10 Longest tennis matches ever played at Grand Slams, including Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal in 2012

10 Longest tennis matches ever played at Grand Slams, including Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal in 2012

[ad_1]

Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

The game of tennis is unique in that it sometimes requires physical and mental exertion to be pushed to the max in marathon matches. A few of these matches have tested the boundaries of some of the best players in the game and took the sport to new levels.

With that in mind, let’s look at 10 of the greatest marathon matches in Grand Slam history.

10. Björn Borg vs. John McEnroe  – 1980 Wimbledon: 3 hours, 53 minutes

Credit: Presse Sports via USA TODAY Sports

The men’s singles final of 1980 Wimbledon was a memorable clash between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. The match took 3 hours and 53 minutes of an excellent game and the great physical exertion of the players. Borg finally asserted himself in the fifth set winning 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7, 8–6, in what many have described as one of the all-time great tennis battles.

Also Read: 10 worst NBA moves this offseason, including Mikal Bridges trade

9. Guillermo Vilas vs. Björn Borg  – 1978 French Open: 4 hours, 41 minutes

Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sport

Some of the longest tennis matches of all time include the 1978 French Open final between Guillermo Vilas and Björn Borg. The match lasted for 4 hours and 41 minutes. Specialist in clay court, Borg won the match in five sets by 6–1, 6–1, 3–6, 3–6, 6–4. In fact, he got his fourth French Open title in a strenuous fight against Vilas who was an incredible opponent on clay surfaces in that period.

8. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal  – 2008 Wimbledon: 4 hours, 48 minutes

Credit: USA Today Sports

Another memorable match of tennis includes the two most prominent tennis players of this generation, who played in the final match at Wimbledon in 2008: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The match was 4 hours 48 minutes long, making it the then-longest Wimbledon final up to that time. Nadal won it in five sets 6–4, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7. It proved to be an epic showdown between two of the world’s best tennis players.

Also Read: 10 best moves of the 2024 NHL offseason

7. Andy Murray vs. Novak Djokovic  – 2012 US Open: 4 hours, 54 minutes

Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Andy Murray defeated Novak Djokovic in the US Open final in 2012 in a very long match. It lasted 4 hours and 54 minutes. Murray defeated Djokovic to win the match and, as a result, his first Grand Slam championship title. Such a tough game showed the highest level of physical and psychological tension s of these two players.

6. Andy Roddick vs. Younes El Aynaoui –  2003 Australian Open: 4 hours, 59 minutes

Credit: GEPA/USA TODAY Sports

Andy Roddick against Younes El Aynaoui in the 2003 Australian Open quarterfinal is one of the longest matches in history. It lasted 4 hours and 59 minutes. In the end, Roddick managed to beat El Aynaoui in five sets 4–6, 7–6, 4–6, 6–4, 21–19. Also, this match, at that time, set a record for the most games played in a fifth set at a Grand Slam.

Related: 10 Greatest Wimbledon players of all time – From Steffi Graf to Roger Federer

5. Stan Wawrinka vs. Novak Djokovic –  2013 Australian Open: 5 hours, 2 minutes

Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

A record-breaking 5 hours and 2 minutes Australian Open final match between Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic happened in 2013. The audience witnessed an extremely tense match with the final score of 1–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–7, 12–10, which gave Djokovic the victory. It was a true testament to the fighting spirit of both players. They certainly brought out the best in each other in one of the most epic Australian Open finals of all time.

4. Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal –  2012 Australian Open: 5 hours, 53 minutes

Credit: USA Today Network

The match between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the final of the 2012 Australian Open is considered one of the greatest tennis matches in history. It also holds the record for being the longest final of all the Grand Slam events. Taking 5 hours and 53 minutes, Djokovic defeated Nadal 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5), 7–5. In the end, the fatigue was such that during the trophy ceremony, the two players had to sit down.

Also Read: 10 Most Amazing Records in NASCAR History, Including Most Consecutive Cup Series Titles

3. Fabrice Santoro vs. Arnaud Clément  – 2004 French Open: 6 hours, 33 minutes

Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) Frank Victores

In the longest French Open match, Fabrice Santoro defeated Arnaud Clément 6–4, 6–3, 6–7(5), 3–6, 16–14. Overall, it took 6 hours and 33 minutes and spread over two days. This first-round marathon showed how tough clay-court tennis is on the body and the mind. The match which included many long exchanges and a tense fifth set concluded with Santoro falling to the ground.

2. Kevin Anderson vs. John Isner  – 2018 Wimbledon: 6 hours, 36 minutes

Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

The longest Wimbledon semifinal match of all time had Kevin Anderson coming out on top against John Isner. All in all, it was a 6-hour and 36-minute long match with a 7–6(6), 6–7(5), 6–7(9), 6–4, 26–24 win. This battle of the Titans showed great endurance and determination from the players. Anderson won after a tough fifth set that included a 50-game face-off.

Also Read: Top 10 USA Olympics track victories ever, including Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph

1. John Isner vs. Nicolas Mahut –  2010 Wimbledon: 11 hours, 5 minutes

Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

The match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in the first round of the 2010 Wimbledon Championship is the longest match ever in tennis history. It was stretched to three days and 11 hours and 5 minutes before Isner was finally crowned the winner 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7), 7–6(3), 70–68. This match was undoubtedly the longest tennis match ever, with the fifth set taking 8 hours and 11 minutes. 

[ad_2]

Source link

‘My Tennis Doesn’t Make Her Excited’- Novak Djokovic’s Daughter Triggers Mixed Emotions With Candid Parenthood Reality

‘My Tennis Doesn’t Make Her Excited’- Novak Djokovic’s Daughter Triggers Mixed Emotions With Candid Parenthood Reality

[ad_1]

