Novak Djokovic has detailed his self-imposed chocolate ban that helped him reach the pinnacle of tennis. The 38-year-old is the most successful men’s player in history, having won a record-extending 24th Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open.
Djokovic entered his first Grand Slam way back in 2005 as he fell at the first hurdle at the Australian Open. It took the Serbian another three years to get his hands on a Major title as he overcame Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 2008 edition of the same tournament. He has since tasted success at Melbourne Park another nine times and has landed the Wimbledon title on seven occasions. Meanwhile, the star has lifted the US Open trophy four times and is a three-time French Open champion.
Djokovic took on Rafael Nadal in the final of the 2012 Australian Open as the Serbian went in search of his fifth Grand Slam title.
The match proved to be an all-time classic, with Djokovic ultimately coming out on top in the fifth set after almost six hours of play.
The champion then allowed himself to eat some chocolate for the first time in 18 months in the aftermath of his victory. But even then, the amount of chocolate he consumed was limited.
Djokovic explained: “How much discipline? In January 2012, I beat Nadal in the finals of the Australian Open.
“The match lasted five hours and fifty-three minutes – the longest match in Australian Open history, and the longest Grand Slam singles final in the Open Era. Many commentators have called that match the single greatest tennis match of all time.
“After I won, I sat in the locker room in Melbourne. I wanted one thing – to taste chocolate. I hadn’t tasted it since the summer of 2010.
“[My close friend and physio] Miljan [Amanovic] brought me a candy bar. I broke off one square – one tiny square – and popped it into my mouth, let it melt on my tongue. That was all I would allow myself. That is what it has taken to get to No. 1.”
Djokovic enjoyed more than a decade as tennis’ top player as he won Grand Slam after Grand Slam between the start of 2011 and the end of 2023.
But his powers have since waned, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner now the players to beat.
And Djokovic, who was knocked out at the semi-final stage at every Grand Slam this year, will be hoping to topple the blockbuster duo when the 2026 Australian Open gets underway in mid-January.