"Novak Djokovic MADE IN SERBIA" by goga4444

This is the article form Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/588/story/60401.html

By DAN LE BATARD
dlebatard@MiamiHerald.com

The mechanical precision of what they do can make tennis players appear like grunting robots. Some, such as Serena Williams, wear costumes to let out their inner flamboyance. Others, such as Rafael Nadal, spice their playing style with Latin emotion. But we can't get a very clear picture of their personalities while they are at the height of competition. Our view is obstructed, the tennis court's lines confining in an environment where the etiquette demands control of even the timing of crowd noise.

So it was that Novak Djokovic, a champion now, didn't start revealing himself as a star until after his final flawless shot of this tournament.

He was good enough to be the best in the overwhelming three sets before that. But then he somehow got better.

There are certain moments inside and outside of sports when you know you are witnessing an arrival.

Ricky Martin made himself with a gyrating performancing at the Grammys, introducing himself to America in a way that echoed. Dwyane Wade announced himself in his first playoff run, by knocking out New Orleans with game-winners and then dunking on Jermaine O'Neal's braids. Miguel Cabrera hit a game-ending homer to center field in his first major-league game at 20, and then, for added emphasis, hit an opposite-field home run just after Roger Clemens had knocked him down in the World Series.

Djokovic (pronounced ''Wow!'') arrived kind of like that Sunday. On a sun-soaked stage beside the sparkling water in Key Biscayne, surrounded by a moneyed crowd that had come here via everything from limousines to bicycles, Djokovic finished with the tennis and then started on his breakout performance.

JOYOUS CELEBRATION

He fell on his back. He hugged his opponent, then ran up the stadium steps, into the crowd, and hugged his family and coach, too (mom has to have pretty cool video of it, the champion running toward her as she held a camcorder).

Djokovic stripped off his shirt and then threw it into all the applause. Then he grabbed his racquet and went from one end of the court to the other, asking for more noise like Hulk Hogan summoning all the Djokovic-niacs, loudest section gets a champion's killer weapon. Prince's Let's Go Crazy washed over the purple court as Djokovic gave this sport what it doesn't have with all of Roger Federer's droning greatness -- a noisy blast of youthful fun.

That wasn't the impressive part, though. No, that came when he was handed a microphone. Jerry Seinfeld used to joke about how much humans fear public speaking, polls showing that people fear it more than death. In other words, Seinfeld said, somebody would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy.

And here, at 19, was the youngest male champion in this tournament's history about to speak to the largest crowd in tournament history in his second language. It is one thing to be confident about your game while playing in front of a lot of people. The game is not frail, vulnerable, insecure. It is another thing entirely for a teenager to address a lot of gawking people while he is at the center of the stage at his moment of greatest joy.

HE BELONGS

But, with uncommon poise and personality, Djokovic said all the right things -- praising his opponent with grace first, thanking the tournament sponsors next. He admired Canas' Argentine fans for their passion and thanked those who waved Serbian flags for him. Then, as punctuation, he professed gratitude for his support system.

You could practically feel little girls thinking, ''He's cute,'' and adults whispering, ''I like him.'' We have seen actors winning Oscars, grown-ups with experience in front of cameras and crowds, blow the hyperventilating speech after their moment. Djokovic -- again, in his second language -- spoke with the confidence of someone who knew he belonged here, at the top of his sport.

This was no fluke, either. The kid can play, and he will get better. He beat Nadal, who was playing very well, in straight sets earlier in the tournament. And then Sunday, he wiped the court with The Guy Who Beat The Guy. Guillermo Canas is the only person in the world to beat Federer the past two times he has played him.

Djokovic was making an announcement as the buzz settled and the confetti fell and the music blared and he stood atop his sport with that microphone and unusual poise:

Roger?

Can you hear me coming?

Official site of Novak Djokovic

http://www.novak-djokovic.com/english/index.htm