Perhaps even the biggest hater of Novak Djokovic wouldn’t dare to read books in the middle of his matches. Cause his matches are always full of entertainment no matter if he wins it or ends up on the losing side. Recently, the Serb advanced to the semis of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships without even stepping onto the court. As Alex de Minaur withdrew from that QF match citing a hip injury. Djokovic, fresh off his semifinal berth, discussed the young bookworm spotted during one of his matches. And the father of two was both “Happy and sad”!The 37-year-old Serbian has two children, Both Stefan (9) and Tara (6), with his wife Jelena. The two kids are having a wonderful time at the SW19. They were seen playing a friendly double match with their father during one of the practice sessions. Both of them even met the defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz during their stay at this iconic venue. However, seeing his daughter read a book of unicorns during his third round clash against Alexei Popyrin triggered mixed emotions in the 24-time Grand Slam.Appearing on the Tennis Channel after de Minaur’s withdrawal, Djokovic admitted, “I was very happy when I saw that and sad at the same time because my tennis doesn’t make her excited so much so that she needs to grab a book to entertain herself.”How do you feel about Novak Djokovic’s daughter not being excited by his tennis career?Furthermore Djokovic revealed his heart gets filled with love whenever he sees them. It helps him reduce the stress and allows him to enjoy his game on the court a bit more. “It’s incredible to have them with me and to see them grow. And get them to be part of this journey and have them at the age where they can understand what’s going on.”Djokovic is one of those players who has faced several boos and jeers whenever he has stepped onto the courts. However, he has steered them all to become a top-class player. Being Novak Djokovic ain’t for faint faint-hearted! And to help him out on his journey he has always found his wife, Jelena, and his kids. Just a few days ago even in Wimbledon, a similar scene of him taking on the crowd was seen after he felt they were ‘disrespecting’ him.However, at the same time, he was also spotted using his racquet to play the violin in a gesture dedicated to his daughter in his box. Nole is truly a bundle of emotions!“Whenever she looks at me, I’m disarmed” – Novak DjokovicEveryone inside the stadium was amazed to see Djokovic playing violin with his racquet after playing his recent match in Wimbledon. They wondered to whom he dedicated this in the crowd, but they didn’t have to wait for too long as the Serb himself gave a clarification during the on-court interview. He revealed, “That was for Tara. My (daughter) has been playing violin for some time already, six months, and we agreed that I would celebrate that way.”He believes having his family around him during the Tours provides him with a “great balance“. We’ve seen both of his kids playing tennis with him recently but how much do they like the sport though? Previously during an interview in 2023, Novak Djokovic revealed that his daughter is not into tennis at all.Instead, she’s more into ballet and gymnastics. He said she’s the one who always keeps him grounded and humble and spins around him every single day. “Whenever she looks at me, I’m disarmed. Her look is the most beautiful look I’ve ever experienced in my life,” said the father of two beautiful kids.

[ad_2]

Source link

Wimbledon 2024: Alex de Minaur’s awful double blow as tennis fans left fuming over Novak Djokovic detail

Wimbledon 2024: Alex de Minaur’s awful double blow as tennis fans left fuming over Novak Djokovic detail

[ad_1]

Not only was Alex de Minaur forced to withdraw from Wimbledon ahead of his clash with Novak Djokovic, he also appears highly likely to miss the Olympics later this month. The Aussie star announced on Wednesday night that he’d suffered a hip injury in his fourth-round victory over Arthur Fils, and wasn’t able to take the court against Djokovic.De Minaur said he heard a ‘crack’ while lunging for a volley on match point against Fils, and scans revealed a rare injury in the hip region. The new World No.6 said doctors couldn’t give him an exact timeframe for how long he’d be out of action, but initial estimates are between three and six weeks.Alex de Minaur (R) withdrew from his match against Novak Djokovic (L), who will play Lorenzo Musetti (centre) in the semi-finals at Wimbledon. Image: GettyWith the Paris Games starting in just two weeks, it looks like his Olympic dream will be ruined once again. De Minaur opted against playing at the Tokyo Games in 2021 due to the Covid-19 situation.”I’m devastated but I had to pull out due to a hip injury, a little tear of the fibre cartilage that kind of is at the end or connects to the adductor,” he explained. “I felt a loud crack during the last three points of my match against Fils, and a scan yesterday confirmed the injury and that I was at high risk of making it worse if I was to step on court.”They haven’t been able to give me a definite recovery time because it’s such a unique injury. Right now, it could be anywhere from three-to-six weeks out, it just depends how quickly my body heals. The problem with me going out and playing was that one stretch, one slide or one anything, could make this injury go from three to six weeks out to four months, so it was too much to risk.”Alex de Minaur knew something was wrong after his win in the fourth round. (Photo by Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)Alex de Minaur in extreme doubt for Paris OlympicsDe Minaur is due to play both singles and doubles at the Olympics, but the Aussie team might need ti find a new partner for Alexei Popyrin. “It’s been two days of worrying, and waiting to see what the results showed. In the grand scheme of things, it could have been worse,” he admitted.”I have been struggling to sleep the last couple of days. I feel it walking, just hoping I would wake up and feel it a little bit less, or that I could at least go on court. But I think it’s almost disrespectful for me not to go on the court close to 100 per cent against someone like Novak.”This is a completely unique injury they’ve got very little research on. There’s four years worth of research, so that’s why they couldn’t give me an approximate recovery time. It’s more just hope, wait and see. I’m hoping the pain goes down with a bit of rest.”RELATED:Tennis fans fume over ‘ridiculous’ Novak Djokovic developmentDe Minaur’s withdrawal gives Djokovic a free pass straight through to the semi-finals – and tennis fans are fuming. The World No.2 has only played one seeded player (15th seed Holger Rune) on his way to the final four, after Hubert Hurcakz (seventh) and Alexander Zverev (fourth) also suffered injuries at Wimbledon.The 24-time grand slam champion was gifted a seemingly easier run than some of his top rivals, with Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev all on the other side of the draw. Sinner beat Djokovic at the Australian Open in January, but was ill in his loss to Medvedev in the quarters at Wimbledon.Lorenzo Musetti celebrates after beating Taylor Fritz to advance to the Wimbledon semi-finals. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)Djokovic appeared likely to face 13th seed Taylor Frirz in the semis, but the American suffered a shock loss to 25th seed Lorenzo Musetti later on Wednesday. It means Djokovic won’t have played anyone ranked below 15th in the world if he advances to the final against the winner of Alcaraz and Medvedev.Tennis fans were quick to highlight the charmed run Djokovic has been given at Wimbledon. Some labelled it a ‘joke’ that he’s been so lucky, while others described it as ‘ridiculous’.It’s insane how many easy runs Djokovic gets, this is a grand slam and he won’t play 1 single top 10 player till the final.. ridiculous 🙄— ThePodiumZone (@4SportyUpdates) July 10, 2024What a joke, Djokovic gets the easiest draw in a decade. Then his one half decent opponent is ill in the quarters, and the next withdraws! https://t.co/9rdsiGqfom— James Billingham (@oolon) July 10, 2024I’m not a huge Djokovic fan, although I do respect his drive and tennis skill, which is about as top tier as they come. But he’s also had the easiest Wimbledon match up ever, including getting a walkover through the QF match. The bracket for this tournament was a joke.— Boyd P 🇺🇲🏳️‍🌈 (@BoydPetrie) July 10, 2024Djokovic’s path to the Wimbledon final:KoprivaFearnleyPopyrin RuneFritz/MusettiAbsolute joke, just like his last two Wimbledons. This is why he will never be a better grass courter than Federer. He is worthy of 5 Wimbledons. Not potentially 8.— Fred Meyer 🇽🇰 (@FredWMeyer_) July 10, 2024Musetti advanced to his first grand slam semi with a stunning 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 3-6 6-1 win over a clearly hampered Fritz. The 22-year-old said: “I probably have no words. It’s tough to speak but I’ll try. I think I didn’t realise yet what I’ve done. I want to say thanks to all the Italian crowd that’s here to support us.”I had the opportunity to walk on this really amazing stadium, it was really an honour for me and I think I played a fantastic match. I’m really, really happy to be in my first semi-final here. It’s a magic day. After the birth of my son, I will put in the second position today. For my career, it is the best day of my life.”with AAP

