Novak Djokovic is joining the ranks of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz and Naomi Osaka and participating in a documentary exploring his career.“Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter” will premiere on Prime Video on Aug. 20, just ahead of the U.S. Open.The feature-length documentary has a lofty pedigree that includes director Jason Hehir, who also directed “The Last Dance,” the acclaimed ESPN docuseries on Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls, and HBO’s popular documentary, “André the Giant.” It is produced by Sadoux Productions and Words + Pictures, a production company whose founder and president were both producers on “The Last Dance” and the Academy Award-winning documentary “OJ: Made in America.”As was the case with Nadal and the well-regarded docuseries “Rafa” that Netflix released last month, Djokovic is not listed as a producer on the project.
The film promises “exclusive behind-the-scenes access” for an “unprecedented and revealing” look at Djokovic’s layered arc from a boy in war-torn Serbia to “unwelcome intruder” in Federer and Nadal’s tennis duopoly to becoming the most accomplished tennis player in history.It paints Djokovic as a complex, misunderstood figure despite his legendary legacy.“Novak gave us unfettered access to his tireless physical and mental preparation as he competes at the highest level of the sport, battling men sometimes half his age,” Hehir said in a release. “In the process, we got to know him as a father, a husband, a friend and a sometimes maddeningly stubborn polarizing cultural figure. He’s a fascinating person, and I’m excited for audiences to see this exploration of a GOAT at the crossroads in the twilight of a brilliant career.”While both Nadal and Federer opted to release documentaries on their careers after retiring, and Osaka and Alcaraz released theirs while still active and at or near peak fame, Djokovic is aiming for something in between.The title hints at the late stage of his career, but Djokovic is still competing at Grand Slams. The day Prime Video announced the documentary, Djokovic, the No. 7 seed, learned his draw for his 20th appearance at Wimbledon, which begins Monday. He is a seven-time Wimbledon champion with a 102-13 record at the All England Club and is still chasing a history-making 25th Grand Slam title.
