VISOKO, Bosnia and Herzegovina — Recently-crowned Wimbledon champion
Novak Djokovic arrived in Bosnia on
Wednesday to inaugurate tennis courts at a 'pyramid park' that he regularly
visits to recharge his batteries.
اضافة اعلان
The tennis star, known for his
new-age spiritual interests, is fond of a hill town of Visoko, where thousands
flock every year to what some believe are an ancient man-made pyramid complex
with healing powers — a claim rejected by scientists.
The 35-year-old Serb, who claimed
his 21st Grand Slam title on Sunday, visited the site for the first time in
2020 and called it a "paradise on earth".
He has returned to the "Bosnian
Pyramids of the Sun" complex at least four times, either alone or with his
family, to be always warmly welcomed by its founder Semir Osmanagic.
Bosnian businessman and ancient civilization
aficionado Osmanagic said the idea to construct a regional tennis training center
was born during Djokovic's last visit in March.
"We have agreed to build in our
park two courts for training of the top-level players, one hard-court and
another one with clay surface" Osmanagic told reporters recently.
The idea is to offer players and
Djokovic's friends the chance to train and have free accommodation, he
explained.
"We also want to organize here
a Pyramid Cup for players from the region and want notably to motivate
youngsters to play tennis and other sports".
The inauguration will be marked by
all-day events with several exhibition matches, notably by Djokovic and
Croatian Ivan Dodig, world number 17.
Upon the arrival, Djokovic visited
the new courts and went for a walk into a pine forest, which is a part of the
park, with his host, according to an AFP journalist.
Osmanagic, a self-styled
archaeologist, has been claiming for the past two decades that he has
discovered several pyramids built by a mysterious civilization close to Visoko.
For the past few years his teams
have been also clearing underground tunnels near the "Pyramids of the
Sun" and he boasts of its beneficial effects on the health of visitors.
Djokovic has meditated at the site
and during each visit walked kilometers of "energy" tunnels, which
are according to archaeologists, an ancient gold mine.
In 2020, Djokovic told AFP he felt
"regenerated" after the visit.
"I know there are many doubts
and dilemmas about the authenticity" of the place, he said.
But "in order to fully
understand what is going on here, ... you have to come".
Djokovic said on Monday it was
unlikely he will feature in this year's US Open as he continues to refuse to be
vaccinated against COVID-19.
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