[ad_2]

Source link

Injury ruined Alex de Minaur’s Wimbledon

Injury ruined Alex de Minaur’s Wimbledon

[ad_1]

By Ian Chadband For Australian Associated Press

01:43 11 Jul 2024, updated 01:44 11 Jul 2024
Aussie had to pull out of quarter-final against Djokovic Badly injured his hip on match point of previous clash

Devastated Alex de Minaur faces the prospect of more tennis heartbreak, with his Olympic dream now set to be dashed by the ‘freak’ hip injury that’s ended his Wimbledon hopes.The world No.9, Australia’s best men’s hope since Nick Kyrgios reached the final in 2022, was devastated after being forced to withdraw hours before the biggest match of his career on Wednesday, a maiden SW19 quarter-final against Novak Djokovic.Australia’s No.1 had to admit defeat to the painful injury which he’s been told could sideline him for between three to six weeks, prompting a deluge of sympathy from his supporters, including Ash Barty, who said she was ‘broken’ by the news.It also gave Djokovic, who’s recovering from knee surgery just over four weeks ago, a clear run into Friday’s semi-finals – equalling Roger Federer’s record of 13 last-four appearances – where he’ll face Italian Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Taylor Fritz 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 3-6 6-1 in Wednesday’s other quarter.His misfortune means de Minaur’s dream of playing at the Olympics for the first time, following his misery at missing Tokyo at the last minute in 2021 after contracting COVID-19, could well be dashed too.De Minaur suffered his injury cruelly in the dying moments of his fourth-round match against Arthur Fils on Monday, and despite hoping he’d wake up with a ‘miracle’ cure, he had to pull out after a painful hit with his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt on the practice courts.De Minaur described the injury as ‘a little tear of the fibre cartilage that connects to the adductor’, suggesting it was a ‘unique’ ailment there had been very little research about.’I felt a loud crack during the last three points of my match against Fils, and a scan yesterday confirmed the injury and that I was at high risk of making it worse if I was to step on court. Alex de Minaur cut a dejected figure after injuring himself on match point as he beat Arthur Fils to make the Wimbledon quarter-finals (pictured) After that match, the Aussie said, ‘I’ll be alright’ – but his optimism was misplaced ‘They haven’t been able to give me a definite recovery time because it’s such a unique injury. Right now, it could be anywhere from three-to-six weeks out, it just depends how quickly my body heals.’One stretch, one slide or one anything could make this injury go from three to six weeks out to four months, so it was too much to risk.’Asked what he had been through physically and emotionally, de Minaur said: ‘It’s devastating. No way to beat around the bush, I haven’t really been able to enjoy what I’ve achieved this week because I knew as soon as I felt that pop, something bad had happened.’I have been struggling to sleep the last couple of days. I feel it walking, just hoping I would wake up and feel it a little bit less, or that I could at least go on court.’But I think it’s almost disrespectful for me not to go on the court close to 100 per cent against someone like Novak.’It’s more just hope, wait and see. I’m hoping the pain goes down with a bit of rest.’ The 25-year-old only has 17 days to reach match fitness for the tennis at the Paris Olympics de Minaur is meant to play singles and doubles with Alexei Popyrin (pictured) But his race to get to the Paris Games – the tennis programme starts in 17 days time – look likely to be a losing one, with de Minaur is due to play both singles and doubles, alongside Alexei Popyrin, Djokovic’s third-round victim here.He had seemed to be having an armchair ride towards the meeting with Djokovic – until the fateful final moments against Frenchman Fils.Stretching to make the winning volley in a fine win over Fils, his muted immediate post-match celebration made it obvious how bad it was, but the ‘pop’ had actually occurred on the first match point two points earlier.’What hurts so much more is knowing I’m so close, closer than ever before,’ said the 25-year-old, who will be in the world’s top-six for the first time next week.

[ad_2]

Source link

Wimbledon 2024 LIVE: Tennis scores and updates as Novak Djokovic returns after spat with fans

Wimbledon 2024 LIVE: Tennis scores and updates as Novak Djokovic returns after spat with fans

[ad_1]

Novak Djokovic was unhappy with fans during his win over Holger Rune (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Novak Djokovic is eyeing another Wimbledon semi-final as he takes on Australian No 1 Alex de Minaur this afternoon after criticising the Centre Court crowd following his previous match.Djokovic hit out at the crowd for supposedly booing him during victory over Holger Rune and tennis legend John McEnroe has subsequently backed the Serb’s position. It could make for a tetchy atmosphere on Centre, while De Minaur – boyfriend of British No 1 women’s player Katie Boulter and thus dubbed an ‘honorary Brit’ – will provide a tough test as a man in form.The other men’s singles quarter-final sees Taylor Fritz face Lorenzo Musetti on Court 1, while the women’s singles quarter-finals see 2022 champion Elena Rybakina facing Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina and a battle of two former French Open winners as Jelena Ostapenko takes on Barbora Krejcikova.On Tuesday, men’s No 1 seed Jannik Sinner crashed out after struggling with illness in a five-set defeat to Daniil Medvedev, who booked a rematch with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals after the Spaniard overcame Tommy Paul despite losing an epic first set.Follow all the latest scores and match updates from Wimbledon below:Wimbledon – day 10: Latest scores and updatesDay 10 of Wimbledon sees the remaining men’s and women’s singles quarter-finals take placeNovak Djokovic returns to the Centre Court for the first time since his spat with the fans earlier this weekDjokovic accused fans of booing him during his win over Holger Rune and now faces in-form Alex de MinaurJohn McEnroe has backed Djokovic’s position, even after the Serb walked out of a BBC interview when asked about the incidentTaylor Fritz plays Lorenzo Musetti in the other men’s quarter-final2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina takes on Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina in the women’s last eightShow latest update 1720593000Wimbledon intended order of play – Wednesday 10 JulyCENTRE COURT – 13:30 STARTElena Rybakina (KAZ) [4] vs Elina Svitolina (UKR) [21]Alex de Minaur (AUS) [9] vs Novak Djokovic (SRB) [2]Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) [13] vs Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) [31]Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) [25] vs Taylor Fritz (USA) [13]Luke Baker10 July 2024 07:301720592100John McEnroe backs Novak Djokovic in spat with Wimbledon fansDuring a heated on-court interview, the seven-time champion said: “Well, to all the fans that had respect and stayed here tonight thank you very much from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate it.“And to all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player, in this case me, have a gooooood night. Gooood night, gooood night. Very good night.”Three-time champion McEnroe, who had his fair share of run-ins with crowds during his colourful career, revealed he would have told Djokovic “well done” for calling out the spectators.Luke Baker10 July 2024 07:151720591200Wimbledon, watch out: You just made Novak Djokovic angry“I’ve played in much more hostile environments, trust me, you guys can’t touch me,” Novak Djokovic assured the Centre Court crowd at Wimbledon on Monday night. Even after winning in straight sets, he had the bit between his teeth. Holger Rune couldn’t touch him either, you see, so the seven-time Wimbledon champion had a little more energy to expend.Make no mistake, the 24-time grand slam champion can win Wimbledon this week. He remains among the favourites, and rightly so. But after his walkover exit from the French Open, and with that compression sleeve still hugging his surgically-repaired right knee, and with his movement a little laboured, it is fair to suggest that he’ll welcome this straight-sets win.Read Alex Pattle’s full assessment of the Djokovic situation:Luke Baker10 July 2024 07:001720590600WATCH: Novak Djokovic blasts ‘disrespectful’ Wimbledon crowd after Holger Rune victoryNovak Djokovic accused the Wimbledon Centre Court crowd of “disrespect” following his third-round win against Holger Rune.Djokovic accuses Wimbledon crowd of ‘disrespect’ after Rune victoryLuke Baker10 July 2024 06:501720590000Novak Djokovic hits out at ‘disrespectful’ Wimbledon crowd with theory on Holger Rune chantsThe Serbian was repeatedly showered with cries of “Rune,” which he maintained were supposed to serve as boos in a spicy atmosphere at SW19.And Djokovic, a seven-time champion at Wimbledon, took aim at those cheering Rune and explained why he thought it was “disrespectful”.“To all the fans that have respect and have stayed here tonight, thank you from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate it,” Djokovic said.“To all those people who chose to disrespect the player, in this case me. Have a gooooooood night. Gooooood night, goooooood night.”Luke Baker10 July 2024 06:401720589400Wimbledon – day 10Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Day 10 of Wimbledon. Novak Djokovic returns to the court for the first time since his spat with fans on Centre Court.Luke Baker10 July 2024 06:30

