A pleasant surprise in tennis has been the rapid ascent of Novak Djokovic. The 20-year-old from Serbia Montenegro has already defeated world #2 Rafael Nadal, reached the semifinals of the French Open and Wimbledon this year. With his all-court game, entertaining court personality, and intelligent tactical sense, the man with the penchant for pulling off his shirt after big wins seems destined to reach number one someday. And that day may come soon "I've always tried to compare myself to the best players in the world," says current world #3 Djokovic. "Because that's what I want to be one day."

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 177

DOB: May 22, 1987 In: Belgrade, Serbia

Childhood Heroes: "Well, Pete Sampras was always my idol. I always liked his game even if I don't have the same game as he has. I liked his attitude and the way he played. The way he act on the court. I like a lot he was concentrated a lot during all the match. And he was playing the best tennis on the very important points during the very important matches. That's what I liked about Pete Sampras. That's why he was always my idol. He finished his tennis career. I'm really sorry that I didn't have still a chance to meet him. And to play with him. But I hope in the next few years I will have a chance to meet him. Of course I always liked Andre Agassi. And I like a lot Federer's game and Safin. Safin is actually playing not same but similar game to mine. Very aggressive and using all the opportunities. And I also had the chance to play against Safin in Australian Open and it was a great moment and great experience actually. My first appearance on the big center court."

Hobbies/Interests: "Soccer and skiing."

Nicknames: "Nole."

Favorite Movies: "Yeah, I'm a movie watcher. I like all kinds of movies, action and thrillers, drama and horror. The favorite one may be Pulp Fiction is one of the best."

Musical Tastes: "I'm a music fan also like everybody. For me it also important the company you have. When you are going out, company that's around you, then you really don't have to pay attention to music so much. I like R&B, house music, I don't like actually Serbian music, our music, so I'm not a big fan of this. So I'm listening to American R&B, hip-hop, reggae, house. I like all kinds. Also classical sometimes, when I need to relax."

Favorite Meal: "As a tennis player I have to eat a lot because I expend a lot of energy. Mostly during the day I'm eating pasta. So this is one of my favorite meals. But I also like a lot of chicken with mashed potatoes and some salad. That's like my favorite [laughs]."

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "Well, I like a lot chocolate. I have to admit that. I like sweets a lot."

Early Tennis Memory: "Yeah, sure, I remember I started when I was four. My father (Srdjan) owns a restaurant (pizza and pancake) in one mountain in our country. And when I was four they were making three tennis courts in front of my restaurant. And I was helping them to make these courts. And I was interested a lot because no one in my family had ever played tennis. My father was professional skier, my mother (Dijana) was also skiing. And he also played soccer and wallyball, also my mother, a lot of different sports, but not tennis. So I was the first to start to play tennis when I was four. The first coach Jelena Gencic, she teach me how to play tennis and how to act on the court. She teach me a lot. This was very important to have a good coach in this period - when I was seven-years-old to 11. And I was really lucky to have her."

Pre-Match Feeling: "Well, I try not to think too much because I want to be focused for the match. Before the match I do the usual warm-up, stretching. I need 30-45 minutes to prepare all the racquets and everything. I'm thinking - mostly I'm speaking with my coach about what tactics we should prepare for this player. Think tactics, strategy, how I should act on the court, what should I use more. These kinds of things. I try not to think too much. I just go out on the court and do my best."

Greatest Sports Moment: "Well, since I just started the professional tennis (in 2004) I had great moments, I don't have exactly the one moment. But I had a few moments that I like. When I reached the top 10 was a really nice feeling. And also on the first time I played on grass. So that's really nice. I like Wimbledon a lot. When I beat Nadal in Miami. This is also one of the big moments."

Most Painful Moment: "Well, I can not say that I really had a painful tennis moment that I wanted to quit tennis or something like that. I hope that I will not have but for sure I will have, like after losing a match when I'm feeling very bad, very nervous. But I never had any really, like, painful moments."

Favorite Tournaments: "I like Wimbledon a lot. And mostly these Grand Slams. And I like to play Umag in Croatia. It's really great because there's a lot of parties, a lot of players hang out together, having fun. So it's great."

Funny Tennis Memory: "I like to watch John McEnroe play. He was really funny on the court. Sometimes so fun when he throws the racquet when he's really nervous. And it was really fun watching Yannick Noah. I like watching the old matches when I was really a baby. And McEnroe was really funny."

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: "Well, I don't have it. Because I just started to play. Well, when I lost to one guy from Serbia actually. It was I think four years ago when I was first in Europe. I lost to this guy and it was really embarrassing. Because everybody expected me to win easily, so."

Closest Tennis Friends: "I'm really in good relationship with everybody. So I'm trying to keep it that way. I'm really good friends with Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic and with Janko Tisparevic - he's from my country. We are going a lot of times to dinner. Very good friends of mine."

Funniest Players Encountered: "I don't know yet. Everybody is funny but I don't put out one."

Toughest Competitors: "Well, maybe Nadal, Federer, (Gael) Monfils. Also Andrew Murray."

People Qualities Most Admired: "Just I like people who have a lot of sense of humor. And who are very honest. I like nice people. Like really honest person who can be good friends of yours. It's really difficult because everywhere you go you meet a lot of people and it's difficult to find your friend. Like real, honest friend. So I have just a couple of friends - girls and boy in my country in my city which I know since I was four. They are really honest friends."

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