Unloved Novak in a class above
We HAVE seen it before with Andy Murray in London and Rafael Nadal in Paris — the crowd being heavily loaded in their beloved Roger Federer’s favour against a younger opponent.
But we have never seen it like it was at Flushing Meadows for the US Open final, where more hostile elements tried to put Novak Djokovic off his game before he pushed on to a 10th Grand Slam title with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Much to the Serb’s credit he kept calm, and as a result his lead in the new rankings today shows that he is the best in the men’s game by a country mile, dominating l i ke his f ellow three-time Grand Slam winner in 2015, Serena Williams, does the women.
Djokovic should take as a compliment the way he can inspire reactions like he did in the final, although a New York crowd after three hours of rain delay-induced refreshment is unique. elsewhere he often gets greeted with respect rather than adoration.
If there is a modern comparison it is probably to his fellow east european Ivan Lendl, relatively unloved during the spells of his career when he was a win machine, until he faded at the back end of it. It is notable that t he biggest outpouring of affection f or Djokovic this season came after the Paris final, where he lost and became emotional during his classy post-match speech.
The US champion was careful not to have a go back at the Arthur Ashe crowd afterwards, although he would have been within his rights to complain about the element who repeatedly called out when he was serving.
‘I can’t sit here and criticise the crowd. On the contrary, I think it’s logical to expect that a great player and a champion like Roger has the majority of the support anywhere I play him,’ he said.
‘I’m there to earn the support, and hopefully in the future I can be in that position.’
The maths is easy to do in making a case for him one day overhauling Federer’s tally of 17 Grand Slams. Again he was all diplomacy when discussing what the next four or five years could bring.
‘I’m 28. I have always valued the care for my body, my mind and had this holistic approach to life, I always thought this is of utmost importance for my tennis,’ said Djokovic, who will only ever talk in general terms when it comes to the specifics of his physical preparation.
‘I will continue on with the same kind of lifestyle. I think that kind of approach brought me to where I am today.
‘ Hopefully it will give me longevity, and many more opportunities to fight for these trophies.’
At this rate the others might be left fighting for scraps off his table. Just when it looks like Nadal will fall short of Federer’s all-time Grand Slam total, the great Swiss has someone else to worry about, but not in the affection stakes.
In today’s new rankings Jo Konta is up to 58 in the world, just behind Heather Watson for the British No 1 spot at 56.