8. Greatest Tangerine in Tennis History

Davis Cup Finals Group Stage 2021

What did you get from your favourite athlete? A selfie? An autograph? Or maybe a sweatband? Mine gave me a tangerine.

Trudging through the snow along the streets of Innsbruck in my sports shoes, I wondered what my first Davis Cup experience would have in store for me. As I would later find out, surprises come in all shapes and sizes, such as an orange-coloured citrus fruit.

Sports events thrive on the energy of people. Spectators cheer on their favourite team. Staff members work together to create an amazing experience. Exhibitors engage fans in a variety of activities. People are the key to a successful event.

What is an event without people? Sacher Torte without chocolate. Sarma without cabbage. Pizza without toppings. Unthinkable. The unthinkable became a reality when a national lockdown was enacted by Austria the weekend before the tournament kicked off. Chaos ensued. Panic arose.

One might think that finding a positive in this situation was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Truthfully, I didn’t find a needle, but I found a way to make the most of this unexpected turn of events. Since the tournament staff and national tennis teams were the only ones present at the venue, the week turned out to be an all-inclusive VIP package experience. Talking with representatives of tennis federations. Eating in the VIP lounge. Watching matches of Serbia with fellow compatriots who worked as facility managers. Special moments.

Until an opportunity came along that overshadowed them all.

PCR tests were my ticket to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, more precisely, to a 5-star superior hotel located in the snow-covered mountains of Tyrol. I was in the right place at the right time, when I overheard that the Serbian national tennis team needed to get tested for COVID-19 for their upcoming trip. Someone was needed to assist the guy doing the testing. I expressed my sincere interest. I hinted at how much this would mean to me. I pleaded with my eyes to take me with him.

Fast-forward a few hours later, and as we were taking the elevator up to the testing room, I was left slack-jawed by the interior of the hotel. Wooden furniture. Golden chandeliers. Royal blue carpets. A 5-star superior hotel in all its glory. Soon after we finished setting up the equipment, the players and coaching staff arrived. In bathrobes, might I add. I was the definition of calm, cool, and collected while I greeted them in Serbian and handed out pipettes for their tests.

Novak Djokovic entered the room. Surreal, like pinch-me surreal. Like the others, I greeted him politely and gave him his pipette. He looked at me, said I was kind, and gave me the tangerine he had been holding in his hand this entire time.

My first-ever encounter with one of the greatest athletes in tennis history ended with me leaving a 5-star superior hotel with a tangerine in my hand.