0:00
I can show to the world that uh you know, kid from you know, war-torn country can actually be the best in in a sport that is very global.
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0:08
That's what happened but all of these experiences have been there for reason and I I I don't regret anything. I don't pity anything.
0:15
I just feel like that's something that I had to go through.
0:22
And I think it's so beautiful that you are mentoring other Serbian talents and tennis players because I think that's what everyone needs.
0:28
They need a a guiding hand.
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They need someone who's been there. We need to share. That's for Absolutely.
0:33
Yeah, and I think so much of the time we live in this scarcity mindset.
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Even with the deals, people say things like, "Oh, it's good for you right now, but it might not be later.
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So, make the most of it."
0:42
And And then that intention is fueling people's true True.
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you know, greedy mentality.
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Like, "Oh, you've got to do this." is the time. You've got to use it.
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Otherwise, you know, I know.
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I know. I know because I I I've I've been and and still trying to learn how to manage this myself because I have also lots of opportunities and being number one of the world and tennis is a global sport and everything, but you know, I'm I'm kind of going through the this this kind of centering
1:15
process of understanding what I need to, you know, do in order to organize my life better in order to focus on what is the most important, you know, aspect of my existence here, you know, the the the inner peace, you know, the the spiritual growth, the understanding of of self, and and of course the family, the close ones. But, you know, for the for for most of
1:37
But, you know, for the for for most of my career it was all about tennis all the time, you know.
1:40
So, tennis tennis tennis and then my ego plays with me so much.
1:45
I mean, it plays with all of us, you know. Absolutely. Yeah.
1:49
But, you know, it's I I've been I've been thinking firstly that ego is the enemy, but actually now I'm I'm kind of more leaning towards the theory that that ego is is it should be befriended, you know, should be you know, part of your process of thinking, of feeling and and and in this way you're also disarming your ego in a way, right?
2:16
Rather than kind of trying to reject it and then you're creating this and this is so much you know, what we're actually going through in the outside world as well, right? Yeah. And yeah.
2:29
So, let me introduce you and then I'll explain why I did it cuz I think it will make sense.
2:32
Hey everyone, thank you so much for coming back for this very very special episode.
2:37
I'm genuinely so honored and grateful to introduce our next guest.
2:42
Not only is he the number one tennis player in the world, he has 14 Grand Slam titles including four Wimbledons, but on top of all of that, he's extremely spiritual, an incredible healer, transformer, and someone who's doing so much great work in the world.
3:01
I've had the pleasure of getting to know him over Instagram and WhatsApp and today I get to sit down with him for the first time, but he's definitely someone who's attracted me here to Monaco through his energy and through his incredibly humble and graceful spirit.
3:17
So, Novak it is an absolute pleasure with you my friend and I and I feel your energy over WhatsApp and Instagram.
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I feel it in front of you right now and I really believe that we've just been pulled together. So so good.
3:30
I mean, thank you so much for for coming to to see me here.
3:33
I'm I'm really honored and it's as you said you know, social media was the platform through which we established the the first connection, but I feel like you know, watching you uh, and and what you do and and sharing your message.
3:51
I felt connected you with you instantly and your message deeply resonates with me, with people that are close to me and it's it's a dream come true to be with you here today.
4:03
No, you're the sweetest man and and I genuinely feel that when you have a good and anyone who's listening, I highly recommend this.
4:08
If you have a good online connection with someone, take it offline as quick as you can.
4:14
Like turn it into face-to-face and that's what I saw that we were connecting so beautifully.
4:17
I remember one of the first things you said to me was higher forces connecting us.
4:20
Like higher forces are between us getting connected.
4:25
And when you said that to me, I just felt I have to meet you.
4:26
There's no need to keep this relationship online.
4:31
There's no need to just have it here.
4:33
If this is someone who truly believes there's a deeper connection here, let's let's get together. Let's see each other.
4:38
So I'm so grateful that you opened up this opportunity for me to visit you.
4:42
Thank you very much and I'm I'm really grateful that and and genuinely you know, honored that you you guys came all the way from LA.
4:49
You know, it's it's a long trip and and I think we, you know, we all share a common kind of vision and and and compassion for for, you know, for the world and we I think we all interact, you know, with the world in a very similar ways even though we, you know, I'm an athlete uh, but I I don't like to categorize or label myself as an athlete, you know, as society likes. Mhm.
5:16
Um, I think we we expand much more than that.
5:18
And uh, social media and and internet is is great if you use it in the right way.
5:25
So I feel like it's it's a great platform.
5:29
It got us connected and we're here today and and not while ago I've sent you a message on Instagram because I'm I'm your fan.
5:35
I follow, of course, I follow your message and I follow your energy and everything that you've been uh, spreading and and sharing with people.
5:42
So, uh, I'm just happy to to to get deep and talk about you know things that I usually don't get asked on the tennis tournaments.
5:51
So it's it's really exciting. Absolutely. Absolutely.
5:53
And that's what I love about you and that's what I'm excited for everyone who's listening and watching is that you are an athlete, but what I was saying to you earlier is you are so much more and you have so much more to give.
6:03
You've worked so hard on the court.
6:05
But what I love about you is that you're also an inner athlete.
6:09
Like you're doing this inner work.
6:11
And and you've really focused on growing yourself, healing yourself, working on yourself.
6:15
So let's dive into all of that today.
6:16
Make this the interview where you Make this the interview where you get to talk about everything that's important to you and and that's why this podcast actually started.
6:24
I was speaking at an event last year.
6:27
And Tom Brady was speaking before me.
6:30
And he was interviewed by a sports journalist.
6:31
And the conference was actually about building meaningful lives.
6:35
So I was asked to speak about that topic. Tom was speaking before.
6:37
And the interviewer asked him a question and Tom started speaking about his family.
6:43
He started talking about being a father.
6:45
He started talking about all these beautiful values and responsibilities and and how he's growing now that his sports career is is coming to a you know a natural end etc.
6:55
And the sports journalist just said to him they said, "Tom, leave all this soft stuff.
6:59
Let's talk about the sports."
7:02
And and I felt so bad for him because I just felt like he was really trying to open up his heart.
