The U.S. Open is underway, and Novak Djokovic is chasing his 25th major title. For two decades, he has carved out a résumé that would make him the frontrunner in any debate about the greatest men’s tennis player of all time. He has won more than one hundred singles titles. He has won a record seven year-end championships and placed second on that front twice. Djokovic is only man to win a triple Career Grand Slam. And, last year in Paris, he won an Olympic gold medal to cement the story.
Yet for all his victories, Djokovic remains one of the sport’s most polarizing figures. He’s been booed on center courts around the world—even at Wimbledon, the cathedral of tennis. Djokovic, though, has long since learned how to play through the noise. “I focus on the respectful people,” he said at Wimbledon last year. “I’ve played in much more hostile environments—trust me, you can’t touch me.”
This is where the story takes an unexpected turn. Because while the crowd may be divided about Djokovic, the next generation of tennis players is not. They’re lining up to learn from him.
Consider Aryna Sabalenka, the top women’s player in the world and a three-time Grand Slam champion. She says just talking with Djokovic is like opening a fire hydrant of wisdom. “If you give Novak the opportunity to talk, he’s not going to stop,” Sabalenka said about talking to Djokovic. “I wish I could stay there for four hours and just keep chatting.”
Or Olga Danilovic, Djokovic’s mixed doubles partner at this year’s U.S. Open. Djokovic didn’t just agree to play alongside her; he invited her to train at his center in Belgrade. For Danilovic, sharing the court with him is more than just a career highlight; it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
“For the mixed doubles and playing with Novak, I think it was one of the best moments in my career. When he did the volley, when the match was finished, so many emotions through me. Just feeling proud of myself, how I hanged in doubles. It’s not easy. It’s my first time playing mixed, first time with Novak. As I said on court, bucket list done,” Danilovic said.
And then there’s Jakub Mensik. In 2022, he got a call from an unfamiliar Serbian number. On the other end was Djokovic himself, offering unsolicited but precise tips on how to elevate his game. Mensik’s coach later said, “We had closed doors in front of us, Novak opened them.”
Djokovic recently offered some of the reasons he is so passionate about helping his fellow players. “When I was younger, I was looking for that from the players that I was looking up to,” Djokovic said. “Some were more daring or caring to share, and some not.
“If they need a call about anything, because I feel like that’s what I owe to the game,” he added.
This is mentorship at its highest level. Djokovic knows titles and trophies build a legacy—but so does investing in those who will come after you.
Doug Flaig, the CEO of Stratus Building Solutions and a member of the Forbes Business Council, recently offered some sharp insights on the benefits of mentorship, including sharing knowledge, building confidence, and developing leaders. He also gave some valuable advice on how to build a mentorship program at your business.
“The power of mentorship lies in its ability to transform individuals, organizations and even industries. By investing in the growth of young professionals, mentors leave a legacy of leadership that extends far beyond their tenure,” Flaig wrote. “As the business world continues to evolve, mentorship remains a timeless strategy for building the next generation of leaders—and ensuring a future where growth, innovation and success thrive.”
Djokovic gets that and he is helping ensure that the sport he is so passionate about is in better shape when he retires than when he started his illustrious career.
Business leaders should take note. Results matter. Wins matter. But enduring influence comes from the time you spend pouring into others—those who will one day take the stage when you’re no longer holding the mic.
Djokovic’s story offers three lessons that transcend sports:
- Ignore the Noise: Every leader faces critics. The ability to tune them out and stay focused on mission is a competitive edge.
- Lift as You Climb: True greatness isn’t measured in what you achieve but in how you elevate others along the way.
- Legacy Is Shared: A career ends. A company changes hands. What lasts is the investment you make in people.
Djokovic is still winning matches—he kept his perfect first-round U.S. Open streak alive on Sunday despite battling blisters—but the scoreboard might not tell the full story of his impact. His most important victories may never be etched into record books. They’ll show up instead in the lives of those he mentors, and in the sport he’s determined to leave better than he found it.
That’s the kind of legacy every business leader should chase.