SAT . “WE CAME WITHIN INCHES OF LOSING HER.” — A FAMILY’S WEEK THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Last week, life nearly shattered for Novak Djokovic and his family.
In an emotional message shared with fans, the tennis champion revealed that they came “within inches” of losing the person who means the most to him — his mother, affectionately known as “the shuffler.”
There are moments, he wrote, that stop you in your tracks. Sitting in a hospital room, watching someone you love fight to come back, has a way of stripping life down to its bare essentials. Titles fade. Trophies blur. The noise disappears.
What remains is love.
Djokovic spoke openly about the power of prayer, saying that countless prayers were lifted, waves of love were sent, and — by the grace of God — his mother is still here. The experience, he shared, was a stark reminder of how fragile life truly is and how quickly everything can change.
“Don’t wait,” he urged. “Don’t assume tomorrow is promised.”
Even in the aftermath of surgery, his mother’s spirit remained intact. In what he called “true Novak fashion,” she had him laughing — a little groggy, a little loopy, but still herself. A reminder, perhaps, of exactly where he gets his resilience and humor.
As she continues her recovery, Djokovic asked for continued prayers.
Because sometimes the biggest victories don’t happen on a court.
They happen in a hospital room — when love refuses to let go. 🙏