7:08
And the sports journalist was almost just squashing all of that and saying, "Let's just talk about your rings.
7:11
Like let's talk about the medals."
7:12
And so I wanted to build a platform where people like yourself and people from music, media, movies, film, everyone can actually come and talk about your deeper sides and and your real heart.
7:23
So I want you to feel really comfortable to be able to do that today.
7:26
I am very much in your definitely one of the very few people that uh in my life and that I've known you know thus far and and of course uh that I'm following that I can share this message with and I and I I I truly mean that because and and I I I don't mean that in a bad way for the society. I'm not judging.
7:47
I don't like the judgment.
7:48
I don't like the you know the the word hatred or anything like that.
7:50
the word hatred or anything like that. I you know I respect everyone and and we I respect also this kind of moment in time that we as people are you know and our society is where it is with a reason and we just have to go through that stage of development I
8:08
think and and evolution and it took me time to really I feel like come to that understanding in a way because I was also for many years um through my character building process and spiritual development and kind of opening my minds to different dimensions and horizons of of you know self-awareness and self-care. Um I I was just feeling um
8:36
Um I I was just feeling um a lot of times lonely, you know, and and I just felt like the what I was doing was not understood especially in my world.
8:49
And not just understood but it was not accepted which was even worse because then you know, you're labeled as a kind of like a a black sheep, you know, in the herd.
8:58
And and but I still wanted to play tennis and still stay in that in that in that sport in that you know field of life.
9:07
Uh which I have and I'm not you know regretting in contrary I'm so blessed to do what I love.
9:12
I've started playing tennis when I was 4 years old.
9:17
Um and my family did not have any tennis tradition.
9:20
So it was literally a a sign of a destiny.
9:24
Um three tennis courts in front of my parents restaurant in a small mountain place in Serbia called Kopaonik.
9:32
Um my father was a Sorry but giving you a little background of my family.
9:39
Was a professional skier.
9:39
He was a skiing instructor.
9:40
That's how he met my mom on the skiing slope and you know, it's a funny story.
9:44
You know, she kind of like Tell us. Tell us.
9:46
She you know, she she she was skiing and then she fell and then he was there and he's like you need any help?
9:51
I think I I think I can help you and he probably organized the whole thing, you know, but but you know, that's how they met and you know, they they you know, 6 months later they got they got married and I was already my mom was pregnant with me and and then a year later they opened a restaurant in the very mountain where they met and that's the the restaurant was the business that generated the the you know, the budget for our family.
10:16
So we spent a lot of time there because we lived 3 hours by car away in the capital city of Serbia, Belgrade where I I went to school and my two younger brothers have two younger brothers.
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Their names are Marco and Georgia.
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They're one is 4 years old younger than me and the other one is 8 years younger than me.
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than me. And this is like we we talked about you know, my children and and the indigo children and that kind of like a new wave of you know, of energy and consciousness and awareness that we're receiving from above through children that already have
10:47
you know, what we don't have you know, and that's what I see in my brother, you know, and and he's been born with this capacity and ability to just multitask and deal with things so successfully and still be happy and it's it's quite amazing. So you know, going
11:00
So you know, going back to to to my story is you know, I've I've felt that in my world of tennis I just when you are a professional athlete you know, it's all about winning or losing. Right?
11:14
I I just I don't see losing or failure as as such.
11:20
I I I see it as another great lesson.
11:24
Um that awaits for me to learn from.
11:28
Did you always have that even when you were young? No.
11:30
I just as I said, I I I went through my evolution and and uh I was fortunate really that when I started playing tennis, I uh ran into and came across some really really um knowledgeable people uh about tennis and about life.
11:50
In particular um one uh woman and her name is Jelena Genčić.
11:56
Uh she's not with us anymore. She passed away in 2012.
11:58
She was my tennis mother.
12:01
And so my parents uh you know, invested a lot of energy and efforts in in those times during '90s when I was growing up uh uh we had uh two wars.
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We had uh um unfortunately war that broke down the whole Yugoslavian region cuz it was big Yugoslavian country, very strong.
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Uh made of you know, six different states uh I mean, countries that are right now independent.
12:24
I'm coming from one of them which is Serbia.
12:28
And uh and then during '90s from like '91, '92 all the way till 2000, we had embargo.
12:35
Um so people waiting in line for bread and milk and like absolutely most, you know, necessary things and uh then '99, we had in Serbia we had bombings um for 2 and 1/2 months every single day and night. I was there.
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My family was there every single day.
12:55
We woke up every night for 2 and 1/2 months because of the alarm and because of the planes flying over us and it was it was devastating. It was frightening.
13:03
It was uh worst thing that that definitely we you know, we ever experienced uh you know, seeing planes over your head and just dropping bombs in all you know, hospitals and and everything.
13:13
It was just uh terrible terrible.
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Many innocent people died.
13:18
Thankfully I I I didn't lose personally anyone that is very close to me.
13:21
Uh but I know people that lost you know, their loved ones and uh that's a a scar that stays with you forever.
13:28
So, that this memory stays and will stay with me forever, but um at the beginning, I felt like probably most of the people in my country, um I felt I want revenge.
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You know, I felt like, "W- You know, who are these guys to bomb innocent people?
13:50
What the hell is going on?"
13:53
I was 12 years old, and I remember uh I was there day and night, and I I celebrated my 12th birthday during the day because we didn't go to schools, obviously.
14:02
I was just hiding in shelters and everything, and then we just after a week or two hiding in shelters, we just said, "Okay, we're just going to, you know, go about our life."
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And that's it, you know, we don't we're not going to care what happens.
14:16
If, you know, if we're hit, we're hit, you know, what we can do.
14:19
I mean, and so I remember on my 12th birthday, uh kids were singing my friends at the tennis club because we spent a lot of a lot of times playing tennis.
14:30
So, we we didn't go to school, so for us it was great.
14:33
And uh and then we we they were singing the happy birthday song, and then there was a plane flying, and I have this image of my house plane and just kind of dropping bombs everywhere.
14:42
And it was it's terrible, but at the same time the I I've I felt like as as I was kind of growing, you know, inside out as well, I felt, and I think my parents helped me a lot with that, is that they, you know, we can't judge the whole nation or everyone for the actions of certain individuals or certain groups or institutions or whatever that decided to bomb our country and just kill innocent people.
