After appearing at Wimbledon, Sanju Samson reveals inspiration from Novak Djokovic

A riveting performance at the All England Club provided the stage for Sanju Samson to reveal how tennis icon Novak Djokovic serves as a profound source of professional inspiration for athletes across the global sporting landscape. The Indian wicketkeeper-batsman was among the high-profile sporting queens present on Wimbledon’s sun-drenched Center Court on Sunday, July 12.

Samson took part in the men’s singles grand final along with national teammates Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma, as well as former India World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh.

Stepping out in exclusive SW19 cases, Samson turned heads in a sophisticated tailored beige blazer teamed with a sharp collar shirt. The elegant ensemble was complemented by a stylish designer watch and modern sunglasses, which seamlessly connected contemporary fashion with traditional British court etiquette.

In an exclusive interview with JioStar, Samson elaborated on how the 24-time Grand Slam champion continues to transcend his own sport to inspire contemporaries around the world.

“My parents were big fans of Andre Agassi. They told me a lot of stories about him. When we were growing up it was Nadal and Federer and more recently Novak Djokovic. The way he carries himself, on and off the court, is a great inspiration to athletes around the world,” said Samson.

“Being an athlete is not just about what you see on TV. It’s just as much about what you do off the field, how you prepare, how you recover, what mental battles you fight and how you take care of your body and mind. I’ve heard him talk a lot about how he takes care of both his mind and his body, and I think that’s a great learning not only for me, but for athletes around the world.”

Yuvraj Singh, who famously overcame mediastinal seminoma cancer to return to international cricket, echoed Samson’s sentiments, drawing deeply on his own story of resilience.

“The confidence that Djokovic has is impeccable,” Yuvraj remarked. “Every time he didn’t get the crowd’s support, it only fired him up more. There were times when people said he wouldn’t be able to win, but he did. Similarly, people told me I wouldn’t be able to play after cancer, but I came back and got my highest ODI score.”

“The confidence he has, he’s won 24 Grand Slams, it’s unbelievable. He’s still playing at the highest level, getting to semi-finals and finals. It’s amazing that he’s still going. I’m sure the next generation will learn from what he brings to the game. I look at the young generation here, players like Abhishek Sharma and Vaivanshi have become incredibly fast games, Jan Sosnik. Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, their game is played at such a high pace, it’s great to see how the game continues to evolve.”

The evolving nature of this base speed was revealed on Center Court where world number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner retained his Gentlemen’s Singles title. overcome Germany’s Alexander Zverev in a grueling four-set battle6-7(7), 7-7(2), 6-3, 6-4.

It was Sinner himself who had systematically thwarted Djokovic’s historic bid for an eighth Wimbledon title just two days before, dispatching the legendary Serb in a clinical two-set semi-final. Djokovic has now endured a three-year drought since his last Grand Slam triumph at the 2023 US Open.

But despite structural setbacks and the inevitable friction of time, the 39-year-old continues to push the physical limits to defy his age. After battling through four major semi-finals last year, the veteran reached the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne after an epic five-set win over Sinner before falling to the tireless young Italian in the London rematch.

Given its continued longevity in a fast-paced sport, Djokovic recently spoke candidly the inner dichotomy that drives him, describing the unyielding desire to constantly compete at the highest level as both a blessing and a curse.

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Published on:

13 Jul 2026 15:02 IST