[ad_2]

Source link

Dissatisfied Novak Djokovic Minces No Words as He Exposes Tennis World’s Brutality Towards Him

Dissatisfied Novak Djokovic Minces No Words as He Exposes Tennis World’s Brutality Towards Him

[ad_1]

Former world number one Novak Djokovic is “frustrated.” Despite taking a dig at disrespectful attendees of his match against Holger Rune, Djokovic seemed attentive to people who admire him. Showing his strong personality again in public, Djokovic slammed one of his major partners as they failed to keep up with his reputation.Djokovic has spoken about his dissatisfaction with his sponsor Lacoste. After defeating Rune at Wimbledon’s R0und of 16, Djokovic took a dig at his long-term sponsor Lacoste. Partnering with this brand since 2017 after Uniqlo, Djokovic expressed certain disappointment with the company. “I’ve had dissatisfaction & frustration because many people looking for my products don’t have the possibility to find them in my sponsor’s stores. Some things are changing for the better now, but I am still not satisfied”- he said.Novak is not holding back. Him on on sponsor Lacoste“I’ve had dissatisfaction & frustration because many people looking for my products don’t have the possibility to find them in my sponsor’s stores.Some things are changing for the better now, but I am still not satisfied.”— Adam_Addicott (@AdamAddicott) July 9, 2024Do you think Novak Djokovic is treated unfairly by the tennis world?This former world number one, who is often spotted in Lacoste apparel on the court, showed an unpleasant attitude mentioning that he received many compliments from people about not being able to buy items from his clothing line. He addressed how despite Lacoste bringing some changes, the Serb is still not totally cool with it and expects the brand to positively adhere to his points. “I hope that my sponsor will increase the level of production and quantity, but also availability, so that people have the opportunity to find the products. The level of tennis I’m playing is very popular all over the world”- said Djokovic.Now, Lacoste offers a special section dedicated to Djokovic’s products. While these items are available online, the in-store experience is different for the customers. “Sure, my products can be bought on the website, but it’s different when people go to a store”- mentioned the Serb.Novak Djokovic’s statements express that he is a responsible representative of his sponsor. More than earning a profit with his partnership with Lacoste, the Serb is careful about how his sponsors treat those people who want to purchase from his clothing line. However, he has more than one reason to be disappointed with his sponsors as Lacoste’s blunder showed their lack of knowledge about one of their main sponsor’s career achievements.Novak Djokovic feels “frustrated” with Lacoste’s faulty promotionsLacoste also apologized to Djokovic last month for releasing a range of tracksuits celebrating the Serb’s 25th Grand Slam win when Djokovic has won only 24 Grand Slam titles to date. Stating how “frustrated” he feels, Djokovic further said, “I’m not happy with the way my sponsor do my marketing promotion, I’m frustrated.”  However, Thierry Guibert, CEO of Lacoste quickly accepted their fault and dropped a sorry for the Serb on their X platform. “I have to apologize about that. It was a mistake on our side due to IT issues,” Guibert tweeted.Nevertheless, Djokovic’s recent statement about his disappointment with Lacoste expressed the poor treatment Djokovic received from his sponsor despite being one of the most popular athletes in the world. More than that, it showed the Serb’s responsible attitude towards his followers ensuring they don’t have to encounter such problems in the future.

[ad_2]

Source link

Novak Djokovic was becoming the gentleman king of tennis. It didn’t last

Novak Djokovic was becoming the gentleman king of tennis. It didn’t last

[ad_1]

There were a few months last year when Novak Djokovic began to emerge as the sport’s surprise elder statesman.It began at the French Open, when he finally surged ahead of Rafael Nadal to become the king of the all-time Grand Slam singles race. He regaled the crowd with the story of a small boy growing up in a small country in the Balkans with little in the way of tennis pedigree who dreamed of becoming a champion, and he told children everywhere to pursue their own dreams, no matter how far-fetched they might seem.He was gracious in defeat at Wimbledon a month later, tipping his hat to Carlos Alcaraz, his heir apparent. Then he won another Grand Slam at the U.S. Open, where the New York crowds, who love greatness more than anything else, embraced him as they never had before, and he hit the inspirational notes of children and dreams once more.Strange as it may have seemed, with Roger Federer retired and Nadal vanquished and injured beyond full repair, the sport’s cantankerous contrarian who had never met a situation he could not turn into a me-against-the-world dynamic, had suddenly become its gentleman king.

