Coco Gauff responds to Novak Djokovic’s unexpected suggestions for Grand Slam events during change of ends
Coco Gauff didn't expect Novak Djokovic to advocate for dancers and other forms of entertainment during the change of ends.
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Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff (Images via X)
Coco Gauff has given her verdict on Novak Djokovic‘s suggestion of having NBA and NFL-like entertainment between sets in tennis. Gauff doesn’t think the idea is reasonable, for the time the tennis players get between the sets won’t allow such things to happen.
Djokovic made those suggestions after breezing past Tomas Machac in straight sets in the third round. He had to deal with hecklers often during the match and even called them out. At the press conference then, he lauded Danielle Collins for giving it back to the hostile crowd and called for those aforementioned changes during the change of ends.
He thinks tennis is ‘quite traditional’ and ‘conservative’ and so some entertainment during matches could help players relax their nerves. Gauff, who fended off Belinda Bencic in three sets in the Australian Open fourth round, said it would have been a ‘great idea’ if tennis too had a halftime like the NBA and NFL.
I guess it depends on how long you want the show to be. I don’t think it’s going to be like the NFL, where the halftime is 50 minutes, that might be too long. I think sports can be fun and things can happen, but it would be hard to do something crazy in just a minute and a half… But it’s a really interesting idea. I didn’t expect that from Novak.
Coco Gauff said at the press conference
Following his win over Machac, the 24-time Grand Slam champion knocked out Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round. He has now a tough challenge in the quarterfinals in the form of Carlos Alcaraz who is bidding to accomplish the Career Grand Slam.
Coco Gauff aiming to reach Australian Open semifinal for the second time in a row
Coco Gauff, following her win over 2021 Olympic singles champion Belinda Bencic, has scheduled a quarterfinal clash with former World No. 2 Paula Badosa, who is also in a stunning form in the tournament.
Badosa, before reaching the last eight, knocked out Olga Danilovic in straight sets. She has met the 20-year-old six times and is 3-3 in their head-to-head meeting, losing the last match they played against each other in the semifinal of the 2024 China Open, which Gauff won.
While Badosa advanced to her first quarterfinal at Melbourne Park and is searching for her first Grand Slam title, the 2023 US Open champion is aiming to reach the Australian Open semifinal for the second time in a row. Last year, she suffered a straight-set defeat to eventual winner Aryna Sabalenka.
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Gouri Das
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