That Duty Free Tennis Championships has brought some of the world’s greatest tennis players back in town, all very excited to show their skills on court.
However, the days before the championship also provide the players with a chance to wind down a little and experience some of Dubai’s more famous attractions. Among those players is Novak Djokovic, the world number one and a regular tournament participant.
With the star hanging out at Burj Al Arab and Wild Wadi waterpark over the weekend, tabloid! got exclusive access to meet the superstar as he enjoyed some last-minute relaxation before the competition.
I had organised to meet Djokovic at Burj Al Arab’s Bal Al Yam restaurant. The restaurant was absolutely stunning, chilled and contemporary, with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide breathtaking views of the Gulf.
Djokovic, with the help of restaurant’s chef, Maxime Luvara, was going to show us how to make the typical power juice that he would have in the morning.
Novak Jokovic, right, with chef Maxime Luvara at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
Excited about getting tips from the man himself and seeing him in action outside of a tennis court, I waited with anticipation, while trying to think of questions for the greatest tennis player in the world that did not involve tennis. As it turned out I did not have to wait for long, as unlike most celebrities, Djokovic arrived 30 minutes early.
All smiles and in company of his younger brother Marko and a friend, Milan Tabasevic, Djokovic politely greeted everyone and shook hands before heading inside Bal Al Yam to get set up.
For our #DailyDeuce, we're cooking healthy food with tennis star @DjokerNole @BurjAlArab. #DDFTennis #NovakDjokovic pic.twitter.com/36yCjCK1zg
— tabloid! (@GulfNewsTabloid) February 21, 2016
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Without hesitation, he headed directly for the cooking counter in the middle of the venue and got organised where the juicer was sitting.
Djokovic was much taller and thinner than I had expected. He is over 6 foot tall which made me, at 5 foot 2, feel like one of the Hobbits from the Lord of the Rings when I was standing next to him. I am not exaggerating when I say my neck is still suffering from looking up at him all afternoon — but it was well worth it.
The Serbian star clearly knew his way around the kitchen, picking up a knife and chopping up all the ingredients that he wanted to see in his juice. Ever so charming and regularly cracking jokes, I can honestly say that I have never been so interested in fruit juice in my entire life. Djokovic very excitedly and never lost for words, explained his fruit likes and benefits.
No biggie, just goofing around @WildWadiDubai with @DjokerNole and his brother Marko. #DailyDeuce @DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/xlS9HXoahS
— tabloid! (@GulfNewsTabloid) February 21, 2016
“I like to have a green drink in the morning... I try and avoid [refined] sugar completely,” he said as he peeled the skin off some cucumbers. There was a bit of a rocky start as the cucumbers and kale got a little stuck in the juicer and he had to put some muscle into getting the juice out of them but it was all go in no time.
“My favourite part of the morning is making juice in the kitchen,” he continued as he moved onto chopping some pineapples. Earning his “Djoker” nickname, he teased the chef, “I love pineapple but I love it when it has actually been sliced,” he said as he continued to take the rough pineapple skin off, the remark got everyone in the room laughing.
He then moved onto chopping some watermelon in the mix, and with a mischievous look, he said it is good for you because it has aphrodisiac properties. I could not contain myself at this comment and may have laughed a little too loud, which got him to look at me and explain further.
“It gives you plenty of energy to keep you going through the day and you have lots of energy for your night activities.”
He peeled and chopped the ingredients one by one and put them in the juicer, which included: kale, cucumbers, watermelon, berries, mint, lots of ginger, and anything else that Djokovic could get his hands on; I believe there was some spinach too.
I have to say it did not look in the least enticing however, Djokovic, sensing or knowing that he may not have convinced people, yet addressed the concern on my face.
“The colour is not inviting but trust me it’s good,” and he took a sip. “It stings, you can really feel the ginger.”
He said he would also normally add some superfood powder to the juice, or celery.
Djokovic offered another tip, “We have a dehydrator at home so I take the pulp and put it in the dehydrator overnight and eat it as a cracker later.”
Having learnt a thing or two about juicing, it was time to head to Wild Wadi for some water action. The walk down from Bal Al Yam to the front entrance of Burj Al Arab was an experience in itself.
I am walking and talking with Djokovic, who towers over me, as we discuss the upcoming competition, nutrition and best eating times.