15:15
We can't, you know, judge everyone for that, you know?
15:20
And and that's that's when I kind of like shifted and I just I write, you know, this moment absolutely forgiven everyone and everything that have done that.
15:28
But you cannot forget that.
15:28
You know, you cannot forget that.
15:31
It stays, as I said, as a scar.
15:35
Uh but it has, on a brighter side, brought a lot of value to my life and a lot of appreciation for the value.
15:40
I felt like this experience, I'm so grateful for this experience.
15:45
I truly am because it has helped me to to shape me into the person that I am today, the player, tennis player that I am.
15:52
It has made me hungrier for the success in tennis.
15:56
Made me hungrier to work, train, build myself so I can show to the world that, uh you know, kid from, you know, war-torn country can actually be the best in in a sport that is very global.
16:10
And uh and and so that's that's what happened that all of these experiences have definitely uh been there for a reason and I I I don't regret anything. I don't pity anything.
16:25
I just feel like, "Okay, you know, that's that's my karma.
16:27
You know, that's something that I had to go through and I had to live uh that and and and and if we manage to get through that as not just as a family, but as people, as a nation, you know, there's there's not much that can break you down.
16:43
So, you know, historically, Ser- you know, Serbian people and people in the region have have had a lot of, you know, hard wars and hardships and and and they've been through that.
16:54
So, it's it's really it was really nice to see the the unity with people.
16:58
And I remember one of the I was actually talking the other day with with my brother and my wife about still reflecting on that on that period and what was the strongest image that stayed with us from this bombings of 2 and 1/2 months in '99.
17:12
And one of them for me was, obviously, the one that I explained to you with that with a birthday and shelters, but there was one where I remember uh thousands of people gathering on the bridge, one of the most important bridges in in our city.
17:30
Uh with um shirts uh that that have targets there and everyone painted their heads with tar like like in a in a shape of a target and singing songs and you know kind of just enjoying having fun.
17:46
And in a way showing to the world and to whoever is, you know, uh uh you know, kind of kind of dropping bombs that we are the target, so we are protecting this bridge, we are protecting this this city.
18:00
You know, if you want to crash it, you have to go through us.
18:02
And And it was I think more than that it was just that that that that power of unity, you know, that that energy and that strength that they just showed, their resilience.
18:09
And that was beautiful, you know, in in those moments of of hardship. That's incredible, man.
18:15
That's That's such a I've I've heard you tell that story before.
18:19
like to react from your question.
18:20
no no no no, and I'm glad No, and I've I No no, I'm glad you did because I've heard that story before.
18:25
I'm glad that everyone who hasn't heard that story before has an opportunity now.
18:28
And And the reason why it's so beautiful is because you That's probably like most of the planet does not experience that.
18:35
That's That's pretty extreme. Yes. Right?
18:38
And so for someone like you to come from that extreme and especially what you said, your initial response was revenge.
18:44
For you to be able to transform that revenge into resilience, that's incredible.
18:49
Because it would have been so much easier to just have that pain and have that unforgiveness.
18:52
And so it's a great story that that um uh I've read.
18:59
I'm sure it's quite popular on the social media, everyone is sharing it.
19:04
It was about the snake and the and the saw. Okay.
19:07
I don't know if you've came across it.
19:09
And it's you know, the snake it's a kind of true story, actually.
19:11
The snake came into the, you know, come into this uh shop and um it w- it w- as as it was kind of going and it got caught by the saw and the saw kind of cut it.
19:26
And the snake didn't realize what was happening, so it went to to bite to to Yeah, to bite the saw and it hurt itself even more.
19:36
So, the snake didn't know what was happening, so it started going around the the saw in order to, you know, suffocate it thinking that saw is attacking it.
19:47
So, it was, you know, protecting itself and finally snake died.
19:53
Um and and this kind of translates into life and there's so many times that we get angry or upset, you know, with some people thinking that we want to hurt them because we feel hurt, but in finally we're hurting ourselves.
20:07
And and it was it was such a deep message that I kind of like resonated with really and I think that kind of sums up my evolution in a way and and and uh my growth uh mentally of how, you know, I should deal with these particular circumstances and any events that have been quite uh significant uh in my life and you know, the wars and and those times of, you know, uh hardships were definitely one of the
20:39
most significant uh times of of my life and my career where where I experienced uh what it feels like to literally have $10 in at home in the apartment with with uh you know, for my father and my mother with three children to feed and uh having to wait in the line to get piece of bread for hours and uh and not being able to travel around the world to play tennis uh and tennis is an expensive sport. Absolutely. Um you know, you need money Absolutely.
21:10
Um you know, you need money to pay for the racket, for the tennis balls, for the coach, for the court.
21:17
So, all these things, you know, and and they I think in the end of the day, as I said, it brings it brings light and value to my life because you know, I think going through all of that has made me stronger but at the same time made me more grateful.
21:33
Because I understand the both extremes, so to say, because today I really uh I enjoy so much of uh you know, success in this, you know, society and the sport and I can afford many things and I'm really, really grateful for that and blessed.
21:56
But I've been on the uh the opposite side, so I think that that storyline is is really something that enriches me. Absolutely, man.
22:04
And your your life story is such a beautiful message to the world.
22:07
It's a great message to the world, like it's it's it's incredible and I'm glad that I see when from the way I view it, you you live it like a message, too. It's not about you.
22:15
That's that's what I feel when I'm with you, that it's not about you.
22:18
It's not like I did this.
22:20
It's it's actually a story and a message to the world that, you know, any child, any person who is in such abject conditions can actually transform their lives. Absolutely. Thank thank you. Thank you.
22:32
And I I just feel like, you know, the the message I can share from my experience and I don't want ever for people to feel that I'm preaching or anything like that.
22:39
I just feel like my experience has helped me to reach, you know, certain success, if you want to call it, you know, in in both professional and private uh way is is that there is always time for everything.
22:56
And and, you know, I've I'm learning myself even today how to be patient, how to how to you know, coordinate certain things in my life, how to create space for the biggest uh quality time that I can have with my priorities, which are my family, which is my growth.
