Game’s least-liked superstar ready to silence the crowd
Novak Djokovic is never more dangerous than when the atmosphere is hot, writes Charlie Eccleshare
The Duchess of Cambridge sought strawberry-growing tips before taking her seat with the Duchess of Sussex for their second consecutive women’s final together. Before arriving in the Royal box, Kate met with Marion Regan, owner of Hugh Lowe Farms, the official supplier of strawberries to the tournament, with the pair sharing gardening tips. Regan said: “She said they are trying to grow strawberries at home and asked for one or two tips.”
If Centre Court is Roger Federer’s living room, what does that make it for Novak Djokovic? A mate’s spare bed? A rented flat? A temporary office space? He is perfectly welcome, but don’t stay for too long, and please leave everything as you found it. Wimbledon’s ambivalence toward Djokovic is highlighted by the contrast with its almost religious devotion to Federer, as will be evident in today’s final.
Djokovic is used to this by now. In his first grand slam final 11 years ago, he had to wait for the whistles of the crowd to subside before he served on championship point against JoWilfried Tsonga. “I know the crowd wanted him to win,” a 20-year-old Djokovic said in his victory speech.
More than a decade on, Djokovic, for all his 15 grand slam titles, remains very much the third man of men’s tennis. On Friday, his frustration at the crowd’s reverence for whoever he’s playing got the better of him.
After losing the second set against Roberto Bautista Agut, Djokovic sarcastically asked the crowd to make even more noise for his opponent. At the end of a 45-shot rally to save a break point, Djokovic celebrated a backhand winner with a pointed shushing gesture.
Djokovic was similarly goaded at last year’s Wimbledon against home favourite Kyle Edmund, and opted for diplomacy on Friday when he said: “At times [the crowd] wanted him to come back to the match, maybe take a lead because he was an underdog in the match, I understand that. But I had enough support here over the years, so I don’t complain.”
Djokovic’s arrival late on the scene meant there was no room for another darling of the sport, but there was scope for a villain to ruffle the feathers of the – in some supporters’ eyes – too perfect and other-worldly Federer and Nadal.
A walk around the Wimbledon queue yesterday was instructive. In amongst the RF-cap wearing Federer fanatics, there were small pockets of Djokovic fans, who explained why they had warmed to the relative underdog of tennis’s threeway tug of war.
“I much prefer Djokovic to Federer,” said Amy, a 34-yearold from south London. “He’s a bit of an outsider, and seems like a bit of a nicer guy, more human, more relatable. I just think Federer’s really arrogant – who walks
you have a water break and talk to them and they make you feel more comfortable,” he told BBC Sport. “After the water break it is like hitting with a friend. She has called me her lucky charm. She got me a ticket for the semi-finals and the final.”
Lucy Shuker, the two-time Paralympic bronze medallist, believes Wimbledon should consider increasing the draw sizes for wheelchair tournaments. Shuker, 39, is ranked world No9 but did not compete at SW19 after missing out on a wild card. Only the top seven plus a wild card compete in the men’s around with their initials on their cardigan?”
Cindy, 37, from Sutton, added: “He deserves a chance and doesn’t get the respect he should.”
Other fans cited Djokovic’s determination and sense of humour. Andre, 49, from Sao Paulo said: “I like his attitude, I know a lot of people think he’s grumpy and a bit arrogant. But I like his fight.”
The question hanging over all of this is how much his relative lack of popularity bothers Djokovic himself. His attempts to play down the crowd’s support for Bautista Agut were not wholly convincing, while his former coach Boris Becker told the BBC: “It was something that we spoke about but it is not something he is interested in now. There was a time when he was bothered about it, yes.”
When he began his career, Djokovic was almost defined by his reputation as an outsider. He made enemies in the locker room with his impersonations of other players, and in New York angered the US crowd after an argument with home favourite Andy Roddick in 2008. In response to Roddick accusing him pre-match of exaggerating injuries, a clearly upset Djokovic said: “Andy was saying that I have 16 injuries, so obviously I don’t, right? They [the crowd] are already against me, because they think I’m faking everything, so it’s all right.”
Djokovic had to battle an even more partisan New York crowd four years ago during a painful US Open final when every double fault he hit was cheered to the rafters.
Over time, he has learned to accept his place as tennis’s least favourite superstar – a position cemented in some fans’ eyes by his attempts to play the role of Mr Nice Guy. For tennis insiders, there is a disconnect between the image of being all about peace and love, and the abrasive Association of Tennis Professionals player council leader who continues to associate with former board member Justin Gimelstob – despite Gimelstob pleading “no contest” to assault charges in April.
On court, Djokovic’s celebration at the end of matches when he cups his hands and extends them to all four corners of the crowd has come in for grief – most notably from his critic-in-chief Nick Kyrgios.
“It’s so cringeworthy,” Kyrgios said in May. “I just feel he has a sick obsession with wanting to be liked – so much that I can’t stand him. He wants to be just like Roger Federer.”
But Djokovic would surely love, just once, to have the Wimbledon crowd on his side. Aside from a small minority, he can forget that today.
Perhaps that will work in his favour – Djokovic is never more dangerous than when fighting a perceived injustice. and women’s wheelchair events, and top three plus a wild card in the quads.
The specially commissioned coin used for the toss ahead of the women’s final could be described as out of this world. US astronaut Andrew Feustel took the two finals coins with him last year for his six-month stint at the International Space Station for Nasa’s Expedition 56. Philip Brook, Wimbledon’s chairman, said the coins “symbolise our collective pursuit of greatness”. Commander Feustel and his wife, Indira, were seated in the Royal box yesterday.