Novak Djokovic Dances for Daughter After US Open Win
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NEED TO KNOW
- Novak Djokovic broke out a new dance move in honor of his daughter Tara after his US Open quarterfinal win on Tuesday night
- Tuesday was Tara’s 8th birthday
- Djokovic said his daughter taught him how to do the dance, and he wanted to make her “smile” when she saw the video of his celebration the next morning
Novak Djokovic had just one thing on his mind after moving on to the US Open semifinals on Tuesday night: his 8-year-old daughter Tara.
Moments after defeating American player Taylor Fritz, the Serbian star stood in the middle of the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium and showed off a less-than-smooth version of the viral KPop Demon Hunters dance for his daughter back home.
Djokovic, 38, joked that his daughter was likely – or should have been – in bed at the time of his late Tuesday night match, but he hoped video of his unconventional dance moves would make her laugh when she woke up on Wednesday.
“She’s going to rate me tomorrow [on how well I danced] because she told me how to dance,” Djokovic smiled after putting his hands together in a heart towards the television camera. “We are at home doing different choreographies, and this is one of them. Hopefully I’ll make her smile when she wakes up in the morning.”
Djokovic called the dance “a big present” for Tara after he had to miss her eighth birthday on Wednesday for the US Open tournament, as he seeks his 25th Grand Slam championship.
“She was not very happy about it, me being absent for the birthday party,” Djokovic said Monday night after reaching the tournament’s quarterfinals. “I’ll try to win if I’m here. At least I’m going to try to win and give her that kind of present. And I’m going to send some nice presents as well, some nice surprises for her birthday party.”
Djokovic added: “Daddy away and daddy present is a big difference and I know that, but it is what it is this year.”
Jean Catuffe/Getty
Tuesday night’s KPop Demon Hunters dance wasn’t the first time Djokovic used a victory dance to make his daughter smile. Last year at Wimbledon, he broke out a “Pumpa” dance in honor of Tara, who was watching from the stands.
“It’s a little tradition we have,” Djokovic explained last year before sharing more about how his daughter keeps him “grounded” as a human being.
“She’s into ballet and gymnastics,” Djokovic said then. “You know, she’s a really cute girl. She keeps me grounded and humble, and she spins me around every single day.”
Djokovic and his wife Jelena share two children: daughter Tara and 10-year-old son Stefan.
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
