Serbia's rise to tennis powerhouse

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EDITION:  INTERNATIONALU.S.MÉXICOARABICTV:  CNNiCNN en EspañolSet edition preferenceSign upLog in//Event.observe(window, 'load', function() {//$('hdr-search-box').focus();//});#hdr-editions a { text-decoration:none; }#cnn_hdr-editionS { text-align:left;clear:both; }#cnn_hdr-editionS a { text-decoration:none;font-size:10px;top:7px;line-height:12px;font-weight:bold; }#hdr-prompt-text b { display:inline-block;margin:0 0 0 20px; }#hdr-editions li { padding:0 10px; }#hdr-editions ul li.no-pad-left span { font-size:12px; }.hdr-arrow-intl, .hdr-arrow-us, .hdr-arrow-us2 { left:148px; }.hdr-arrow-us2 { left:180px; }HomeVideoWorldU.S.AfricaAsiaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastMoneyWorld SportEntertainmentTechTraveliReport/* STORY PAGE SPECIFIC CSS */.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr { background:#fff url('http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/mosaic/bg_speccov_hdr.gif') 0px 0px repeat-x; }.cnn_stryspcvh1 { position:relative; height:74px;background:transparent url('http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/ssi/story/3.0/banner/intl.ontheroad.serbia.inc/ontheroad.serbia.jpg') 50% -1px no-repeat;overflow:hidden; }.cnn_stryspcvh2 { font:bold 10px/12px arial;color:#666;padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspcvh3 { font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; font-size:18px; line-height:21px; }.cnn_stryspcvh4 { position:absolute; z-index:1000; float:left;margin:30px 0 0 10px;display:inline; }.cnn_stryspcvh5 { float:right;margin:30px 10px 0 0;display:inline;text-align:right; }.cnn_stryspcvh20 { padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspccvrgebot { height:3px; background:#e6e6e6; }.cnn_stryspccvh6 { width:100%; height:74px; text-align:center; left:0; }.cnn_stryspccvh6 a { display:block; margin:0 auto; width:451px; height:74px; } Part of complete coverage onOn The Road: SerbiaSHARE THISPrintEmailMore sharingRedditStumbleUponDelicious/* push in config for this share instance */cnn_shareconfig.push({"id" : "cnn_sharebar1","url" : "http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/19/world/europe/serbia-tennis-powerhouse/index.html","title" : "\'Serb and volley\': Serbia\'s rise to tennis powerhouse"});'Serb and volley': Serbia's rise to tennis powerhouseFrom Paula Newton, CNNDecember 19, 2014 -- Updated 1131 GMT (1931 HKT)window.CNN = window.CNN || {};(function setupContentMeta(ns) {ns.ContentMetadata = ns.ContentMetadata || {};ns.ContentMetadata.pageTopGallery = {};}(CNN));if (typeof cnnArticleGallery=="undefined"){var cnnArticleGallery={};if(typeof cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=="undefined"){cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=[];}}var expGalleryPT00=new ArticleExpandableGallery();expGalleryPT00.setImageCount(11);expGalleryPT00.setAdsRefreshCount(3);//cnn_adbptrackpgalimg("Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars", 1);.cnn_html_slideshow_metadata > .cnn_html_media_utility::before{color:red;content:'>>';font-size:9px;line-height:12px;padding-right:1px}.cnnstrylccimg640{margin:0 27px 14px 0}.captionText{filter:alpha(opacity=100);opacity:1}.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:visited,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:link,.captionText a,.captionText a:visited,.captiontext a:link{color:#004276;outline:medium none}.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{margin:0 auto;padding-right:68px;width:270px}Belgrade-born Novak Djokovic, the world's number one male tennis player, is the poster boy for Serbia's recent athletic resurgence.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":true,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":1,"title":"Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars"}In July, 27-year-old Djokovic won his seventh grand slam title after beating Roger Federer in a five-set Wimbledon thriller.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":2,"title":"Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars"}Djokovic celebrates after a historic win against Gael Monfils at the Davis Cup tennis match finals between Serbia and France in December 2010.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":3,"title":"Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars"}A former world number one, Ana Ivanovic claimed the 2008 French Open at just 20 years old. After years of injury-related problems, she's recently returned to the elite of female tennis -- the 27-year-old Serbian athlete is the current world number five. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":4,"title":"Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars"}Ivanovic has known compatriot Djokovic since they were four-year-olds and the pair went on to play in junior tennis competitions together. They have also represented Serbia in doubles in the past.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":5,"title":"Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars"}Ivanovic became a UNICEF National Ambassador for Serbia in September 2007, while she has also gone on to appear on the cover of a number of magazines around the world such as FHM, Grazia, Vanity Fair and Cosmopolitan. Last year, Forbes rated her as the ninth highest-paid female athlete in 2013 with total earnings of $7 million -- largely thanks to lucrative sponsorship deals. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":6,"title":"Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars"}Currently the world number 11, Jelena Jankovic is the second highest ranked Serbian behind Ivanovic. The 29-year-old is also a former number one. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":7,"title":"Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars"}At 38, Nenad Zimonjic (center) has enjoyed a long and winning singles and doubles career, including Davis Cup victories for Serbia on home turf. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":8,"title":"Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars"}"In the past, we didn't have that much success in individual sports but it turned out to be that our generation was maybe the beginning of something new -- you know to have world number ones, for such a small country, it was amazing," says the father of two.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":9,"title":"Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars"}A four times ATP World Tour title winner, Janko Tipsarevic reached his career high in April 2012 when he rose to world number eight. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":10,"title":"Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars"}