23:18
And it's And it's a constant juggle.
23:18
And then you can't You can't I I I truly believe in balance, but I don't believe that we can ever reach a stage and our point where we can say, "I'm in balance." I agree.
23:30
You you can be in balance, but the next moment you're not in balance because that's life and everything is moving. And it's happening.
23:37
So, um so that's that's why I feel like and then through tennis I I've learned my, you know, biggest and hardest lessons in life and I've experienced those those emotions.
23:46
And for me, you know, tennis court is still a field, you know, uh where where I have a chance to grow, really.
23:58
And I I When I'm not on the tennis court, I find it much easier to um accomplish certain things that that I want to on a daily basis.
24:07
But then tennis court I use as exactly that platform that challenges me and challenges my ego.
24:14
So, I have still have, for example, outbursts on the court. I break a racket. I scream. I I I curse.
24:20
I know you don't curse at all and I I admire that.
24:22
Amazing that you took took that. Wow.
24:25
You got to teach me how to do that.
24:27
And uh and and And so, when that happens, instantly I feel like, "Oh my god, why? What What did I do?" You know? And I have two children.
24:35
I have, you know, many children around the world are watching and and and and you know, seeing what you're doing and imitating you in a way.
24:45
So, you're sending that kind of message.
24:47
kind of message. So, I try always to have that in the back of my mind and you know, subconsciously like, "Okay, you know, try to do, you know, what you do best, but do it with dignity, do it with style, do it, you know, with always
24:59
having you know, that kind of inner voice telling you you know, there's you know, thousands, you know, of of children around the world watching you play right now and and absorbing like a sponge every move, everything you say, everything you do. But, it's I still But, it's I still do it.
25:17
I still go through these outbursts.
25:19
And I I I I felt um disappointed with myself for a while. Wow. Because of that.
25:26
I really felt like I was betraying myself.
25:27
I was not managing to uh to do what I intended to do.
25:32
And uh and and then I learned about surrender.
25:38
And uh and then I learned about there is a time for everything in life.
25:41
And uh there is um a reason why we have to take every step of the way in order to reach the top of in whatever way you you you feel that top is is for you.
25:53
And uh and I and then I understood that you know, I have to accept I have to embrace, I have to channel it, and understand that you know, I still have to work, and I have to work all the way till the last day that I that I breathe, and and and and I'm happy with that.
26:12
I I I really feel like I I managed to take that positive leap in that direction.
26:19
What's You You've touched on a few times then I want to dive into it deeply.
26:21
You mentioned success, reaching the top.
26:22
The world sees your success, the world sees your achievements.
26:30
But, in Novak Djokovic's eyes, in your own eyes, what's been your greatest success, your greatest achievement so far? Hm. In your perspective. It's a good question.
26:40
My greatest achievement is my open mind.
26:45
I I feel that with an open-mindedness uh type of you know, perspective and approach to life, you help all the natural processes in yourself to flourish and to excel.
27:04
And you are embracing the natural flow of life where you have to evolve and you have to develop and you have to learn.
27:13
I just I If I have to define it that kind of shortly, I I would say it's it's just open mind because I feel the ignorance and the closed mindness and certain convictions that that people have are so strong that you know, you you go through
27:34
throughout your whole lifetime without really allowing, you know, yourself to open up to the world and learn about all these different cultures and things that can enrich your life and make you feel more fulfilled and live a more fulfilled life. Be more joyful,
27:53
Be more joyful, have that inner peace and emotional balance and stability that we all strive to.
28:02
And and I just feel with an open mind, you're just helping yourself and you're able to receive kind of filter and then, you know, give at the same time because, you know, the Taurus feel everything has to flow.
28:13
So, that's how it flows, but if you don't have an open mind, then obviously, your everything closes up.
28:22
Whether it's health, whether it's, you know, profession, whatever it is in your life, it just kind of feels and I was there. I I I was there.
28:30
I don't want people to think that I I I know it all or whatever.
28:34
I just feel, you know, also that I'm sharing the experiences from my process because I was there as I said.
28:40
I I felt, you know, resentment.
28:41
I felt, you know, feeling of of revenge. I felt hatred.
28:44
I did I felt all of that.
28:47
We all, you know, go through that. We are human beings.
28:49
We, you know, kind of you know, experience those kind of emotions, but I feel with training and repetition and discipline, that's obviously sport has taught me so well, you can really reach anything that you truly want and desire in your life.
29:08
And where did that open-mindedness start?
29:10
Like where did you start to notice that the closed mind was limiting you and the open mind was expanding you?
29:18
very early, to be honest, ever since I kind of wished to play tennis when I was 4 or 5 years old and tennis was never a sport in our family.
29:30
I think it, you know, I kind of helped also my parents to expand, you know, outside of their, in a way, comfort zone and go into the sport or field of life that is completely unknown to them, in a way.
29:44
And I think that, you know, I I I started playing tennis when I was 4 and 1/2, I think, 5 years old and before that I was I was skiing a lot and I I remember even before I started to run, I was already with my dad, you know, skiing.
29:59
He was carrying me and going down the slopes and and so, the first sport for me was skiing. Right.
30:06
And until I was, I think, 9 years old, I didn't really know whether I want to ski or or play tennis.
30:11
I was football, the soccer a little bit there, but it was mostly about skiing or tennis.
30:18
And and then fortunately, I mean, we've been through all this and my father my father asked me, I remember I remember that that day when he sat me down with my mom and he said, I am ready to support anything that you desire to do in your life and I'm here for you.
30:40
You have to tell me if it's sport, okay, and what sport.
30:46
And and I said, okay, give me one minute.
30:47
I needed to and yeah, I mean and then I was thinking and then I said like it didn't take me a long time.
30:57
I thought it I said maybe just a little time to think but then after half an hour I went to him and I said it's tennis.
31:05
And he said, okay, tennis it is.
31:05
And and then I think us kind of getting into this uncomfortable, unknown zone or area or field of life has allowed us to kind of expand all of us and and also having certain mentors and people that have greatly, positively affected me on many levels.
31:33
I've mentioned my tennis mother as I like to call her.
