Why Wimbledon favorite Novak Djokovic’s reputation doesn’t match his tennis
One of the crucial memorable sporting occasions I ever attended was the 2012 males’s Wimbledon last, which pitted the Swiss nice Roger Federer in opposition to Britain’s personal Andy Murray. A Brit hadn’t gained Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936: That’s 76 years of nationwide disappointment and heartbreak.
What made the match distinctive, nonetheless, wasn’t simply the prospect of historical past being made but additionally the palpable battle inside the Centre Courtroom crowd. As a lot as they wished Murray to finish their nationwide struggling, they didn’t need the beloved Federer to undergo within the course of.
Opinion Columnist
LZ Granderson
LZ Granderson writes about tradition, politics, sports activities and navigating life in America.
My hope is that Novak Djokovic sooner or later achieves the extent of adoration Federer enjoys. Nevertheless it’s not trying good.
With Wednesday’s straight-sets victory over Jordan Thompson, the Serb moved nearer to capturing his eighth Wimbledon title, tying Federer’s document, and twenty fourth main general, tying a document set by Margaret Courtroom. Djokovic is the one participant to have crushed each Federer and Spain’s Rafael Nadal in any respect 4 majors. When he retires, he’ll probably personal each tennis statistic of significance.
And but the 36-year previous remains to be attempting to determine how one can win the one factor he most likely needs most: the form of love that causes a house crowd to root for the customer regardless of themselves — the sort that will make being the best really feel good.
At first, the lads’s tennis crown rested uneasily on Djokovic’s head due to who he wasn’t. Then his dealing with of the pandemic shone an unflattering mild on who he was.
Through the early days of COVID-19, in 2020, Djokovic launched an ill-fated exhibition tour that felt like a millionaire’s mood tantrum. Upset about canceled tournaments, the then-world No. 1 used his platform primarily to arrange a super-spreader occasion: capability crowds within the stands, a lot of hugging amongst gamers, no social distancing by anybody.
Predictably, Djokovic quickly examined constructive for the virus, as did his spouse. So did different gamers who participated, together with Viktor Troicki and his then-pregnant spouse. It was extremely egocentric, and his fellow gamers mentioned as a lot on social media.
“Prayers as much as all of the gamers which have contracted Covid-19,” tweeted Nick Kyrgios, who was not a giant Djokovic fan to start with. Kyrgios added that whereas he might need been accused of being irresponsible or silly, “this takes the cake.”
Competing within the Olympics in Tokyo the next yr, Djokovic threw his racket after shedding the singles match for the bronze medal. He then withdrew from a mixed-doubles match citing harm, however his meltdown had invited suspicion about his true causes.
Final yr, after being denied entry into Australia for not being vaccinated in opposition to COVID, Djokovic discovered himself on the middle of a world circus. He tried to place himself as a sufferer of political correctness however later admitted he had lied on his journey paperwork — once more for his personal egocentric ends.
Djokovic might be beneficiant, approachable and humorous. But he stays frustratingly petulant and tone-deaf in methods we don’t count on from athletes at his stage.
It’s commonplace for an period in sports activities to be formed by a nasty boy or two. Such athletes could even briefly reign on the high of a recreation.
However dangerous boys aren’t normally within the “biggest of all time” dialog. That’s as a result of reaching that stage requires gifted dangerous boys to grow to be battle-tested males.
The enterprise {of professional} sports activities additionally requires star athletes to be engaging to as many followers as potential. Throughout his anti-vax drama in Australia, Djokovic misplaced sponsors in addition to the advantage of the doubt.
Djokovic’s want to be the sport’s ambassador is at odds together with his should be its chief antagonist. He splits the distinction, which doesn’t fulfill anybody.
I would like to be ok with this period of tennis, and with Federer and Nadal as its faces, I did. Djokovic has proved to be one of the best of all of them, nonetheless, and consequently, this time belongs to him — on the court docket, anyway.
It’s not that Djokovic doesn’t have followers; after all he does. However when Murray lastly ended Britain’s drought at Djokovic’s expense in 2013, I sensed not one of the conflicted sympathies within the crowd that Murray’s loss to Federer had generated the yr earlier than.
That turned out to be the final time Djokovic misplaced at Centre Courtroom — however not the final time the Wimbledon crowd brazenly cheered for his opponent, normally Federer.
My hope is that Djokovic will discover his manner into extra hearts and be celebrated the best way a champion like him must be. Nevertheless it’s not trying good.
