“It’s better for tennis,” Tennis great Chris Evert praises Novak Djokovic despite not being his ‘biggest fan’
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Chris Evert praises Novak Djokovic
World No.1 Novak Djokovic had a difficult time in Australia last month when his stay was limited to just 10 days as he was deported and banned from entering Australia for 3-years on 16th January 2022, a few hours before his 1st round match in the 2022 Australian Open where he was the 3-time defending champion and a record 9-time tournament champion.
The Serbian returned to action at the Dubai Tennis Championship earlier this month. However, his much-awaited comeback didn’t go to plan as he lost to Jiri Vesely in a shock upset in the quarter-finals. which also resulted in the Serbian dropping to the 2nd spot in the ATP rankings.
Evert speaks on Djokovic’s impact on tournaments
Despite not being Novak Djokovic’s biggest fan and disagreeing with his stance on vaccination, Chris Evert was forced to acknowledge that the Serbian player was essential to the men’s tour. Especially when Rafael Nadal is at the top of his game.
After his immediate future looking bleak with the exclusions at Indian Wells and Miami Open, the Serbian was handed a respite as he looks all set to be allowed to participate at this year’s French Open following a relaxation in the Covid protocols.
Former World No.1 Every admitted that Novak Djokovic makes every tournament he plays in more exciting. She also believes that Djokovic playing is good for the sport, since Rafa currently looks unstoppable and the only player who can challenge him on clay is the Serbian.
“Every time Novak Djokovic takes part in a tournament, it’s better for tennis. It’s more exciting for everyone. And the fact that he is one of the few players who can cause Nadal problems on clay makes me happy that he can play at Roland‐Garros. I’ve always been a huge fan of the Big 3 players and their rivalry. I’m curious to see what will happen,” said Evert.
Further in the interview, despite revealing that she’s not a huge fan of Djokovic’s anti-vaccination stance, the American expressed her admiration for his honesty. Despite supporting vaccinations, Evert refused to judge Novak based on his stance and appreciated that he has the courage to do what he wants to.
“I’m a big supporter of the vaccine because I truly believe it helps fight the virus and saves lives. So it’s a mixed feeling. I admire and respect Novak because he does what he feels. He is very honest and upfront with how he feels. On the other hand, I’m a big proponent of the vaccine. Everything I say it’s that I’m not judging Novak one way or the other,” added the American.
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Akash Mandal
(433 Articles Published)