Bojana Jovanovski, aged 18, is currently ranked number 289 in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) list and number 12 in the junior competition. She began playing tennis when she was seven. By the age of 12, she had become Serbian champion in the Junior Championship for 14-year-olds. At the same time she finished runner-up in the Junior Championship for 16-year-olds. At the age of 13, she took part in just five European Tennis Association (ETA) tournaments, but still managed to become one of the top 13 European tennis players in her category.

In 2006, Jovanovski entered the International Tennis Federation (ITF) after playing for the European team that consisted of the seven best junior players. This team played in five tournaments altogether. Within a year, Jovanovski moved from not being ranked in the ITF list at all to the top 15 junior players in the world. Her success continued in 2007 when she excelled in the world junior competition. She achieved her best rank in April 2008 when she was ranked the 5th best junior player in the world. She also took part in all of the junior Grand Slams and made it to the quaterfinals of the Australian Open, the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and to the fourth round at Roland Garros. Jovanovski is also a member of the Serbian Federation Cup team.

Filip Krajinović is 17 years old. He is currently ranked 526th in the ATP list and 6th in the world for the junior category. He has been playing tennis since he was five and is yet to lose a single match against his peers in Serbia. He has also played for the Serbian national team.

The turning point in his career came at the Orange Bowl competition in Florida in 2007, where he came to the attention of well-known tennis experts. He is now practicing at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where Monica Seleš, Jelena Janković, Boris Becker, Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova have also trained. On one occasion, Bollettieri commented Krajinović: ‘I advise you to keep an eye on him. He's going to be a hell of a player. He reminds me in a lot of ways of Andre Agassi, except Andre was not so comfortable at the net.’

In 2008 Krajinović reached the semifinals of the Challenger in Knoxville, the finals in Brazil and won the tournament in Brussels. His successes also include reaching the semifinals in two junior Grand Slams, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Both Bojana and Filip are motivated by the great success of their older established Serbian counterparts. Improved support from the state and from the Serbian Tennis Association has fostered these players’ development. Before the rise of Djoković, Janković and Ivanović, tennis was not such a popular sport in Serbia. During the 80’s, Serbian achievements in tennis were primarily connected to the name of Slobodan Živojinović, who was ranked number 19 among the singles and number one doubles player in the world. Greater success came with Monica Seleš in the 90’s. She was the number one player in the world in 1991, before deciding three years later to continue her career as a representative of the United States. After that, not a single Serbian tennis player made any headlines until the emergence of Jelena Dokić. She first played for Australia, but came back to Belgrade in 2002. Reinstated as a Serbian citizen, she secured herself the 4th place in the rankings, the best of her career.

Apart from hours on tennis courts and intensive training at home and abroad, there is no secret formula or reason to explain what has brought about this new wave of talent. Serbian players have become successful due to their ambition, effort and persistence. The popularity of tennis has grown over recent years, and young hopefuls now have role models to look up to. The public interest and fame that accompanies success in the sport has of course equally motivated the younger generation. It is no longer an uncommon sight to see children playing tennis in their yards or in front of the buildings, enjoying the simple pleasures of the game. And once in a while, the dream of a professional career and stardom lingers silently at their back of their minds...