Novak Djokovic wows New York crowd as he excels at huge American sport ahead of World Cup final

Novak Djokovic remains one of tennis' best players despite his advancing years, but in the United States on Saturday ahead of the FIFA World Cup final, the 39-year-old impressed crowds in perhaps the country's most popular sport.

The Serbian legend was attending Fanatics Fest in New York City in the United States ahead of the World Cup final, and he was given the chance to exhibit his basketball skills, taking a few shots from outside the three-point line.

The three-point line on a basketball court indicates a distance of 23 feet, nine inches (7.24 metres) from the centre of the basket, with the corners 22 feet (6.71m) away.

Sinking a three-pointer is one of the toughest challenges in the sport of basketball, with even professional players finding it tough to reliably score from that distance.

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However, Djokovic surprised the fans watching, as he scored not one, but three back-to-back shots from beyond the line, recalling the exploits of stars such as Steph Curry - known for his exceptional ability from the distance.

Perhaps his success should not come as a huge surprise, given the 39-year-old has long been credited with an interest in the sport.

In 2019, Serbian basketball star Nikola Kalinic wrote in his blog:  "Finally, I would like to congratulate Novak Djokovic for winning another Australian Open. 

”He is a big basketball fan and was at the Final Four in Belgrade. He is really an incredible tennis player, and I don't think people in Serbia realise how big Djokovic is in world sports right now.

”Some other basketball players, like Milos Teodosic, have a better relationship with him, and they hang out together whenever they meet.”

As well as Kalinic and Teodosic, Serbia is famous for its healthy list of athletes who have impressed not just in European basketball, but at the very top of the sport in the NBA.

Nikola Jokic is regarded as probably Serbia's greatest player, but he is also one of the best basketball players of all time. The Denver Nuggets centre has won the NBA MVP (Most Valuable Player) three times, and was the 2023 NBA Finals MVP.

The 31-year-old remains one of the most talented and dangerous players in the sport, winning the play-off with the Nuggets in 2023.

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Djokovic is eight years his senior but continues to thrive in tennis, even if he does not dominate as he did at his peak.

Injuries and age have reduced his ability to compete with players like Jannik Sinner, the most recent winner at Wimbledon, but Djokovic reached the semi-final stage before losing to the Italian.

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Djokovic holds the record for the most Grand Slams won by a tennis player on the men's side of the sport with 24, ending the season as world No. 1 a record eight times, and has won 101 ATP Tour-level singles titles.

His last major victory was a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, with his latest Grand Slam success coming at the 2023 US Open.

The veteran operates on a reduced schedule as he looks to conserve his fitness for major tournaments, with no confirmed date for his next competitive match.

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