Many former players and colleagues tell the parents of the children to whom I train that I am a former process and that they should not give me their children to teach them tennis. I never, even in the most difficult moments, I have trafficked with drugs or give them to Ninungún Niño. I would prefer to cut a hand before!”.
Nikola Gnjatovic EN 2019.
“I have never forgotten tennis. I know how to recognize a child with talent and, unlike ninety percent of the coaches, if I see that a child has no talent for tennis, I tell their parents and I do not lie to them, ”concluded former Serbian tennis player.
See too
He was born in a millionaire family, it was Top 10 in the world, he beat Federer in Roland Garros and irritated Nadal
See too
It was Top 10 of the world and was against the increase of money in the awards: “The people you pay are not your friends”
