There’s been a big wave of sports documentaries lately—everything from reality shows like Drive to Survive and its many copycats, to ones focused on a single famous athlete, like Beckham or Pelé. Tennis, which for a long time lagged behind in off-court cultural appeal, now has more than its fair share of well-made docs—from the touching Chris & Martina: The Final Set to Naomi Osaka, Carlos Alcaraz: My Way, Federer: Twelve Final Days, and the recent, gripping four-part series Rafa, which centers on Rafael Nadal’s near-lifelong battle with a string of injuries as he rose to become one of the game’s all-time greats.
The newest addition to this group is Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter, which premieres today on Prime Video. Directed by Jason Hehir—best known for the acclaimed The Last Dance miniseries about Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls—The Wolf in Winter stands out, in many ways, for what it isn’t. It’s not a collection of highlight reels, nor is it a by-the-numbers biography that tells the predictable, inspiring story of early talent and overcoming tough battles, with lessons learned along the way.
Sure, we do get the necessary backstory, unusual as it is for a tennis prodigy. Djokovic’s early life in war-torn Serbia is shown through both footage and his own memories, as he talks about running through Belgrade’s streets during an air raid, losing his parents’ grip and stumbling to the ground while they kept going. We meet the early teacher who spotted something special in him; we see him go through the tough but necessary split from his parents when he left for Germany at age 12 to get the training a future champion needed.
Photo: Courtesy Prime Video
And yes, we hear from those who know Djokovic best—most notably his wife, Jelena, but also tennis writers, childhood friends, and former players (led by Andre Agassi, who deserves some kind of award for Most Insightful Commentary From a Talking Head in a Documentary).
But expectations are also pleasantly turned on their head as The Wolf in Winter dives into issues lesser documentaries would likely steer clear of. It tackles head-on Djokovic’s complicated relationship with the tennis establishment and fans, many of whom seemed to hold a grudge against the man who would eventually win 24 Grand Slams, because he came along and spoiled the almost perfectly crafted rivalry between the fiery Nadal and the impossibly graceful Federer.
This is a strength, not a flaw, of the film. “For what we do, polarizing is great,” Hehir noted at a private screening last month at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan. “Polarizing means someone is misunderstood—it probably means they feel they’re misunderstood—and as filmmakers, we love to dig into that.”
Photo: Courtesy Prime Video
We hear Djokovic’s explanation—from his own words and Jelena’s, among others—of what looked to the outside world like a self-destructive mistake during the COVID pandemic, when he was denied entry to Australia in 2022 because he wasn’t vaccinated. For the record, this is the fullest account of the situation I’ve seen, and it lends a lot of weight to Djokovic’s side and his view of events. That said, if there’s one clear example of Djokovic’s admitted stubbornness that still seems like a self-inflicted wound, this is it.
Yet that same stubbornness is exactly what seems to have driven Djokovic—his whole life—to prove people wrong. To show that a scrawny kid from a war-torn country could make it as a pro; that he could win tournaments; that he could upset the world’s top players; and, ultimately, that he could win more Grand Slam titles than any other man in tennis history. The film also gets at the key dynamic playing out in his career.Right now, the big question is: when will the now 39-year-old finally hang up his racket? Even if we don’t get a clear answer, we can definitely see the inner conflict that’s currently driving him.
It says a lot about Djokovic’s self-assurance that he’s willing to open up so much like this, rather than just basking in his own glory. “There was no intention,” Djokovic himself said at the MoMA screening, “to make a highlight reel out of this film. Because I watch sports documentaries, and some of them are just like, ‘Look at me, I’m the best, and here are my achievements and awards.’ We try, I think, to show the other side—something more personal—the moments that really shape who I am, my life, and my family.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the documentary Novak Djokovic The Wolf in Winter written in a natural conversational tone
General Beginner Questions
Q What is The Wolf in Winter
A Its a documentary film that follows Novak Djokovic during the 2024 tennis season Its not a highlight reel its a behindthescenes look at his mindset his routines and the physical and mental toll of competing at the highest level in his late 30s
Q Why is it being called the best tennis film in years
A Because its not just for tennis fans Instead of just showing matches it focuses on the psychological battle Its a raw intimate portrait of an athlete trying to defy age which makes it gripping even if you dont know a backhand from a forehand
Q Is this a biography of his whole life
A No Its a season documentary It zooms in on a specific crucial periodthe 2024 seasonwhere hes fighting for Olympic gold and more Grand Slams while dealing with injuries and a younger generation of players
Q Im not a big tennis fan Will I be bored
A Probably not The film is more about human endurance obsession and sacrifice The tennis is the backdrop the real story is about what it takes to be the best and what that does to a person
Q Where can I watch it
A It premiered on Prime Video Youll need an Amazon Prime subscription to stream it
Content Storytelling Questions
Q What makes this documentary different from other sports docs like The Last Dance
A The Last Dance was a retrospective with a lot of archival footage The Wolf in Winter is a véritéstyle filmthe cameras are right there in the locker room in the physio room and in his hotel room It feels more immediate and less polished
Q Does the film address his controversial moments or his critics