Novak Djokovic’s charisma was undoubtedly lacking, even in a temple like Wimbledon Centre Courtroom, the place the seraphic environment was first shattered by Holger Rune’s followers and their Ruuuuune, then by the sarcastic statements of the Serbian champion towards teh Dane’s followers. You possibly can love or not Djokovic, however his charisma is sort of a breath of contemporary air in a yr of tennis Tour the place gamers who’ve the charisma of the Serb have been lacking. A charisma like that of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Tennis is an excellent sport, for its composed magnificence and elegance, however let’s face it; a little bit of controversy and tackiness – in small doses – are good for our favourite sport.
After the phrases shared on-court and on the press convention, many followers and insiders harshly attacked the Serb for his response, thought of exaggerated for the context.
John McEnroe defended Djokovic, putting him in a broader context by which he in contrast him to Federer, Nadal and…Darth Vader!
“He is Darth Vader to some individuals. Look, you have got two of the best elegant champions we have ever seen play tennis. Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer. Who can evaluate to them when it comes to what they convey to the desk and the way individuals love them? No person. After which this man, Djokovic, has the nerve to come back in and crash the occasion. He is been preventing towards that his complete profession. Yeah, he feeds off of unfavourable vitality. And yeah, I used to feed off of that generally. However I sort of hated it. You need individuals to yell at you and hope you lose? Simply since you’re so good they begin rooting for the opposite man for no cause apart from you are so good. That is why individuals are towards him for my part. It is easy to be the backseat driver and let it go. However that is what he is been coping with for 10, 15, 20 years, that folks have completed this.
I love the braveness he needed to say it there. It takes one thing. In a means, that is going to show extra individuals towards him. He does not deserve it at this level. We’d like him and he is been too huge for our sport, for my part. So it is like: How about you respect me in spite of everything this? Take into consideration this, this is a man who had surgical procedure a month in the past. The percentages had been 10 or 20 % that he would play this event. He is considering: I am serving to this event. And he is doing that. Why do not I get some love once I play a man who’s 15 on this planet? Who hasn’t completed a rattling factor in comparison with him. Yeah, possibly there have been a handful of Danes saying Rune and I perceive that folks need to see sport. All of us need to see sport. However you must respect the greatness you see” defined the American legend.
John McEnroe faculties Clare Balding on Novak Djokovic calling out the booing towards him at Wimbledon (and all through his profession).
Clare Balding: “What would you say to him now?”
John McEnroe: “Properly completed.” pic.twitter.com/UQDYVRvbpL— James Melville 🚜 (@JamesMelville) July 9, 2024