Finalist’s volleys of shame

TWO of the most controversial stars of men’s tennis will clash on Wimbledon’s Centre Court today.

Novak Djokovic, 35, who has refused to take the Covid vaccine, will battle Australian Nick Kyrgios for the men’s singles title. The 27year-old, who was fined after a fiery encounter earlier in the tournament, has a reputation for shooting from the hip.

He’s previously bad-mouthed today’s opponent, saying in 2019:

‘I just feel like he has a sick obsession, wanting to be liked... He just wants to be liked so much that I just can’t stand him. This whole celebration thing [blowing kisses to the crowd] it’s so cringeworthy.’

But he had mellowed towards the Serbian star earlier this year, saying: ‘We definitely have a bit of a bromance now, which is weird.’

In 2015, he tried to put off rival Stan Wawrinka by telling him another player ‘banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that, mate.’

He’s been dismissive of the sport that made his fortune, saying: ‘I don’t really like the sport of tennis that much’ and ‘God help me if I am playing tennis at 30. There are so many more things to this world.’

He’s turned on his own support team, too, telling them in 2016: ‘Do any of you have any idea what you’re doing? Any of you? Oh, it’s game point, maybe I’ll give him some support now... you’re retarded.’

Yet he seems surprised he’s not loved, lashing out on Friday that ‘the greats of Australian tennis... haven’t always been the nicest to me personally and they haven’t always been supportive.’ Wonder why?