Come Khalid ha partecipato al record di distruzione e perché Jumhur ha pianto: "Mi sono finalmente divertito a giocare a tennis"

In June 1992, shortly after the start of the war in Sarajevo, a remarkable tennis player was born who would later become one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most celebrated athletes. This child, named Damir Džumhur, began his journey in sports even before he could fully grasp the challenges of growing up during wartime. His father, Nerfid, remained behind in Sarajevo while young Damir fled with his mother, eventually reuniting with him years later when Džumhur was just a toddler. Džumhur’s early life coincided with one of the darkest periods of Sarajevo’s history. Despite the hardships, he found solace in tennis, a passion passed down from his father, who had already established himself as a local tennis instructor by 1994. At the age of six, Džumhur picked up a racket and began training under his father’s guidance, laying the foundation for what would become an extraordinary career. As a teenager, Džumhur quickly rose through the ranks of international tennis. By the time he reached his teens, he was already making waves on the ATP Tour and participating in prestigious Grand Slam tournaments. One memorable moment came during a match against Roger Federer, where a ball struck the top of the net and landed on Džumhur’s side of the court. The commentary, delivered by a local commentator, captured the moment with flair: “Federer had luck. That’s not surprising, because if he hadn’t had luck, he’d have been born in Bosnia, not Switzerland.” Džumhur’s breakthrough came in 2017, when he claimed titles in St. Petersburg and Moscow, solidifying his position among the world’s top players. His rankings continued to rise, and in 2018, he achieved a career-high ranking of 23rd in the world following his victory at the ATP tournament in Antalya. Since then, Džumhur has consistently maintained a place within the top 100 players globally, often showing flashes of brilliance on the court. One such moment occurred in May 2024 during the Umag Open in Croatia. In the quarterfinals, Džumhur faced Matteo Arnaldi in a grueling three-set match that lasted three hours and 42 minutes. The match featured multiple tiebreaks, marking a new record for the longest match at the tournament since its inception in 1990. After securing victory, Džumhur expressed his emotions to the crowd at the Goran Ivanišević Stadium, declaring, “This is history. At least something. And I won, because if I had lost, it wouldn’t mean much. It was an incredible match on both sides.” He reflected on the pressure he felt during the match, comparing it to another tough encounter against Davidovich Fokine at Roland Garros, where he struggled against an opponent who played with exceptional precision. Later in the match, Džumhur recalled a personal moment that deeply moved him. As the score stood at 6–5 in the third set, a familiar melody began playing from the speakers. It was the song "Polje širio miris ljiljana," performed by the late singer Halid Bešlić. The lyrics, which spoke of love and longing, resonated with the audience, many of whom were fans of the Bosnian national team competing in the Olympics. Džumhur described how the song stirred deep emotions within him, recalling a similar experience during the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where the stadium echoed with the voices of supporters singing the same tune. Reflecting on the significance of the moment, Džumhur acknowledged the legacy of Halid Bešlić, a beloved musician whose music had touched generations. He praised Bešlić’s contributions to Bosnian culture, noting that no one had ever spoken ill of him. For Džumhur, the song served as a powerful symbol of unity and perseverance, especially for a country with limited sporting success. He emphasized the importance of supporting achievements in sports, calling them vital for a small nation like Bosnia and Herzegovina.