31:36
I've met her when I was I think five, six years old and then I started training with her tennis camp, summer tennis camp that was coming from Belgrade from capital city to Kopaonik, this place in the mountains.
31:48
And then when I was I think six, seven I also started having some private lessons with her in Belgrade while I was, you know, going to school and she was happy to to to play with me because she felt like I was very talented.
32:06
And then she told she told my parents, she said, I really feel like you should try to give your best to support this child to play tennis because I've never seen a bigger talent from than him from Monica Seles, who was, you know, obviously the best tennis player in the world and one of the best female tennis players of all time.
32:25
And she was her coach as well.
32:28
And because Monica was born in Serbia and then she went to to live in States where she is today.
32:32
And and of course my my parents were like, well, if if such a experienced and knowledgeable person about the tennis says that, then, you know, we should try to support our child.
32:45
So, that's what happened, and um I remember I was watching, you know, tennis practices and sessions on the fence. I was climbing.
32:51
I was really really in love with the sport.
32:53
I was very passionate about it.
32:54
And she taught me uh about holistic approach to life, I think. Wow.
32:59
Already back then, when I was 7 8.
33:01
She really taught me how to, you know, think about the grades in the school, the music that I listen to, the mindfulness that I have, the observation, the focus, the kindness, the relationship with people.
33:17
She was working in in a team with my parents.
33:21
And my parents, you know, I'm really grateful for my parents, because they recognized the role of a mentor very early So, they they kind of teamed up with her, and then, you know, I was learning a lot from from from my parents, obviously, and continued to learn, and from from my tennis mother.
33:37
So, that has helped me to, I feel like, be open-minded and and and understand.
33:44
But, I obviously went through my phases, and, you know, through through the process of of learning and those dealing with those emotions.
33:52
Although, I felt when I started traveling by myself, because I was traveling with my my father until I was, I think, 16, and then uh 6 17, I started having my coach, and and and I, you know, I didn't get get too deep in the conversations with my
34:07
dad and with my mom, and I felt there are some subjects and that, you know, I want to talk about, and in especially in, you know, puberty and teenage years, you know, you're you're experiencing so many changes. And and and I was so much in tennis that
34:21
And and and I was so much in tennis that I didn't really have time for for other maybe school activities that they they my fellow friends and, you know, students were going through uh cuz I was so much in tennis uh and and then I I started sharing so much with with my coach.
34:38
I think that I remember my dad was like, "Why don't you share that with me?"
34:43
And I was like, "Because I don't I don't feel that I've I've First of all, I've never shared that that those particular subjects and types of conversations with you and I don't I don't feel we can we we can resonate on that level.
34:59
And and we tried, but we it never worked out.
35:02
So, but he was understanding and that I had also have to have, you know, people that that are close to me and then influence me in different levels.
35:14
And and that's what I feel like it helped me a lot to uh to develop.
35:15
Well, and and one of the things I noticed about you is also and I'd love to get your thoughts on this.
35:22
I feel like it's tough to get to the top, but it seems to be even tougher to get to the top, have a slump or have a moment of challenge, and then try and get back.
35:32
Because you've experienced something. Mhm.
35:34
And it's like I know that you've even credited your wife with her dedication to self-care and your work and what she's trained you or or shared with you in journaling.
35:45
Tell us a bit bit about the process that you've taken to be at the top, have challenges, and then still come back.
35:51
Because everyone's been quoting obviously having the impossible comeback and Mhm.
35:54
But but you made it possible.
35:54
What was happening mentally, spiritually for you not just physically, but what was happening mentally and spiritually for you?
36:02
Well, first of all, to reflect on the impossible word in in the word you have I am possible, right?
36:06
So, I I I truly I don't believe in you know, something is impossible.
36:12
I really believe really everything is possible as we talked about it earlier.
36:16
Uh my wife has been um you know, my girlfriend for long time ever since I was 18, she was 19.
36:26
That's that's when we started dating and uh uh she used to play tennis and that's how we met and we've known each other 4 5 years before we started dating.
36:37
Um you know, through tennis and um and then she went to study in Italy um in Milan and I came at more or less the same time here in Monaco um to to follow my my coach at the time and I started using Monaco as a base and uh she came over at Monaco Milan Milan
36:55
is close to Monaco so she came over and that's how it all started and uh when she finished studies, she was obviously you know, thinking she had a lot of opportunities for her own career but she sacrificed that in order to live my career, live my dream in order to save the relationship in a way. So I'm very grateful for
37:12
So I'm very grateful for for for her and what she has, you know, um done for our relationship and for me and I I learn I keep on continue to learn from her so much.
37:24
She introduced me to yoga, actually. Wow.
37:28
Back in uh back in the days when she was uh studying, um she is a a huge reader.
37:34
She likes to read any everything and anything and she, you know, likes to write as well and she was being a big on journaling all the time and I remember when I was quite young from my tennis mother and from my parents, I learned how to a kind of write and and have specific things that I want to share on the paper.
37:55
I did it, you know, kind of like what I'm grateful for and things like that, which was nice but then I lost that.
38:01
I I I didn't do it for many years and then she remind me of that.
38:04
So I I I started doing it again and and and it felt great because I felt like I could release a lot of things that were tensing me up through journaling through writing, exactly.
38:19
But also through yoga, you know, she learned about it she because she was so stressed during her, you know, studies.
38:26
Um and she spent the whole day obviously studying with books and, you know, student life isn't easy.
38:29
So, she was looking into ways how she can relax herself, get more energy.
38:35
And, you know, she was she was not drinking coffee or any of these things.
38:39
So, she came into yoga and she was sharing it with me.
38:40
So, I started doing it with her, you know, the whole the the breathing, the pranayama, the the, you know, the the sun salutations and everything and and that's ever since then we've been doing obviously some form of yoga.
38:51
You know, try on a daily basis and and um you know, she she's been a a very uh very significant integral part of of my life and my my evolution.
39:02
And what I'm really grateful for is that not only that we, you know, truly love each other and we are very transparent and honest, but also that we have help from the universe to actually be in a very similar states of consciousness in certain phases of our lives so we can help each other learn better and grow faster in in certain areas with that we choose that are, you know, uh you know, part of those particular periods.