Djokovic was gracious in defeat at Wimbledon last year (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Well, that didn’t last long. Djokovic’s somewhat dormant authentic self erupted in full on Monday night at Wimbledon. It had been rumbling for a while, his eyes turning angry when he took on Jannik Sinner twice in Italy in a hostile environment. As the boos reigned down from Sinner’s home-country faithful, Djokovic made like an orchestra conductor, trolling the Italians on his way to winning the Tour Finals. There were similar moments in Melbourne as he took on the Aussie, Alexei Popyrin, and through the spring, as Djokovic slumped and underdogs punched holes in his previous invincibility. Sometimes, he would pick out specific rabble-rousers in the crowd and take them on directly.But there was nothing quite like Monday night’s post-match rebuke to a Centre Court crowd that had been razzing him with all those “Ruuuuuuuuuuuunnne” chants. They were for his opponent, Holger Rune but to Djokovic they sounded suspiciously like “boooooooo”. Federer never had to put up with this. When he was the king of Centre Court, the crowds loved nothing more than seeing him dance through opponents. They never took the side of the underdog. They cheered for Federer even when he faced Andy Murray, the favorite son of British tennis, on Wimbledon’s most hallowed court. Djokovic demolished Rune, then ripped into the Centre Court fans, who are supposed to be known for their decorum.“To all the fans that have respect and have stayed here tonight: thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. I appreciate it,” he said. “And to all those people who have chosen to disrespect the player — in this case, me — have a goooooood night. Goooooood night, gooooood night. Very good night. Yep.”

Djokovic was critical of the Centre Court crowd on Monday (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Told that it was not disrespect, Djokovic said he refused to accept it.“I’ve been on the tour for more than 20 years. I know all the tricks, I know how it works.”There was more, even a bring-it-on moment.“I played in much more hostile environments. Trust me. You guys can’t touch me.”An hour later, with a cooler head, Djokovic acknowledged that the passion of paying customers pays his salary, “and he’s mostly fine with it”.“It’s actually one of the biggest reasons why we are here, why the tournament is so important historically and why we are globally recognized as tennis players, is because of the fans, because of the interest that they put into watching tennis matches, paying tickets, queuing to come,” he said. “I respect that. I try to acknowledge that.”Love or hate Djokovic, and there are plenty of people on both sides of that particular fence, he is simply an armchair psychologist’s delight, who thrives on drama. Last year at the Australian Open, he turned his match against Alex de Minaur, Australia’s current favorite son who he plays again in the last eight at Wimbledon, into a revenge match against a country that had detained and deported him the previous year over his refusal to get vaccinated for Covid-19. He blasted De Minaur 6-2, 6-1, 6-2, then made plain what had motivated him. 

Djokovic beat de Minaur at last year’s Australian Open (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)At the French Open, he touched the third rail of Balkan politics, scrawling his view that Kosovo was the heart of Serbia, a debate that Muslims and Christians have been raging about for nearly 1,000 years. “A drama-free Grand Slam, I don’t think it will happen for me,” Djokovic said after one of his matches. “I guess that drives me.”At the U.S. Open last year, it wasn’t enough to smash Ben Shelton in front of a crowd of nearly 24,000 trying to will the new wonderboy of American tennis to a win in the semifinal. When it was over, Djokovic had to add a little spice to the moment by stealing Shelton’s “hang up the phone” victory gesture. That garnered an icy glare from Shelton during the post-match handshake. “I just love Ben’s celebration,” Djokovic said after with a devilish grin. Perhaps everyone should have known, then, that something on the order of Monday night was in the offing, especially with Djokovic starting to edge closure and closer to an improbable run to the final that began a little more than three weeks after knee surgery. 

Djokovic has recently recovered from knee surgery (Julian Finney/Getty Images)Mark Philippoussis, the former pro from Australia and a Wimbledon finalist in 2003, said by now everyone should know giving Djokovic anything to be angry about is a terrible idea, not that he needs much to get angry. “I think he wants to hear boos because it makes him play better.” Philippoussis said on Tuesday morning. “If I was playing him, I would just give him compliments at the change of ends.”Knowing Djokovic, that would probably make him really angry. (Additional contributor: Charlie Eccleshare)(Top photo: Andrej Isakovic/AFP via Getty Images)

[ad_2]

Source link

Wimbledon 2024: Was Novak Djokovic disrespected by Centre Court crowd? Tennis legends have their say… | Tennis News

Wimbledon 2024: Was Novak Djokovic disrespected by Centre Court crowd? Tennis legends have their say… | Tennis News

[ad_1]

Was seven-time champion Novak Djokovic disrespected by the Centre Court crowd at Wimbledon? Tennis legend James Blake says the Serb uses chants to fuel the fire as he bids to become a 25-time Grand Slam winner.Djokovic took aim at Centre Court spectators he claimed disrespected him during a straight-sets win over Holger Rune in the Wimbledon fourth round on Monday night.
A last-16 tie with Rune had been expected to be Djokovic’s biggest test since having surgery on a torn meniscus last month, but the 24-time Grand Slam winner eased into the quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory.Rather than Rune being able to knock Djokovic off stride, it was fans inside Centre Court that frustrated the 37-year-old after he took exception to the surname of his opponent repeatedly being chanted.

Image:
Djokovic claims he was booed by the Centre Court crowd

During a heated on-court interview, Djokovic said: “Well, to all the fans that had respect and stayed here tonight, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate it.
“And to all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player, in this case me, have a gooooood night. Gooood night, gooood night. Very good night.”
It was put to Djokovic that they were merely chanting Rune and not booing him, but the second seed countered back.
“They were [disrespecting], they were, they were. I don’t accept it,” Djokovic insisted.”I know they were cheering for Rune, but that’s an excuse to also boo.”Listen, I have been on the tour for more than 20 years. Trust me, I know all the tricks. I know how it works, it is fine. It is fine, it’s OK.”I focus on the respectful people, they have respect, that pay a ticket to come and watch tonight and love tennis.”Love tennis and appreciate the players, appreciate the efforts that the players put in here. I have played in much more hostile environments, trust me. You guys can’t touch me.”Tennis legends spoke in Djokovic’s defence at the All England Club on Tuesday, saying the former world No 1 doesn’t need anymore motivation.Former world No 4 James Blake

Image:
James Blake says Djokovic uses any negativity as motivation

“I think it’s an interesting mindset because I don’t know how much Michael Jordan’s Hall of Fame speech resonated over here, but he talked about all the fights in his life and his career,” said the American, who has served as tournament director for the Miami Open since 2018.”When people thought he couldn’t do something or he thought they were speaking negatively about him, you scratch your head and think ‘it wasn’t that bad’ but he used it to motivate him and for Novak it’s probably tough to get motivated.”The guy is the greatest of all time and everyone is coming for him. If you need something to motivate you and you can use a crowd cheering for your opponent, whatever it takes to motivate you. He’s so good at finding motivation and inspiration everyday and that’s what it took for him.”Former Australian Open finalist Thomas Enqvist

