Djokovic unveils wax figure of himself in Serbia

BELGRADE - An estimated 6,000 adoring fans braved frigid temperatures on Thursday to get a glimpse of the world's top seeded tennis player Novak Djokovic in the central Serbian town of Jagodina, reported the Serbian news agency Tanjug.

Djokovic arrived in Jagodina to reveal his life-like statue at the wax museum in the town. The event was attended by the town's mayor, Dragan Markovic-Palma, and the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic.

According to Markovic-Palma, the timing of the unveiling of Djokovic's wax figure was fortuitous, given the fact that Djokovic had received the award as top sportsman for 2011 at the Laureus Sports Award in London only days earlier.

"We believe that Nole is the most successful Serbian athlete and that his figure should be in a museum," said Markovic-Palma, adding that other Serbian athletes would not be ignored in the future, naming basketball players Vlade Divac and Sasha Djordjevic as possible entries.

The wax figure was made by Belgrade sculptor Svetomir Radovic after reviewing extensive video recordings and photographs of Djokovic in action. The life-size figure is dressed in attire worn by Djokovic and holds a racket used by him in an actual tennis match.