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WATCH: Novak Djokovic gets impromptu Spanish lesson at Davis Cup

The 24-time Grand Slam champion and prolific polyglot increased his vocabulary in Valencia as the Group Stage got underway.

ByDavid Kane

Published Sep 14, 2023

¡Olé!, Nole!

A profoundly prolific linguist, Novak Djokovic speaks about many languages as he’s won Grand Slam titles. The 24-time Grand Slam champ devoted a moment of his Davis Cup press conference in Valencia to improving one of his approximately 25 languages as he engaged the Valencia media in an impromptu Spanish lesson.

Fresh off winning his fourth US Open title, which ties him for the all-time Grand Slam record with Margaret Court, Djokovic took to the notes app so that he could jot down a translation for the verb “to miss.”

“Echar de menos,” Djokovic repeats back before thanking the helpful translator. “Missing.”

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Djokovic later revived the linguistics discussion in the comments, suggesting extrañar, as an alternative to the more formal-sounding echar de menos.

“I like this word more,” writes Djokovic (en español, of course).

The 36-year-old is in Valencia for the Davis Cup group stage, which pits Serbia in Group C against the Czech Republic, South Korea and Spain. With Djokovic supporting from the sidelines, Serbia blanked South Korea, 3-0, with help from countrymen Dusan Lajovic and Laslo Djere. The latter famously led Djokovic by two sets in the second round of the US Open.

Djokovic may yet employ his improved Spanish on the court against Spain or the Czech Republic in ties taking place later this week.