Image:
Sweden’s Thomas Enqvist believes Djokovic is now ready to win another Wimbledon title

“When Novak puts his mind into it – for me, it means he is ready,” said the former world No 4 from Sweden. “He has the game face on and that’s what we all like to see. Novak is into it and he’s won this title seven time before so, for me when I saw that I thought, ‘yes, he’s ready for another title’.”Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski

Image:
Greg Rusedski says ‘it’s nothing disrespectful’ to Djokovic

“We had Luke Donald ironically in the Royal Box and everyone thinks it’s being rude, but it’s just the Danish chant so there’s nothing disrespectful to Novak there,” said the former US Open finalist. “He’s a great champion and the Danes have their chant for Rune and we’re going to hear that a lot more as he career progresses.”He passed the biggest test with flying colours. Some people were like, ‘what test was there?’ We saw him do the full splits with the knee which shows us that he’s fully fit. Holger hits the ball harder than most people on the tour and it didn’t bother him whatsoever. He’s defying logic and now he’s joint favourite with Jannik Sinner.”Kyrgios: Fans were not booing Djokovic | ‘He doesn’t need more motivation’

Image:
Nick Kyrgios says Djokovic ‘doesn’t need more motivation’

Nick Kyrgios told BBC Sport…”It wasn’t [booing] but I think crowds all around the world need to understand that Novak doesn’t need more of a motive to play better.”He’s driven, one of the best players in the world and I’ve seen it time and time again, the crowd try to poke the bear and that’s not what you want to do against Novak.”He loves it. I try not to poke the bear when I play him…and I really struggle with that. Obviously it cost me my Wimbledon final.”He doesn’t need more of a motive to go out there and prove to someone he is the greatest of all time.”Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Marcos Baghdatis

Image:
Marco Baghdatis feels it could be all in Djokovic’s head

“I was travelling so I didn’t see it and it’s tough to comment on that,” said the 2006 Australian Open runner-up. “But I don’t know if it’s mentally or people [upsetting him].”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Corentin Moutet’s phone alarm goes off mid-match whilst playing against Djokovic in Rome, with everyone involved seeing the funny side!

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours

In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.Hamburg Open (ATP 500) July 15-21Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) July 15-21Swiss Open (ATP 250) July 15-21Bastad Open (ATP 250) July 15-21Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) July 15-21Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) July 15-21Prague Open (WTA 250) July 21-26Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

[ad_2]

Source link

Novak Djokovic warns ‘I know all the tricks’ as he blasts ‘disrespectful’ Wimbledon crowd

Novak Djokovic warns ‘I know all the tricks’ as he blasts ‘disrespectful’ Wimbledon crowd

[ad_1]

By Matthew Lambert and Arthur Parashar

09:38 09 Jul 2024, updated 10:03 09 Jul 2024

Share or comment on this article:

Novak Djokovic was furious after his straight-sets win over Holger RuneHe felt the Centre Court crowd were booing him throughout the match The Serb was informed they were shouting ‘Rune’, but he did not accept this Novak Djokovic blasted the Wimbledon crowds last night after his straight-sets win over Holger Rune in a bizarre live TV interview that saw him furiously claim he was being booed by watching fans.The 37-year-old had promised ‘fireworks’ in his fourth round against Holger Rune – but after the match itself failed to produce so much as a sparkler, he grabbed the microphone and aimed a Roman candle straight at the Centre Court crowd.The seven-time champion turned his on-court interview into a rant about what he felt were boos directed at him during his straight-sets win on Monday evening, telling the audience: ‘I know all the tricks… you can’t touch me.’It seemed the crowd were simply cheering ‘Ruuuuuuune’ for his opponent but Djokovic, as he often does, saw things differently.’To all the fans that have had respect and stayed here tonight, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I appreciate it,’ he began. ‘And to all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player – in this case me – have a goooooooood night.’Nonplussed BBC interviewer Rishi Persad replied: ‘I am hoping they were just commenting on Rune, and they were not disrespecting you.’ Novak Djokovic took aim at the Centre Court crowd on Monday, accusing them of disrespecting him The seven-time champion turned his on-court interview into a rant about what he felt were boos directed at him Novak Djokovic pretends to play the violin for his daughter as he celebrates winning against Denmark’s Holger Rune The tennis star’s wife Jelena Djokovic looked slightly uncomfortable as Djokovic took on the crowd His outburst came after he saw off Holger Rune in straight sets to move into the quarter-finals Djokovic – who has a track record of taking on crowds – was having none of that. ‘They were. They were [disrespecting me],’ he insisted. ‘I am not accepting it. No no no. I know they were cheering for Rune but that’s an excuse to also boo. ‘Listen, I have been on the tour for more than 20 years. I know all the tricks. I know how it works. It’s fine, it’s fine.’I focus on the respectful people that pay for the ticket, and love tennis and appreciate the players and the effort the players put in here. ‘I played in much more hostile environments, trust me – you guys can’t touch me.’The 37-year-old seemed to believe some in the crowd were masking boos in the pretence of supporting Rune. To my ears it seemed no different to Lord’s saluting Joe Root after a century.

Click here to resize this module

Rune himself said: ‘I mean, if you don’t know what was happening, probably it sounded like boo. But if we all know what happened, it was my name.’The tennis felt almost incidental after all that, but for the record Djokovic won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 and put in by a distance his best display of the Championships so far. Rune was poor, losing the first 12 points of the match and never really recovering.In his press conference later, Djokovic stood by what he had said.’When I feel a crowd is stepping over the line, I react,’ he said. ‘I don’t regret my words or actions on the court.’He also tweeted a photo after the game of him stretching for a ball across the court, with the caption: ‘Sliding into quarters. Goooooooooooood night.’ Nick Kyrgios – who is also known for his on-court meltdowns, told BBC Sport afterwards: ‘It wasn’t [booing] but I think crowds all around the world need to understand that Novak doesn’t need more of a motive to play better. ‘He’s driven, one of the best players in the world and I’ve seen it time and time again, the crowd try to poke the bear and that’s not what you want to do against Novak.’He loves it. I try not to poke the bear when I play him…and I really struggle with that. Obviously it cost me my Wimbledon final.’He doesn’t need more of a motive to go out there and prove to someone he is the greatest of all time.’Clare Balding also waded in, saying: ‘When Sue Barker came out the other day people who shouting “Suuuuuuuuuuuue”. I don’t think it’s booing.’ Social media was split on his comments. ‘That’s a lack of class, I expect better from the Wimbledon crowd,’ said one user on X.Another said: ‘Just let it go man, have some class, I was embarrassed for him.’Djokovic’s relationship with the crowd has not always been a friendly one. After beating Roger Federer in the 2019 final, his former coach Boris Becker said he deserved more respect from the crowd who had backed the Swiss star. Djokovic was annoyed with the Wimbledon crowd throughout the match, and would not accept the explanation from a BBC interviewer that they had only been backing his opponent Djokovic has not always had the best relationship with the crowd. He is seen blowing them a kiss here after winning match point against Rune Djokovic pretends to play a violin during his celebrations as he booked his place in the quarter-finals. He has revealed it is a tribute to his daughter who has been playing the violin for six months Djokovic was informed that the crowd were likely shouting ‘Runeeee’ but he did not accept this And two years ago, he was booed after blowing a kiss to fans following his semi-final win over Briton Cameron Norrie.Last year, he also played up to the crowd as he took on 20-year-old Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. 

