New York
From growing up with NATO bombs raining down on Serbia to securing his place amongst the Grand Slam greats, Novak Djokovic never fails to both divide and unite.
On Sunday, the 33-year-old world number one was disqualified from the US Open after accidentally striking a female line judge with a ball.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia (right) tends to a lineswoman after inadvertently striking her with a ball hit in frustration during his Men's Singles fourth round match against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain on Day Seven of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre on September 6, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. Djokovic was defaulted from the match.
Photo credit: Al Bello | AFP
It made Djokovic one of a handful of players to be defaulted from the men's singles tournament of a Grand Slam since John McEnroe was infamously tossed from the Australian Open in 1990.
It also marked another low point in a roller-coaster 2020 for Djokovic who courted controversy with his Adria Tour event which resulted in several players -- including himself -- becoming infected with Covid-19.
In many ways, the events of recent months are emblematic of his career, which has yielded 17 Grand Slam titles -- just three behind the all-time record of Roger Federer who is six years older.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after victory against Canada's Milos Raonic during their men's singles quarter-final match on day nine of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 28, 2020.
Photo credit: William West | AFP
However, despite his achievements, he appears doomed never to be held in the same saintly esteem as Federer or Rafael Nadal, the undisputed 'people's champions' of tennis.
There are those that see something a little more calculating in the Djokovic make-up, an intense, brooding presence prone to affectation and fads and a little too 'new age' for most tastes.
Never short of an opinion, the Australian has also accused Djokovic of desperately needing to be liked.
He had secured a record eighth Australian Open and was on an 18-0 winning streak - that run had stretched to 26-0 until Sunday's default.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after beating Austria's Dominic Thiem during their men's singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open in Melbourne on February 2, 2020.
Photo credit: Saeed Khan | AFP
But in the space of a few months, his character and reputation have come crashing down.
First of all, he was criticised for breaking lockdown rules to train in Spain.
He then invited derision for insisting emotions can change the quality of water while almost simultaneously insisting that he would not be prepared to vaccinate against the coronavirus.
When he described limits on players' entourages at the US Open as "extreme" and "impossible", Djokovic found himself in the crosshairs again for being entitled in a world and sport trying to pull together.
However, few can doubt Djokovic's resolve.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a volley during his Men's Singles third round match against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany on Day Five of the 2020 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City.
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman | AFP
Two years ago, his career was in the doldrums.
Unable to shake off the lingering effects of elbow surgery, he suffered a shock early exit at 2018 Roland Garros.
With his ranking outside the top 20 for the first time in 12 years, Djokovic threatened to skip Wimbledon.
He changed his mind and with his career suddenly rejuvenated, he swept to a fourth title at the All England Club.
Only an inspired Dominic Thiem at the French Open in 2019 prevented him becoming just the second man in history to hold all four Slams at the same time on two occasions.
No matter, just weeks later, he captured a fifth Wimbledon in a record five-set final against Federer, saving two championship points in the process.
"Novak has everything to make records in this sport," said fellow player Juan Martin del Potro.
Djokovic captured the first of his 17 majors at the Australian Open in 2008, but it was three years before he added his second.
Switzerland's Roger Federer shakes hands with Serbia's Novak Djokovic (left) after his men's singles semi-final victory on day 11 of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 6, 2012.
Photo credit: File | AFP
He dropped gluten from his diet, his lithe physique allowing him to chase down lost causes, transforming him into the rubber man of tennis.
After leading Serbia to a maiden Davis Cup in 2010, he raced through the first half of 2011, building up a 48-1 winning run.
Only a semi-final defeat at the French Open prevented him from becoming just the third man to capture a calendar Grand Slam.
Despite that, he still finished 2011 with a 70-6 win-loss record, a haul of 10 tournament victories and year-end number one for the first time.
Back-to-back Australian Opens followed in 2012 and 2013, although the French Open remained frustratingly out of reach with three heart-breaking finals losses until his 2016 breakthrough.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates next to a ball boy after winning his men's quarter-final match against Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych at the Roland Garros 2016 French Tennis Open in Paris on June 2, 2016. Djokovic warned his Wimbledon rivals on Sunday that he still hasn't reached his full potential.
Photo credit: File | AFP
In Paris that year, he became the first player to break through the $100 million barrier in prize money.
The year before, he won 11 titles and compiled a win-loss record of 82-6.
Off court, Djokovic married long-time girlfriend and high school sweetheart Jelena Ristic in July 2014.
They have two children, a son Stefan and daughter Tara.
But on the court, his role as pantomime villain seems destined to leave him typecast.
"It doesn't mean that fans hate me and it certainly doesn't mean that I need to turn Serbia against the rest of the world just because fewer people support me in Grand Slam finals," he said.
When the All England Club crowd was noisily willing on Federer in last year's Wimbledon final, Djokovic turned the adversity in his favour.
"When they chanted 'Roger, Roger' I willed myself into believing they were chanting 'Novak, Novak'," he said.