“I have had previous success, lots of success actually, with Dubai tournament. And also off the court lots of memorable moments with my friends and family so I look forward to competing again,” he said as we got in the lift.
His presence literally stopped the crowds in the Burj Al Arab as people recognised him walking through the hotel and were trying to decide whether to approach him or not. Some snapped photos from afar, as others ran up to him to try and get a selfie.
But this was all far too normal for him as he calmly answered all my questions, unaffected by the surroundings.
So how does the world’s greatest tennis player eat? “It’s hard to sum it up in a few sentences, but I try to eat the freshest and most organic foods that I can find in places that I go. It’s not easy at all times but let’s say that I am aware of the food that I am always eating and what it does for my body and for my mind and how it affects my wellbeing in general,” he said.
“I believe that if you take care of yourself holistically then it can very much so impact positively on your tennis and in your performance,” he added.
Having reached the hotel’s entrance we jumped into four buggies and headed to Wild Wadi. The Djokovic brothers and Tabasevic quickly got changed into their swimming trunks and headed for the pool area. There was not an ounce of extra fat on these boys.
Jokovic meets fans who heard of his presence at Wild Wadi.
It took just minutes for people around the pool to realise Djokovic was at the venue and security had to be called in.
As he was walking in the park at one point, he was trying to pass a crowd of teenagers who were oblivious to him. He politely put his hands on one of their shoulders and said “excuse me please, can I get past?” The group moved out of the way, at first seemingly annoyed; it took only a few seconds for them to realise who had just passed them. There were loud screams followed by them trying to run after him — but he was far gone.
After some pool fun, Djokovic decided to have ago at another ride, The Burj Surj — a giant tube that goes through twisted loops. On the climb up the stairs to the top of the ride, Novak found himself again with a group of fans who were desperate to snap a photo of him and whoever was fast enough to reach him succeeded.
Jokovic enjoys a ride on one of Wild Wadi's many slides.
The brothers jumped into the giant tube, although once they were in it the tube hardly looked massive, and after a few fun selfies of their own they went for it. Novak was screaming as he disappeared down the loop.
The brothers loved it so much, they decided to have another go and they ran up the ride. This is where you saw how fit they were, as they ran up the stairs like boys on a playground, without losing any breath. I, on the other hand, decided to wait for them at the bottom of the loop.
The word had quickly got round Wild Wadi that he was on the ride and people gathered at the bottom of the loop’s pool area waiting for him to shoot down it.
As he came down the chute for the second time he was still screaming and clearly enjoying himself with his brother. “It was really fun, it was like being a kid again,” he told me later on.
However, by now the crowd following him was getting bigger — so he was escorted out of the park. I thought we would have to say our goodbyes to them there and then.
Then we heard Marko say “girls, why don’t you come with us?” We looked at each other, looked at them and after getting over the polite formalities of “are you guys sure?” we got in the buggy with them. Down-to-earth, polite and ever the gentlemen, we made small talk on the way. Sitting down I was now on the same level as them and did not have to look up anymore. I do remember that I tried to impress them with little Serbian that I had practiced the day before, although I am not sure that I did. I asked them if they often travelled together and they said only when Novak travels to Dubai.
Novak Djokovic’s nutrition tips
“I think it all starts with knowledge and education. Thankfully in this 21st Century, we have access to so much information around, and there is the internet. You don’t need to go to a nutritionist or get a course in order to learn some stuff. You can get it all for free, you just have to get into google and just do a little search and dedicate a little bit of your time to yourself. I feel that the problem with health that a lot of people have, it starts with a lack of information and lack of knowledge about food and lifestyle. What you do and how that influences your well being and your health.
I suggest that everyone starts with fresh juices in the morning. I think that’s that best way to start off the day. There are some scientific studies that say up to noon, your metabolism is actually getting rid of all the toxins, that’s your body clock for your organs. That’s the best time for you to drink as much liquid as possible. Water with lemon, with ginger, with fresh green leaves.
“I love super foods. I think super foods are the future of nutrition. Superfood powders like maca and spirulina, all these things you can put in a blender with some almond and coconut or rice milk, then mix it with some seeds and some protein powder. It’s the best way to start your day and it makes you feel like you had a great meal.”
