New Djokovic Documentary Explores Career and Mindset

Novak Djokovic, the 39-year-old Serbian tennis champion, is the subject of a new documentary that explores his career, mindset, and the personal costs of his longevity, even as he continues to compete at the highest level. The film, titled "Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter," is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the athlete's life, family, and the childhood experiences that shaped his relentless drive.

Directed by Jason Hehir, known for "The Last Dance," the documentary does not aim to be a comprehensive biography but rather a character study of Djokovic at a crossroads in his life. Hehir explained that the project, which began production in 2023, sought to capture the tennis star in real time, not retrospectively. "We had the opportunity to follow a GOAT in real time and not do it retrospectively," Hehir said. The film delves into Djokovic's upbringing in Belgrade during the NATO bombings of the 1990s, an experience he and his wife, Jelena, say is rooted in unresolved trauma that influences his on-court behavior.

Central to the documentary is the Serbian concept of "Inat," which roughly translates to a force of stubbornness when things...