July 10th 2024.
After a heated match on Centre Court, Novak Djokovic expressed his frustration with the fans who were slyly booing him. Tennis legend John McEnroe, who compared Djokovic to the infamous Star Wars villain Darth Vader, urged the crowd to respect the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Djokovic's upcoming match against Alex de Minaur will surely be an awkward one, given the tense atmosphere of his last match against Holger Rune. In his on-court interview, Djokovic called out the disrespectful behavior of some spectators and made it clear that he felt disrespected.
The Serbian tennis star then walked out of a BBC interview after only 98 seconds when asked about the incident. McEnroe, who has also faced his fair share of negative energy from crowds, understands how Djokovic may feed off of it but also hates it in a way. He questions why people would root against someone as great as Djokovic, who has won seven Wimbledon singles titles.
McEnroe also acknowledges the greatness of Djokovic's rivals, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, who are beloved by the fans. In comparison, Djokovic may come off as the Darth Vader of the tennis world, breaking into the party of these two beloved players. However, he still deserves respect for his incredible talent and contribution to the sport.
The 2012 incident where Djokovic wore a Darth Vader mask at a match was brought up, highlighting his playful and lighthearted side. McEnroe then points out the physical and mental challenges Djokovic has faced, including recent surgery, to even compete in the tournament. He believes that Djokovic is helping the tournament and deserves love and respect, especially when playing against a relatively unknown player like Rune.
While there may have been a handful of Danish fans cheering for Rune, McEnroe emphasizes the importance of respecting greatness when it is witnessed. He admires Djokovic for speaking out against the negative energy he has faced throughout his career and believes it takes courage to do so. However, it may also put more people against him, which McEnroe believes is undeserved at this stage in his career. Ultimately, he sees Djokovic as a crucial and irreplaceable figure in the world of tennis.
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