University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Katarina Jokic
February 24, 2020 | Women's Tennis, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Katarina Jokic was the best women's college tennis player in the country during the 2018-19 season. At the end of her sophomore year, she was ranked No. 1 in the country, she was named the ITA Division I National Player of the year and she was a Honda Award finalist.
Jokic also led the Georgia women's tennis team to the ITA National Team Indoor championship and the finals of the NCAA tournament. It was, to say the least, a big year for the native of Novi Grad, Bosnia, with the big, big game.
During a recent Quick Chat, Jokic talked about her start in tennis, how she arrived at Georgia as an introvert and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: Growing up, did you play a lot of different sports and tennis was your best or was it pretty much tennis all the time?
Jokic: Well, when I was six my dad took me to the tennis courts, and then I came back again and again. That was how it started; I used to also do track, like I was a fast kid.
At the beginning, I loved picking up balls actually more than hitting them [laughs], but then I obviously started loving tennis. In elementary school I played a lot of different sports but tennis was always my No. 1.
Frierson: When did you know that tennis could take you beyond just your home and even your country, that it could take you around the world and to college at Georgia?
Jokic: I'd say at a very young age. When I was 10 years old, I won this tournament that everyone from all different countries came in played in, and I won. I was like, well, this is kind of a big deal, I guess, right now. So then I got a sponsor and after that I came to the U.S. to play in the Eddie Herr (International Junior Championship) and the Orange Bowl — they're both big tournaments.
I guess it was when I was 10 that I figured out that maybe I can do more than just play local tournaments. I didn't think it was a big deal before I actually won the tournament and even a few days after I won it, because I was 10, I didn't have a clue. Then there were people talking to my parents about having this sponsor or this sponsor ... it was a huge deal.
Frierson: What did you make of the U.S. the first time you visited?
Jokic: I loved it. I was in Florida and I went to the IMG Academy and I really loved it. I was like, I can't wait to come back here.
Frierson: How close did you come to just turning professional and not going to college?
Jokic: I had a knee surgery (at 17) and I couldn't play tennis for a year, so it was more like maybe, hopefully I'll recover. But if I don't recover, if I have to stop tennis, then I have to study. Thankfully I recovered well and then I was like, if I get injured again or something like this happens again and I don't have a backup, then what am I going to do? If I can't play tennis, what's my life going to look like?
During this recovery process I still played some tournaments before college, but I was really thinking about getting my education. I just thought going to a really good school that has good academics and good tennis is probably the best fit right now, and I'm glad I made that decision right now.
Frierson: How valuable was that experience as far as learning and thinking about life beyond the tennis court?
Jokic: Just thinking back, that was the worst year of my life, by far. Right now I appreciate things more because of what happened in the past. Sometimes now when I get mad on the court, I remember how much I suffered without tennis and how I went through a lot of pain, and now I'm able to play tennis at a high level. You can't ask for more.
I learned a lot from that experience and hopefully it doesn't happen to anyone ever.
Frierson: When you think of your home or hometown, what comes to mind?
Jokic: When I think of home I think of my family. Of course, I love my city and where I'm from, but then what first comes to mind is my family. But then again, home is here as well. I have my team, my friends, the coaches are my friends too — they do everything they can to make sure everyone on the team is getting the best experience here.
It's kind of like I have two homes now and that's awesome.
Frierson: In what way are you now the most American after living here for a few years?
Jokic: Actually, yes, I just thought about this a few days ago. When I came here I was so shy, an introvert, I didn't want to talk, to open up to people. And it was people coming and asking me these personal questions and I'm like, I don't want to tell you this [laughs], I don't.
And now it's my third year here and I'm closer with everyone on the team because I'm starting to open up — and it feels so much better. So when I go home and I tell my mom or my brother or my dad things that I wouldn't say three years ago, they're like, oh, wow [laughs], I didn't know you were going to say this.
I think maybe it's the culture and the way I was raised, that's why I was a little too shy and introverted. Here, you're always with the team so you have to talk [laughs]. They always have my back and I trust them.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
