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Learn about the actor who plays the World No. 1
February 07, 2024
Bert Critchley plays the role of Novak Djokovic.ATP Tour
Bert Critchley plays the role of Novak Djokovic.
By ATP Staff
If you thought Novak Djokovic’s tennis career was too good to be true, it turns out you were right. It’s all staged. None of it’s real!

He’s just a (very well-paid) actor in ‘The Tour: A Reality Show’. The ATP Tour has revealed today that the global tennis circuit is one big TV show.

Silly you for believing any player could win 24 Grand Slams and 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles.


‘Novak’s’ real name is Bert Critchley, who as a six-year-old had one dream:becoming one of the best skiers in the world.

Nothing made Critchley happier than carving the slopes of his local mountain. Many children struggle to stand upright on their skis without assistance at a young age.

But Bert was no ordinary junior. Through his teens, Critchley appeared destined for stardom on a global stage. Nobody his age showed the same fearlessness accelerating down a mountain.

Off the skis, Critchley’s endearing personality made him the centre of nearly every room. His jokes made everyone smile. Win or lose a race, he always found a quip to put his friends and competitors in stitches.

Everything changed when he was 19. Critchley won a race in the north of Italy when an unfamiliar face approached him near the finish line.

“Young man, my name is Pete Smith and I’m a television producer,” he said. “As well as you race on the mountain, I think you can reach new levels of fame around the world. Have you ever played tennis before?”

It just so happened that Critchley had. While he was best on his skis, he had grown up playing tennis twice a week under the tutelage of Maria Ilic, one of the most well-renowned coaches in the world. She had two decades earlier helped Jelena Jokic win a Grand Slam title.

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Smith was offering Critchley an opportunity to star as rising Serbian player Novak Djokovic in the new series “ATP Tour: This Is Tennis”, which was to be broadcast around the globe.

So as much as Critchley enjoyed weaving through the snow, he took a leap of faith. Nearly two decades later, he is one of the most famous actors on Earth.

“I’ve been part of this show for 16, 17 years, or ATP seasons, as we call them,” Critchley said. “Something that I’m really trying to evoke with this Novak character is not just the performance and the achievements, but a bit more of an essence. A bit more of personality.”

Producers of the show have developed Djokovic’s character from a member of the supporting cast to its biggest star for years. Critchley has won eight Emmy’s for his portrayal of the inimitable competitor.

Djokovic has been a dominant force on the court, nearly as commanding as Critchley’s performance on the screen. Fans who schedule their days around the show love the way he peels back new layers on Djokovic’s character every season.

“I try to have people relate to him,” Critchley said. “I want to bring truth to Novak. What is he thinking? What is he feeling? What would motivate him if he was a real person?”

Critchley has recent begun using method acting to portray his character. Djokovic wears his heart on his sleeve, and after the tightest matches has been known to rip his shirt off to show just how much the victory means to him.

So recently, Critchley began stepping away from the set and into a secluded restroom to practise ripping his shirt off and getting into the zone.

“Not easy,” Critchley said. “But it works.”