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Ivana Jorovic is an up-and-coming Serbian tennis sensation and a former world junior number one. "We are really strong people and I think that is what makes us so special," says the 17-year-old.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":11,"title":"Meet Serbia\'s tennis superstars"}HIDE CAPTIONMeet Serbia's tennis superstarsMeet Serbia's tennis superstarsMeet Serbia's tennis superstarsMeet Serbia's tennis superstarsMeet Serbia's tennis superstarsMeet Serbia's tennis superstarsMeet Serbia's tennis superstarsMeet Serbia's tennis superstarsMeet Serbia's tennis superstarsMeet Serbia's tennis superstarsMeet Serbia's tennis superstars<<<1234567891011>>>Event.observe(window,'load',function(){if(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined'){cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image,"'Serb and volley': Serbia's rise to tennis powerhouse");}});STORY HIGHLIGHTSSerbia has produced in recent years a string of tennis superstarsNovak Djokovic is currently the world's number one male tennis playerThe rise of the country's tennis champions has created a halo effect in SerbiaEditor's note: CNN's On the Road series brings you a greater insight into the customs and culture of countries across the world. Until the end of December CNN International explores the places, people and passions unique to Serbia. Read CNN's special reports policy.

(CNN) -- Grand slam triumphs, world number one rankings, Olympic medals -- Serbia, a country of just over seven million people, has defied crushing odds and financial difficulties to emerge in recent years as an unlikely tennis powerhouse.

Undeniably, the Serbian tennis rise -- dubbed "Serb and Volley" by some observers -- is led by Novak Djokovic.

var currExpandable="expand13";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.network='cnnintl';mObj.source='international/2014/12/18/spc-otr-serbia-tennis-djokovic.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/on-the-road/serbia';mObj.lgImage="C:\Program Files (x86)\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\InulPoker Sleeping\CNN Europe\141218121013-spc-otr-serbia-tennis-djokovic-00020419-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand13Store=mObj;Meet Serbia's tennis sensationsThe 27-year-old, known affectionately as Nole, is currently the world's top seeded tennis player, a title he's holding for the third time in the last four years. Last July, he beat Swiss supremo Roger Federer in a thrilling Wimbledon final to win his seventh grand slam title.

But it's not just Djokovic. Over the last few years, the Balkan country has produced a string of global male and female tennis superstars -- from former world number ones Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic to singles and doubles champion Nenad Zimonjic.

"I think generally we're very talented athletes, it doesn't matter which sport," says Zimonjic, 38.

"In the past, we didn't have that much success in individual sports but it turned out to be that our generation was maybe the beginning of something new -- you know to have world number ones, for such a small country, it was amazing."

Novak Djokovic celebrates after securing the 2014 Paris Masters title on Sunday 2 November 2014.Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images/fileThe phenomenal rise of the sport's profile has created a halo effect in Serbia, not just for its tennis talent but the whole country.

var currExpandable="expand18";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.network='cnnintl';mObj.source='international/2014/12/15/spc-otr-serbia-belgrade-tour-drone.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/on-the-road/serbia';mObj.lgImage="C:\Program Files (x86)\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\InulPoker Sleeping\CNN Europe\141215152426-spc-otr-serbia-belgrade-tour-drone-00025129-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand18Store=mObj;The perseverance of BelgradeSerbia is still trying to recover from the devastation of the Balkan war in the 1990s. Since the dark days of the conflict, the country has sought to find equilibrium for an economy that was subject to years of mismanagement, suffered infrastructure damage during NATO bombings and endured extended economic sanctions.

Yet, despite the limited financial backing and crumbling facilities, Serbia's tennis future still looks bright as a new generation of young athletes is determined to follow on the footsteps of their compatriot superstars.

"We are really strong people and I think that is what makes us so special," says 17-year-old Ivana Jorovic, a former world junior number one.

"We need to do everything alone without any help because we are really a small country. It's hard but in the other way it's really nice because that makes you really strong," she continues. "You have to do everything the best if you want to beat someone from America."

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