Novak Djokovic produced yet another magnanimous performance at the Davis Cup to aid Serbia’s quest for a second title at the multi-nation tournament in Malaga. However, the 36-year-old’s transition from competitor to victor wasn’t without its turmoils.
Much has been discussed about Novak Djokovic’s lack of popularity and sidelining by the media, from his father’s diatribes to constant jeering from crowds at major events. In yet another case of the latter, Novak took aim at a rowdy crowd by asking them to quieten and maintain politeness.
Novak Djokovic slams British fans
Novak Djokovic had little turnover time from a victorious Nitto ATP Finals run to his participation in the Davis Cup quarterfinals against Great Britain. Mere days after succeeding in Turin, the 24-time grand slam champion flew to Spain to face Cameron Norrie in the first singles match.
Many British fans had travelled from the UK to Malaga to support their team and they did not hide their support for their team. They even went further than merely cheering on for their team and instead constantly booed and jeered the Serbian players.
Novak Djokovic, in particular, was annoyed by the riotous audience present in the stadium and constantly was at odds with their behaviour. In the following video, he directly aimed his celebration at the away audience by planting a cheeky kiss to them after a tough point.
Novak later told the British fans to ‘shut up’ and ‘learn to respect players’ in a vicious assault on the noisy nationalistic fans present during his match.
“Learn how to respect players, learn how to respect people, you shut up, you be quiet,” he said in his post-match interview.
Novak Djokovic played an integral part in Serbia’s demolition of Great Britain and was on top form against Norrie. The Serb produced a masterclass display of attack and defensive maneuvers that aided his path to victory.
Novak Djokovic defeats Cameron Norrie
Novak Djokovic defeated Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 in a tension-filled afternoon in Malaga. Despite eight years separating either player in age, Novak was dominant athletically and mentally as he never let Norrie equal the scoreline in either set.
In both sets, the world No.1 surged ahead to a 2-game lead and served out the sets and match with a clinical display of authority and perfection. His achievement along with Miomir Kecmanovic’s win over Jack Draper ensured the doubles match was not necessary and allowed Serbia to progress to the semi-final stage.
In the semi-final, Serbia will face Italy who beat Netherlands 2-1 in their quarterfinal stage. The matchup is set to be a mouthwatering contest and many fans will expect to see a reunion between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic after the Serb beat the Italian at the Nitto ATP Finals final recently.
Novak Djokovic will not have the same acrimonious atmosphere as he would if he had faced a Carlos Alcaraz-led Spain, but Jannik Sinner nevertheless is a popular figure, and Novak can expect a few jeers from the Italian fans present in Malaga.
What are your opinions on Novak’s constant trouble with fans during matches? Let us know in the comments section below.