Click here to resize this module

With the crowd backing underdog Alcaraz at times, Djokovic again blew kisses at the fans. He was also met with boos during the final when he dented the net post by smashing his racket in frustration, argued with the umpire and glared at the Centre Court crowd.And in January, the tennis superstar screamed at fans to ‘shut the f*** up’ as he hit out at new rules allowing fans to move around between games at the Australian Open. In Wednesday’s quarter-final, fortunately Djokovic will not face a player with a single-syllable surname containing the letter u or a double o. It will be easy to distinguish between boos for him and support for Alex de Minaur.But he pair do have history after clashing over Djokovic’s vaccination saga during the pandemic.Aussie star De Minaur was one of the most vocal players in world tennis addressing Djokovic’s deportation and ban from playing in the Australian Open.’Look, Australians have gone through a lot,’ he said at the time. ‘There’s no secret about that. They’ve had it very tough. They’ve done a lot of work to protect themselves and their borders.’ There was also drama in another clash last night. Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev had a noticeably tense exchange at the net after the match finished Taylor Fritz’s girlfriend, Morgan Riddle, appeared to take aim at Alexander Zverev afterwards. She posted a video to her Instagram story that showed her enjoying a drink with the caption ‘when your man wins 4 the girls.’ The story, possibly a reference to the allegations of abuse that Zverev has faced, now appears to have been deleted Riddle, a popular social media influencer, watched on as her boyfriend advanced He also laughed upon finding out Djokovic had failed in his appeal and was to be deported from Australia while in a press conference with fellow Aussie Jason Kubler.When Djokovic beat him last year, he told reporters: ‘I don’t have any relationship with him.’I respect him as a rival, a colleague, as I respect everyone. I have no problem contacting him, congratulating him, Et cetera.’But I don’t have any other relationship. I don’t have any communication with him. He showed in 2022 what he thinks about me.’The American came from two sets to love down to beat No4 seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-3. That match itself was not free from drama.Zverev had a long exchange with Fritz at the end of the match and afterwards said he felt some members of the American’s box were ‘a bit over the top’.During the match Fritz’s influencer girlfriend Morgan Riddle, who has 17.2million likes on TikTok, wrote ‘cheer loud ladies’ on social media, and afterwards posted a video with the caption ‘when ur man wins 4 the girls’. Some viewed those posts as references to Zverev’s court case for assaulting his ex-girlfriend, which was settled last month.He agreed to pay Brenda Patea, the mother of his child, $217,820, but was found not guilty of any wrongdoing (Patea publicly identified herself as the victim in the case). 

[ad_2]

Source link

Inside the whacky world of Novak Djokovic: The tennis star whose wild off-court claims get him as much attention as his sporting prowess

Inside the whacky world of Novak Djokovic: The tennis star whose wild off-court claims get him as much attention as his sporting prowess

[ad_1]

Controversial tennis ace Novak Djokovic has once again got attention for all the wrong reasons after he had a temper tantrum when the Wimbledon dared to chant his opponent’s name.It seemed the crowd were simply cheering ‘Ruuuuuuune’ for his opponent Holger Rune but Djokovic, as he often does, saw things differently, claiming they were boos for him.Novak Djokovic’s status as one of this century’s greatest athletes is undisputed – not a description that could ever be applied to his views on health and science as he often dabbles in quackery.His obsession with turning himself into a tennis god has dragged him at times into the realms of faddism and pseudo-science, much to the shock of many of his fans.A few even think people are conspiring against Djokovic, who has a reported net worth of around £200million, owns two New York penthouses, a luxury Miami beach flat and a Marbella mansion. Novak Djokovic had a temper tantrum on Centre Court at Wimbledon last night The controversial tennis star has a variety of whacky views when it comes to health and science His obsession with turning himself into a tennis god has dragged him at times into the realms of faddism and pseudo-science, much to the shock of many of his fans It is just the latest controversial episode involving Djokovic and his wife Jelena (right) On Monday, it seemed the crowd were simply cheering ‘Ruuuuuuune’ for his opponent Holger RuneBut Djokovic, as he often does, saw things differently, claiming they were boos for him His conspiracy theorist wife Jelena Djokovic watched her husband throw a hissy fit at Wimbledon on Monday evening On Monday evening, the seven-time champion turned his on-court interview into a rant about what he felt were boos directed at him during his straight-sets win.’To all the fans that have had respect and stayed here tonight, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I appreciate it,’ he began. ‘And to all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player – in this case me – have a goooooooood night.’His rather non-plussed BBC interviewer Rishi Persad said: ‘I am hoping they were just commenting on Rune, and they were not disrespecting you.’Djokovic – who has a track record of taking on crowds – was having none of that. ‘They were. They were [disrespecting me],’ he insisted. ‘I am not accepting it. No no no. I know they were cheering for Rune but that’s an excuse to also boo. The seven-time champion turned his on-court interview into a rant about what he felt were boos directed at him Novak Djokovic pretends to play the violin for his daughter as he celebrates winning against Denmark’s Holger Rune The tennis star’s wife Jelena Djokovic looked slightly uncomfortable as Djokovic took on the crowd His outburst came after he saw off Holger Rune in straight sets to move into the quarter-finals ‘Listen, I have been on the tour for more than 20 years. I know all the tricks. I focus on the respectful people that pay for the ticket, and love tennis and appreciate the players. I played in much more hostile environments, trust me – you guys can’t touch me.’Rune himself said: ‘I mean, if you don’t know what was happening, probably it sounded like boo. But if we all know what happened, it was my name.’Djokovic won the match 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 and put in by a distance his best display of the Championships so far. Rune was poor, losing the first 12 points of the match and never really recovering.In his press conference later, Djokovic stood by what he had said.’When I feel a crowd is stepping over the line, I react,’ he said. ‘I don’t regret my words or actions on the court.’He also tweeted a photo after the game of him stretching for a ball across the court, with the caption: ‘Sliding into quarters. Goooooooooooood night.’ Nick Kyrgios – who is also known for his on-court meltdowns, told BBC Sport afterwards: ‘It wasn’t [booing] but I think crowds all around the world need to understand that Novak doesn’t need more of a motive to play better. 

