2023-07-14 20:23:00
The eternal duel between Novak Djokovic and the fans on the biggest tennis courts in the world is one chapter richer.
While the audience on Center Court in Wimbledon threw their arms up every time Djokovic’s semi-final opponent Jannik Sinner scored a point, the Serb once more had a difficult time with the supporters in the stands despite his outstanding performance.
This was also the case at the end of the third set, when Djokovic had two set balls once morest him when the score was 4: 5 and 15:40. But just as the 36-year-old was regarding to serve the second serve, a fan apparently shouted something onto the pitch.
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Djokovic paused, looked in the direction of the troublemaker and applauded sarcastically. The audience reacted loudly and only following another warning from the chair umpire Richard Haigh might it continue.
Djokovic silences fans
But while other players were disturbed by such background noise, Djokovic did what he had done so often in his career: he converted the boos into his own strength.
With four points in a row, he still held his serve to make it 5: 5, silenced the fans and mightn’t help but make a “cry” gesture followingwards.
Novak Djokovic in the semifinals once morest Jannik Sinner
Fotocredit: Getty Images
“He definitely used it to spur himself on,” analyzed Eurosport expert Laura Robson following the match. Mats Wilander agreed: “There was enough irritation from the outside, but I think that helped Novak. It helped him to focus and get a little more angry than he usually is,” said the seven-time grand Slam Winner.
Djokovic: “It’s all love”
In fact, Djokovic remained strong in the tie-break that followed shortly followingwards and made it through the sovereign three-set victory (6: 3, 6: 4, 7: 6 [7:5]) once morest Sinner perfected his ninth final appearance on Church Road.
In the subsequent interview with the winner, fans and Djokovic were once more forgiving.
At the press conference that followed, the record Grand Slam winner downplayed the incident. When asked regarding it, he replied, “It’s all love. Love and acceptance.”
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