*See the end of the interview for more detailed TEJT highlights
Tell us a little bit about how you started out in tennis.
I started at the age of four. I started because my brother was playing first and I followed him, so my parents also wanted me to play. They didn't play tennis so I really wanted to start to play tennis with my brother.
Okay, I read that your parents moved from Serbia to France in 2000. On top of French, you speak Serbian I assume?
Yes (smiles)
You get a lot of support from Serbian people as well? I've seen some videos around the place where they have Serbian flags when you're playing as well. Is that strange or is that cool?
No, it's good because I like also Serbia because it's like my second country and yeah, I like to have support from them and so I like it.
Apart from what you told me about your brother, is there anything else that made you want to pick up a racquet?
It's also because of Djokovic… because I watched him a lot when he was playing and when I was young and so I wanted to have the same career as him, so I tried my best!
That answers my next question! Who are/were your tennis idols? Are there any others apart from Novak?
Obviously, Djokovic … and Alcaraz and Sinner.
And any women that you like watching?
Yes, Sabalenka and Olga Danilovic, a Serbian!
Is there anything about those players specifically regarding their game or their mentality that speaks to you?
I want to be like Alcaraz (in the sense that) I try to copy his game with his forehand. He has a really strong forehand and also his mentality! I try to take everything from them to do the things they do.
And from Djokovic?
The same: mentality.
How do you combine school and education with training and tournament schedules?
I study via an online school. I only do two hours per day so it's pretty easy to do school and tennis on the same day.
Is it a traditional school that allows you to study with them online or a dedicated online school, like our partners at Minerva?
It’s a specific online school.
So, what does a day in the life of Mario look like?
I have classes from 8 to 10 in the morning and then I practice. At 2pm I eat and relax. And then more training from 4pm to 6pm.
Obviously, there's conditioning as well as gym training…
Yes. I do exercises, stretches, apart from the tennis, and of course we also do physical fitness tennis after the training, stretching … a lot of things!
How often do you get to see your non-tennis friends?
I have a lot of tennis friends, but not many “normal” friends who don't play tennis. I don't have friends from school because it’s online and I started four years ago, so I don't really have friends near my house. My friends are from tennis and I see them at practice or at tournaments.
What has the Tennis Europe Junior Tour given you?
It has given me a great start, because everyone passes through Tennis Europe and everyone plays on the tour.
What’s your favourite TEJT tournament that you’ve played?
I like playing the Winter Cups and the Summer Cups. They’re nice. And Tarbes.
So obviously you enjoy playing for France and you revel in this team atmosphere.
Yes, when I play for France, I give my best and they have more motivation as I'm playing for myself and for the team as well. I try to play for them and to give my best to win.
Well, with the French team you won the Winter Cups and you have recently had an amazing victory at the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals in Prostejov, defeating USA 2-0 in the final, congratulations! How do you feel after a win like that?
The victory feels amazing!! Before the tournament, the team wasn’t at our best, we weren’t doing well in practice, but when the competition started, we all got motivated to give our best. Winning this type of title after the summer, which was very bad for us, feels amazing. I want to thank my teammates (Samuel Dakessian and Evan Girescu) and our coach (Gérald Bremond) who also give his best for all of us!
How was your experience there at the Rafa Nadal Academy playing in the Carlos Moyà 12&U Festival two years ago?
Well, you know, I wasn’t supposed to play this tournament actually, but one guy from France got injured, so I came in as a replacement and I was surprised by tournament! It was the first time I saw all the sponsors and everything. I was a little bit stressed, but in the end, I won so at that point I thought to myself “come on keep going, and you can do even better!”
Is going to Monte Carlo a motivation for you?
No. I think I will not play this tournament because with my coach we decided to not play, but we will see.
And talking about your game specifically, maybe you can be a bit analytical: what is the best part of your game that you think you have?
I think my forehand and my physical fitness. I have good movement on court and I think I can improve my backhand and then my serve.
Not everybody knows, so can you let us in on what are some of the difficult things about being a junior tennis player? Apart from the traveling and maybe being away from your family.
Yeah, this … and also the players. Sometimes they are kind, sometimes not. And sometimes some players create, like, a rivalry. But for me, there is no rivalry. You play against everyone. You try your best to win. If you lose, it's okay. And that’s it.
Your quarterfinal match against Laurens Drijver at the European Junior Championships was a difficult one.
Yeah, the match was tough. I didn’t feel very well because the day before I was sick and I vomited a lot, so physically it was harder. I’m not looking for excuses, but I think that was part of the defeat and he also played a great match and pushed me to the limit.
When there are days that are difficult like that, how do you find motivation?
That's a tough question. At the Summer Cups we had a tough day after we lost, but when we woke up the next morning, we told ourselves to do our best to finish number five to qualify for Prostejov. So, we went there, and we were pretty happy about this.
I saw that it was a tough loss and you weren't probably paying your best either. It happens. When you lose singles and then the doubles on top of that, obviously it was not fun either. How do you regroup afterwards? How do you reset and get back to normal?
With my friends we weren’t talking for two hours after this. Just silent.
Together, but silent…
Yeah, in the room no one was talking, but after we relaxed and we said it's okay, we lost and we keep going and try our best to win other matches.
That's great. You see sometimes even some adults don't react so well, so that's mature. What's your favourite part of training? Because I know a lot of kids might not love training, but are there any specific things that you enjoy?
Points. Playing points! Sometimes I get bored when I get fed balls from a basket and to only repeat, repeat, repeat.
What advice would you give to any other young children, maybe nine or ten years old or younger, who want to start becoming involved in playing junior tournaments and perhaps one day become professionals?
To enjoy this sport, it's a beautiful sport, just to enjoy it! And with the competition and the school: if they want, if they have a really strong project or goal, they can do it… but otherwise, don't do it (if you’re not fully committed).
What’s next for you?
After Tennis Europe I will probably play ITF in France, so I hope I will do well … and after I hope ATP too!
That was my last question: your future goals. What is your big dream?
To win every Grand Slam at least once, maybe multiple times.
That’s a fantastic objective to have… I wish you all the best! Thank you very much for speaking with us.
Thank you!
__________________________________________________________
*Vukovic has played in 19 finals on the TEJT (singles and doubles). Of those, here are some of his most outstanding victories:
2025:
14&U Tarbes, Super Category (Les Petits As) 🏆
14&U Bolton, Category 1 (Junior International) 🏆
2024:
14&U Paris, Category 1 (Open du Stade Français) 🏆
2023:
12&U Festival 🏆 🏆 (singles and doubles)
12&U Passagespoirs Category 1🏆
In addition:
Team Competitions
14&U Tennis Europe Winter Cups 2025
Team France: Champions 🏆
14&U ITF World Junior Tennis Finals 2025
Team France: Champions 🏆