Best of 2015 Off-Court Part 1: Novak's Biggest Fan

Dec182015

ATPWorldTour.com highlights the best off-court moments from the 2015 season

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Traveling Heavy

Tour veteran Gilles Simon knows that one of the toughest parts of the new tennis season is making sure all the bags are packed and ready.

“Traveling with family = moving,” he tweeted on his way to Melbourne for the year’s first Grand Slam.

Voyager en famille = déménager… #direction Melbourne pic.twitter.com/4BRUbrgtnR

— Gilles SIMON (@GillesSimon84) January 10, 2015

Like Father, Like Son

While thousands of fans came to Rod Laver Arena to watch Novak Djokovic top Milos Raonic in the Australian Open quarter-finals, the World No. 1 had one special supporter watching from the comfort of home: his infant son Stefan.

Ajde tatice! Come on daddy! #NoleFam #AusOpen2015 @DjokerNole @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/Q3UYGGLYA6

— Jelena Djokovic (@JelenaRisticNDF) January 28, 2015

Djokovic was told about wife Jelena’s Twitter post following his win and said: “See how he enjoys watching TV? He’s daddy’s boy, definitely.”

It’s no wonder, considering how much the World No. 1 enjoys spending time with his newborn.

This little buddy is my most precious trophy! No better way to end the day than with my family 🙂 #NoleFam pic.twitter.com/7oO5YIFGR6

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) April 5, 2015

Year Of The Goat

Defending champion Roger Federer helped ring in the Year of the Goat as he launched the Chinese New Year celebrations at Burj Al Arab. Federer was invited to participate in the ceremony for the colouring of the eyes of the lion.

Puppy Love

Vasek Pospisil had special visitors at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden: seven dogs from Guide Dogs of the Desert.

Nothing more fun than playing with puppies! Thanks @ATPWorldTour.. Wish I could do this every day. pic.twitter.com/FWmjWzj3Dc

— Vasek Pospisil (@VasekPospisil) March 19, 2015

“Can I take one home?” the Canadian asked, as the Poodles, Labradors and a German Shepherd crowded around him for some TLC.

“I wish I had seven hands!” said Pospisil. “They were all so cute. You want to play with all of them at the same time… It was definitely the most fun I’ve had doing something like that at a tournament.”

On The Table

“I scrap a lot, make a lot of balls,” Jack Sock, the self-proclaimed No. 1 table tennis player on the ATP World Tour, said. “I play pretty far behind the table and just annoy guys.”

Nick Kyrgios got a taste of Sock’s skills in Rome when the two faced off in the players’ lounge. At stake was a haircut with the on-site stylist. Sock, who has boldly described himself as the “Ferrer or Djokovic of ping pong”, got the last laugh, maintaining his undefeated record against fellow players.