Click here to resize this module

‘He’s driven, one of the best players in the world and I’ve seen it time and time again, the crowd try to poke the bear and that’s not what you want to do against Novak.’He loves it. I try not to poke the bear when I play him… and I really struggle with that. Obviously it cost me my Wimbledon final.’He doesn’t need more of a motive to go out there and prove to someone he is the greatest of all time.’Clare Balding also waded in, saying: ‘When Sue Barker came out the other day people were shouting ‘Suuuuuuuuuuuue’. I don’t think it’s booing.’ Djokovic’s relationship with the crowd has not always been a friendly one. After beating Roger Federer in the 2019 final, his former coach Boris Becker said he deserved more respect from the crowd who had backed the Swiss star. Djokovic was annoyed with the Wimbledon crowd throughout the match, and would not accept the explanation from a BBC interviewer that they had only been backing his opponent Djokovic has not always had the best relationship with the crowd. He is seen blowing them a kiss here after winning match point against Rune Djokovic pretends to play a violin during his celebrations as he booked his place in the quarter-finals. He has revealed it is a tribute to his daughter who has been playing the violin for six months Djokovic was informed that the crowd were likely shouting ‘Runeeee’ but he did not accept this And two years ago, he was booed after blowing a kiss to fans following his semi-final win over Briton Cameron Norrie.Last year, he also played up to the crowd as he took on 20-year-old Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. With the crowd backing underdog Alcaraz at times, Djokovic again blew kisses at the fans. He was also met with boos during the final when he dented the net post by smashing his racket in frustration, argued with the umpire and glared at the Centre Court crowd.And in January, the tennis superstar screamed at fans to ‘shut the f*** up’ as he hit out at new rules allowing fans to move around between games at the Australian Open. In Wednesday’s quarter-final, fortunately Djokovic will not face a player with a single-syllable surname containing the letter u or a double o. It will be easy to distinguish between boos for him and support for Alex de Minaur.

Click here to resize this module

But he pair do have history after clashing over Djokovic’s vaccination saga during the pandemic.Aussie star De Minaur was one of the most vocal players in world tennis addressing Djokovic’s deportation and ban from playing in the Australian Open.’Look, Australians have gone through a lot,’ he said at the time. ‘There’s no secret about that. They’ve had it very tough. They’ve done a lot of work to protect themselves and their borders.’He also laughed upon finding out Djokovic had failed in his appeal and was to be deported from Australia while in a press conference with fellow Aussie Jason Kubler.When Djokovic beat him last year, he told reporters: ‘I don’t have any relationship with him.’I respect him as a rival, a colleague, as I respect everyone. I have no problem contacting him, congratulating him, Et cetera.’But I don’t have any other relationship. I don’t have any communication with him. He showed in 2022 what he thinks about me.’Of course, Djokovic has some immensely enviable qualities – from his linguistic ability, speaking seven languages, to his sporting might of his 24 Grand Slam wins, including seven Wimbledon titles.Yet that prowess doesn’t always seem to stretch to the credible. With his self-styled health entrepreneur Chervin Jafarieh he promoted the idea that the power of positive thought could cleanse polluted water into the kind that was safely drinkable.Meanwhile, his wife shared the conspiracy theory that Covid was linked to 5G telecommunication masts.His anti-vaxx views became apparent in 2022 when he posted a triumphant-sounding Facebook update that he had circumvented vaccine requirements for an undisclosed reason and was heading for Australia – which prompted public fury and his eventual deportation.This brutal collision with public opinion had been a long time coming, a course plotted since the onset of the pandemic.Soon after it broke out he took part in a live Facebook discussion with other Serbian sportspeople.’Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,’ he said. ‘But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision.’ The roots of his beliefs on health are entrenched beyond Covid, back to the beginning of the last decade. It was then that he diagnosed himself as having a wheat allergy by pressing a slice of bread into his stomach.In 2016 he began working with Spanish coach Pepe Imaz, a strong believer in meditation whose theories extend to, literally, the power of hugging trees. He instituted the ‘peace and love’ gestures that accompany the Serb’s post-match victories.When Djokovic began developing elbow problems the following year he tried holistic cures before eventually opting for conventional surgery. He later revealed that he cried for three days afterwards at his failure to solve the issue through natural medicine. Djokovic thinks the ‘Bosnian pyramids’ near Sarajevo give off a mystical energy; here Semir Osmanagic, an archaeologist famous for his unorthodox theories on them, stands near one By then he was already a strong believer in using hyperbaric chambers – where his body is exposed to pure oxygen at a much higher pressure than normal – actually bringing a mobile version on a lorry to be parked up at Flushing Meadows for the US Open.It was not until the virus stopped the world in its tracks that the full extent of his left-field views became more evident.And then came his organisation of the ill-fated Adria Tour, a series of exhibitions around the Balkans which stuck two fingers up at any Covid restrictions. Jelena Djokovic has been shamed for spreading a 5G conspiracy on social mediaInstagram produced a ‘False Information’ warning on a video she posted back on April 1, 2021 Djokovic’s online chats with Chevrin Jafarieh (bottom) became notorious in the pandemic Amid nightclub carousing and close quarters games of basketball many of its participants – including Djokovic and his wife – tested positive for the virus. The experience chastened him, but it has not dampened his enthusiasm for spiritual searching. He is, for instance, a regular visitor to the ‘Bosnian pyramids’ which some believe give off a mystic energy.These are a set of pointed hills which a local archaeologist claims are man-made, an idea condemned as a complete hoax by other experts. The Serbian (far right) hosted the ill-fated Adria Tour event in the middle of the pandemic – and it had to be ended prematurely after a number of the players contracted the virus Djokovic (left centre) and fellow tennis stars partied in a Belgrade nightclub in June 2020, with some of the players taking their shirts off during the riotous evening Djokovic lashed away a ball in anger at a line judge in the 2020 US Open fourth round After hitting line judge Laura Clark in the throat, the world No 1 was disqualified from the event Away from the sport’s rectangles many have already condemned him, although his views on vaccines are more nuanced than sometimes portrayed.At the ATP Tour event in Belgrade in 2022, which he and his family own, he arranged for those who wanted the jab to be able to get it on site.It should also be said that no athlete is recorded as having given more to charity through the pandemic than he has done. There is also his work in trying to drive through a tennis players’ union at no gain to himself, being as wealthy as he is.He has always insisted that his vaccine stance is about freedom of choice and what someone puts inside their body. Given the opportunity he missed out on in Melbourne in 2022, his continuing stance could be seen as one of principled self-denial, as well as self-defeating.One group who will always support him, if he ever returns, is the large Serbian population of Victoria. A few of them have been known to attend the Australian Open wearing T-shirts bearing a slogan that has never seemed more appropriate: ‘Novak Against The World.’

[ad_2]

Source link