39:35
So, so I think uh she would agree that when we became parents uh 4 years ago that has completely shifted our world you know, upside down.
39:47
Up to that moment we were also spiritual, but, you know, still quite basic comparing to what has happened after that.
39:56
And we truly believe that uh our uh kids are our masters and our teachers and then they come to this life to bring um bring lessons for us and bring help for us to understand a lot of things about ourselves on a deeper levels and what we have to work on.
40:17
Which is is quite contrary to what, you know, in a way Yeah.
40:19
society thinks, which is like we we are teaching them, which we are, of course, but you know, actually, uh I've been I've been talking with her a lot about that.
40:30
And and now we we have a a baby girl that is 1 year old and and she is I was mentioning she's a healer.
40:37
She really is and she brings that kind of energy to this world.
40:41
And she has Yeah, I mean, it's kind it rocketed our attention for the moments, for, you know, the consciousness, the awareness about everything. I mean, even more.
40:50
And we're like, oh my god, wait, you know, there's another level, there's another level.
40:56
So, we, you know, we help each other grow and I think we it's it's I'm really grateful that I can share with her literally everything Mhm.
41:04
and anything that I'm interested in, that I'm going through, and, you know, she she has been always the shoulder to to lean on and she has always been there.
41:15
And tough moments for me in my career, when I was, you know, going through an injury recently and had to take 6 months break from the tennis and and then when I came back I was like questioning whether I should keep on playing on that level or not and I was like just going through, you know, just going through hard work inside and and and she, you know, she was there and she helped me to overcome all of that.
41:37
Of course, with alongside with help of uh some life spiritual teachers that I have that I can Yeah, tell us about that. yeah, a little bit.
41:46
Um well, there are two guys in particular, um Jose Pepe Imaz and and Žarko Ilić.
41:55
Jose Pepe is from from Spain and Žarko is from from Serbia and they I consider them really as as my spiritual and life teachers, my masters that I've learned a lot from and back in, I think, 2000 and uh 10 or 11 I've met uh Zharko.
42:13
Uh so about 7 8 years ago and uh I met him through my wife actually because my wife had a friend that that knew him and and that's how we got into it.
42:24
He's a he's a Reiki healer. Mhm.
42:26
Uh but he's much more than that and you know he he helped a lot both my wife and I to uh again open our mind even more to understand how we can have internal conversations with ourselves cuz I I didn't know how to do it.
42:43
I didn't know how to verbalize my emotions and that's where my wife was ahead of me and that's where we struggled in our relationship because she was trying to dig things out from me and and make me share more but I wasn't able to do that because I didn't know how.
43:00
She's like, "Speak to me. What do you feel?" I'm like, "I don't know. I feel something.
43:05
I I just don't and and and so I think Zharko was was very helpful in that. Mhm.
43:11
And uh and and Sounds like everyone needs that.
43:16
Everyone Yeah, I mean everyone needs that of course but I think you know, there's this great saying, you know, when the when the when the student is ready the teacher will come, right?
43:24
So I I felt that that the first initial step I needed to do I needed to decide in my mind and internally that okay, this is exactly what I need for my heart, for my soul, for my for my growth.
43:40
This is the the priority.
43:40
I have to learn how to manage myself, my emotions, how to not just to be a better tennis player but to be a better human being.
43:52
And um and so so then the teacher appeared obviously and and then after that obviously I I I I start to expand my my awareness and and and you know, observation of the world and then I run into Pepe who is very close person and and also a spiritual life teacher to my brother, Marco.
44:12
And they live in the same place.
44:14
Actually, Marco, my brother, went to live in Spain because of Pepe. Wow.
44:18
And Pepe's whole philosophy of life is love and peace. Mhm.
44:24
And and he brought that kind of energy into our lives, the percep- perception of love and peace, what it really means.
44:34
And at the beginning, I I was actually uh not really supportive, I must say, of my brother, because he started doing that before me.
44:44
He started going through this whole process of learning with with Pepe.
44:49
And uh he moved to Spain so he can be closer to him because he felt, you know, deep inside of that something is very important that he has to address.
44:57
Uh and I just I didn't get it at that time.
44:59
I I thought, well, you know, you have to you know, cuz he was playing professional tennis.
45:01
I was like, you can't really you know, just love and peace, you know, you have to kind of like go back and train and this have this mindset.
45:07
If you're love and peace on the court, the other guy will beat you.
45:11
And this is what it comes down to, you know, in in in in sports.
45:16
And he was like, listen, I I He's like, I understand, but I Trust me, I have to go through this, and I just feel that this is my growth.
45:23
I did I didn't understand it at the time.
45:24
And then I But I was attracted to Pepe because I I felt that his energy was amazing and you You can never get upset with him, you know, you speak to him and he's he's like you, you know, you You he always smiles and everything, you know, even when we had tough conversations, he always smiles and sen- because he always prays inside and sends you love. Yeah.
45:44
And for that, he had to work and still continues to work, I mean, immensely. Mhm.
45:50
And I didn't understand what he kept on emphasizing inner work, inner growth, inner work, inner growth, universal love.
45:56
I really I didn't really get it, you know?
45:59
And then And then then obviously this whole energy attracted my wife and I and and we connected with Pepe and with my brother and at different levels and And today, you know, obviously we understand, you know, what what he truly what he truly means because we embraced that work.
46:20
And we have to do it daily.
46:23
And I just wanted to shortly reflect on on that inner work Okay.
46:25
for the purpose or goal My goal for the inner work up to not while ago was tennis. Wow.
46:35
And that and and I the the the feeling inside, you can call it ego, whatever, has drawn me to that sensation of I need to do this because that will help me play better tennis. Mhm. But it didn't resonate.
46:53
Something I I was living a successful life but not fulfilled Yes.
46:57
life, if you know what I mean. Yeah, yeah.
46:58
Uh and and there was something wrong with that.
47:01
I I just felt I I felt the ounces of that truth and the essence and what it really means to to to do that on daily basis for yourself and your growth as a human being and not just as a tennis player or doctor or whatever.
47:17
But I it wasn't it was weaker comparing to the other side which was since I was seven I'm going I I dreamed of being number one of the world. That's my ambition. That's my lifetime goal. I have to fulfill it.
