Janko Tipsarević

If there ever was a walking talking contradiction in sports, Janko Tipsarevic is it. Artwork on his body that would make a tattoo artist proud and piercings that wouldn’t be out of place at a Miami beach – though of late the piercings have been missing from court – make Tipsarevic the archetypical 21st C jock, no different from the NBA superstars. But at the same time, Tipsarevic’s love for classic literature – Dostoevsky, Nietzsche and Goethe – is somewhat unusual for a high-level athlete. Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Idiot inspired Tipsarevic to get “the beauty will save the world” tattooed on his arm. Apparently, he also has a quote from Arthur Schopenhauer tattooed on his back, but shrugs off comments about his reading habits. “I don’t feel smarter because of it,” he says, adding, “I look at it as a hobby. I started reading Dostoevsky when I was 13 and didn’t understand it then.”

Strangely for someone who was the first Serbian to win a junior Grand Slam, Tipsarevic – one of the few to play wearing prescription glasses – today plays second fiddle to good friend, compatriot and world number one – Novak Djokovic. He hadn’t even reached a final before 2011 and presumably had had several bad days, but he promises with a flourish that he never thought of giving up on the game. “I’ve had moments like everyone on tour, but the thought of quitting tennis never crossed my mind. I’ve had a few painful losses like the match against David Nalbandian at the Australian Open (Tipsarevic had to retire in the fifth set) but I never wanted to quit tennis.”

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Perhaps Tipsarevic took a leaf out of Nole’s book in 2011 and was just as inspired. Djokovic came close to rewriting record books in 2011 when he won three Grand Slam titles, racked up a 70-6 win-loss record for the year and amassed $12 million in prize money. Tipsarevic also had his best season last year making it to five ATP Tour finals and winning two titles. He also defeated Djokovic – one of the just six that the world No. 1 had to endure the whole year – in the season-ending World Tour finals, when an exhausted and low on motivation Djokovic proved no match for the erratic Tipsarevic. “It helps to have the world’s best player as your friend and close to you, no doubt. It was an intense match because the two of us are good friends and know each other’s games inside out. Regardless of that, I think I played very well,” the snowboarding fanatic asserts.

Tipsarevic doesn’t relish matches against friends, but knows there are no friendships once on court. “It’s difficult. I don’t enjoy the feeling, but we’re all professionals and we’re able to put our personal friendships aside for a short period,” he shrugs. Djokovic and Tipsarevic holidayed in the Maldives towards the year’s end.

Currently ranked No. 9 in the world, Tipsarevic’s 2012 season began at the Aircel Chennai Open where he lost to Milos Ranic in the singles final, but won the doubles title playing with India’s Leander Paes. The spicy Indian food was just another attraction for him. “I love Indian food, but I really shouldn’t eat so much of it because of the spices,” he laughs.

When not smashing aces, Tipsarevic serves hits behind a console. The sometime-DJ – he has deejayed in a few clubs around Belgrade – enjoys Swedish House Mafia and Afrojack, and could’ve as easily been travelling around the world with a bagful of CDs instead of tennis racquets.“My mood and the crowd influence what I play but I enjoy house and progressive house especially,” the 27-year-old says.

There’s perhaps no tennis player who doesn’t spend a fair amount of time watching movies while travelling, but Tipsarevic’s love for the movies extends beyond just naming Hollywood legends Al Pacino and Meryl Streep as his favourite actors. He has acted in a Serbian TV serial back home in Belgrade and has professed a desire to repeat that effort. “I love acting and would love to do it again,” he admits. When asked what role does he see himself playing, it comes as no surprise that he picks playing a mafia boss, like his idol Pacino. Maybe that will complete the list for this tattooed, book-totting tennis player.

First memory of holding a tennis racquet: Age 6

Most memorable moment: Winning Davis Cup

Sporting heroes: Andre Agassi

A question he answers all the time: Starts with, "You play with glasses."

Sporting motto: You're not special because of who you are, but because of what you do

What does he never leave home without: Cellphone

One bad habit he wishes he could get ride of: I would like to eat slower

One thing that frightens him the most: Death

From the February 2012 issue of FHM India.