Djokovic’s gesture to young fan wins hearts
Tennis champ gifts his historic French title winning racquet to courtside ‘coach’
14: Novak Djokovic said he gave away his French Open racquet to a young boy watching courtside for “giving me the right tactics”.
The world number one claimed a 19th Grand Slam title and became the first man in 52 years to win all four majors twice when he came from two sets down to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas
6-7 (6/8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. At the end of the fourhour and 11-minute final, the 34-year-old Djokovic handed his racquet to the youngster who was then pictured on TV jumping for joy and in shock at the gesture.
“He was in my ear the entire match basically, especially when I was two sets to love down. He was encouraging me. He was actually giving me tactics, as well,” said Djokovic.
“He was like, ‘Hold your serve, get an easy first ball, then dictate, go to his backhand.’ He was coaching me literally. “I found that very cute, very nice. So I felt like giving the racquet to the best person was him after the match. That was kind of my gratitude for him sticking with me and
He was in my ear the entire match, especially when I was two sets to love down. He was encouraging me. He was actually giving me tactics, as well. He was like, ‘Hold your serve, get an easy first ball, then dictate, go to his backhand.’ He was coaching me literally. I found that very cute, very nice.
— NOVAK DJOKOVIC on why he gave his racquet to the boy after
winningt the French Open title
supporting me,” said Djokovic, who is now just one Grand Slam title away from equalling the all-time record of 20, jointly held by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
It was a second French crown for Djokovic after his 2016 victory and adds to his nine Australian Opens, five Wimbledon titles and three at the US Open. The 34-year-old is the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Slams on multiple occasions and just the third in history. —