47:29
When I fulfilled it in 2011 I kept on going.
47:33
I just I want to be more Grand Slam I have more Grand Slam trophies.
47:37
I want to be number one for as long as I can.
47:39
It just kept going and I believe that from my experience you need goals and objectives, you know, and it but you need to balance that with, you know, what is truly the most important work which is the inner work. Yes.
47:57
And and uh I didn't get it up to up to not while ago, to be honest.
48:00
And and that's when I I start to get it, and that's when I start to understand the message from Pepe. Yeah.
48:05
He was whatever you do, you do it with excitement, with joy, with passion.
48:14
But at the same time, never forget about what you have to do before, during, and after that, which is a much much bigger work and longer work.
48:23
And And now now now I do truly understand that. Yeah.
48:27
Give us give us an So, if anyone who's listening and they're like, "Novak, I'm like you. I don't get it yet." Yeah.
48:32
You know, because so many people today I feel like spirituality, energy, all of these words are flying around the internet.
48:37
People are talking about it, but there's so many people that don't get it.
48:40
Explain to us in your own way, in the way you see it, what is inner work, and what inner work you do, what you were saying that before, that during, that after, that has helped you not just in tennis, but in your life.
48:52
talked so and reflected so wonderfully on this in so many of your videos about the habits, about addictions that we have.
48:59
The whole day passes by, and we are not we don't even remember a single moment in the day, because we've just been distracted the whole time. Mhm.
49:09
So, you know, if we are learned and trained to be distracted, that's how you know, our life is going to unfold. Mhm.
49:17
We are going to be distracted.
49:17
But if we train ourselves to be present and more aware, then obviously, we're shifting the attention of the subconscious and all the internal, external energies, and nature, and everything into that.
49:30
You know, in a simplified way, work on the habits. Right?
49:35
I I mean, I have, you know, still some habits that need working on.
49:38
You know, and and uh you know, it it you know, for example, the phone, right?
49:45
That that is so addictive, and you get into Instagram, that I by the way love. I love Instagram. It's great, fantastic.
49:51
Uh it's how we connected. we connected. Yeah, it's true.
49:54
But but if you let it become your master, Mhm.
49:58
then that's how it's going to be.
50:00
And you're going to be distracted.
50:02
You're going to feel lack of energy.
50:03
You're going to have feel lack of inner peace.
50:05
You're going to feel upset.
50:09
Uh, you know, you're going to have a short breath.
50:11
You know, all these different things.
50:13
And that reflects on relationships.
50:15
That reflects on, you know, your performance at your work or whatever you're doing.
50:21
And And for me, I I try to Okay, try to think inside, okay, what am I doing right on the tennis court?
50:30
How can I translate that in the off the tennis court? Interesting.
50:33
And the on tennis court, what I'm doing right is complete 100% focus and presence of mind and body and everything.
50:44
Discipline, working towards objective, organ- organized, preparing myself. This is a big thing.
50:51
I feel, you know, if you fail to prepare, you prepare yourself to fail, right?
50:56
So, preparation is a huge thing.
50:59
I mean, at least in in in my world for tennis, it has helped me a lot cuz I I I don't want to put a number on it, but let's say 80% to 90% of your the match that you won, for example, or any success that you have. you step on the court. Exactly. Yeah. Exactly.
51:16
How you do your homework.
51:20
Uh, for, you know, in in in my instance, you know, um, obviously working on all my strengths and weaknesses, uh, preparing myself physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually for the match that is coming up.
51:37
I have the whole, uh, short-term and long-term plan.
51:39
How can I get from from here to there in a shortest time? Those type of things.
51:47
and then you know, obviously doing your homework on the guy, on the opponent that you're playing against, where you're going to play, the stadium, the crowd, the weather, you know, it's the it's really whole homework that you have to do in order before you get in and and then you win a tennis match and then it's not only about the tennis match, it's 80 90% of the work that you do be prior to that.
52:10
So, that's why I believe, you know, preparation is a big big thing.
52:16
Working on the habits you know, that the science says that you need 20 what?
52:19
Two or three days that you you can, you know, shift uh you know, from bad habit to a healthy habit. So, we need persistency. We need discipline.
52:28
You know, we need we need repetition.
52:30
And Bruce Lipton that I also like to listen to a lot, he he he's talking about subconscious, right?
52:34
And how subconscious is controlling probably 90 95% of our everyday life.
52:42
So, if we can feed our subconscious with the information that is going to allow us to excel and to live life that we want to, then that's what's going to happen because your subconscious doesn't know what's good for you or bad for you, it just knows what you tell it. Yes.
52:56
And and the the seeds that you plant.
53:00
So, so he was talking about, you know, uh there are two ways to kind of hack your subconscious, which is hypnosis, which happens from, you know, until you know, you're 7 years old and and then repetition. Mhm.
53:15
So, that's why, I mean, my wife and I are very passionate for uh the the preschool education and early childhood development.
53:26
Until you're 6 or 7 years old, that's when the it's most vast brain growth and that's where you know, the the fundamentals and the foundation of your life is set.
53:39
And and that's where, you know, Bruce was talking about it really beautifully and and it it made sense.
53:46
And and then the the after your seven, it's repetition. It's discipline.
53:48
Okay, um I'm switching off all my phones um after certain hour.
53:55
I'm, you know, doing my praying work uh because I believe in the invisible world.
54:01
Science proves, quantum science talks about it.
54:07
Where the most distance points are actually one in in in in a split second and and we we all have proven that.
54:16
And so you just need to really believe it in order to achieve it.
54:20
You know, where your attention, you know, the where your attention goes, the energy flows.
54:25
And and I I I think it all starts with an open mind and you have to I think with a question.
54:30
It's always so great to ask yourself questions. Who am I? Why I'm here? What I want to do? What I want to become?
54:37
What I you know, just all these questions put on the paper, write it down, go through it you know, in your mind through that.
54:43
Whatever your method is, but you just have to address it.
54:48
If you don't address it, you're going to go about the same things that you went about and then you're going to get the same outcome that you don't desire.
54:55
So I I feel like that kind of um awareness about that uh just helps, you know, helps learn.
55:03
And you know, I'm learning from you so much on a daily basis as well because, you know, I obviously follow your work and and there are so many great messages out there and I feel like this is the time where we can expand our consciousness and get closer to what who we are.
55:19
Cuz you know, the the the two most important and all these probably questions in on this planet ever since the existence of humans is you know, who we are and why we are here. Absolutely.
55:28
So I think also the truth seeking um element and part is also quite important in that.
55:34
I mean, I I consider myself a truth-seeker.
55:37
I I like to, you know, try to dig even deeper and deeper and deeper and understand who we are, you know, why are we here? Is this a planet? Is this a realm? What is it?
55:46
You know, is this a matrix? Is it not?
55:49
You know, I I I think it's it's important to ask ask these questions and and get and do your research and dig deep into that because other you know, I I I think it all comes down to you know, whether you are your own master or or not. Mhm.
56:04
So, I think if you are your own master, then it allows you to take actions the way you want them rather than, you know, I I I love the Jim Kwik that I also like very much and he he talks about the thermostat and thermometer.
56:21
So, the the don't be the thermostat, but be the thermometer.
56:26
Set your the temperature set you you set this temperature of the room and you set it up the way you wanted it.
56:32
And the thermostat, if you set it, then you have to adjust. So, it's reactive.
56:38
And I think it's such a such a great wisdom. Yeah, great advice, man.
56:40
I loved what you were saying earlier.
56:42
That's that's great advice and I hope everyone who's listening is is taking notes.
56:45
But that what you said earlier I loved.
56:47
You said that for a long time you believed ego is the enemy. Yes.
56:51
And then now you've started to understand that actually the ego has to be befriended.
56:57
And I feel as a I I couldn't agree with you more.
56:59
I couldn't agree with you more.
57:00
Sometimes I believe the ego is like a perfect mirror to yourself and the self that you don't want, but at least it starts teaching you.
57:05
The ego can teach you so much if you're aware of it.
57:09
So, I want to hear your perception on how you've been switching between ego is the enemy to actually befriending the ego.
57:16
Well, this is this is got every reason to have a big ego.
57:17
Like you've got every reason and you're not you're a very humble person, but you've got every reason to have a big have it and I do have it and this is the this is the point.
57:25
I didn't understand it at the time and we talked about it a little bit and as you reflected, I do have a big ego, but I have to embrace it and and and and how learn how to befriend it and deal with it in in a ways that that I'm to work going to work and team up with my ego rather than I'm going to be an enemy of my ego because then again I'm reacting.
57:48
Then ego can you know, persuade you and do different things and and mask you know, certain things. It's so smart and witty.
58:00
And then you have to react and then you have to just kind of like try to try to handle and juggle with so many things instead of hey, let's team up. You're inside of me. I'm you, you're me.
58:12
Okay, let's figure this out.
58:12
How can we work together?
58:16
And you kind of have to, you know, please it and at the same time you have to control it.
58:22
And even though I don't really like the world word control, I still feel like, you know, if if you if you create your controlled environment, it's going to be better off for you in your life. Yeah.
58:33
I've got So what I what I finish off with every interview is called my final five.
58:37
So the five the fast five.
58:39
So these are fast five questions they have to answer.
58:43
So the the first question I was going to answer is what's the first thing that you do every morning?
58:47
First thing that I do every morning is prayer. Beautiful.
58:51
Second question, what do you pray for?
58:54
First I express my gratitude um for for my body, for myself, for the opportunity to continue my evolution as a multi-dimensional being in this realm.
59:07
I I'm grateful for my family.
59:10
I'm grateful for being able to have my senses and to have big bed and to have a most beautiful sunrise every morning. Amazing.
59:20
Third, how do you make sure that your energy is where you want it to be spiritually, internally.
59:27
Um continuing to work on um the things that we we talked about.
59:34
Um so, aside of the physical work and tennis, uh and and duties as as a father and a husband, I need to get in daily something in my self-care work, whether it's only a a meditation or it's a 2-minute breathing, uh prayer, whatever it is.
59:53
Sometimes it's only that cuz you don't have time, but you know, it's important to just kind of uh you know, keep keep doing it and be disciplined with it.
1:00:04
What's the best advice you've ever received? Be open-minded. I love that theme.
1:00:14
That's the theme of this this yeah.
1:00:17
Just like theme for sure.
1:00:17
It it's when you're open-minded, then you're ready to receive everything that we're surrounded with and in such a beautiful world and we're so blessed uh that we live in this world and that we go through the process of evolution.
1:00:33
And I think when you come close to the realization of, you know, who you are, I think and you continue to seek for that truth, I just it brings you closer to the source from where you arrived Yeah.
1:00:46
and just makes you makes you so present and makes you so calm and it makes you so joyful and grateful for yourself, for people around you, for everything that you have, that you do, that surrounds you, that fulfills you.
1:01:01
I feel that that's the essence of of our life. Amazing.
1:01:03
And the fifth question, fifth and final question is, if your racket was a magic wand and you could get the whole world to understand one thing, what would you want everyone to understand?
1:01:16
That our consciousness expands infinitely. Beautiful. Straight to the point.
1:01:23
What do you mean by that?
1:01:25
What do you want them to understand from you?
1:01:27
Now now I'm going to give you the opportunity to gosh, we don't have enough time.
1:01:32
Um that that our consciousness expands infinitely means well at least in my own perception is that we are more than we think or feel with our five senses than we really are.
1:01:47
And when you I feel like when I came to this realization, it just opened a door to a whole different universe and dimension to me.
1:01:56
And I feel that my evolution and my growth um in every aspect of who I am and my everybody has just quadrupled uh for light years ahead.
1:02:08
I just feel I feel calm at the same time, but so excited for everything that I that life has to offer that I can learn. Thank you, Nima.
1:02:18
But we so have to do a part two.
1:02:19
Please Please please please make it happen. Yeah.
1:02:22
But thank you so much, man. I'm so grateful.
1:02:24
Thank you for your time and energy.
1:02:25
I know you got so many things on. I love you guys. You got an amazing wife. I love you guys. so much, man. I'm so grateful.
1:02:32
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1:02:37
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