Booing and jeering of Novak Djokovic over Andrey Rublev shows Wimbledon crowd’s reducing class

It’s not a love-hate relationship but a hate-hate relationship between crowds and Novak Djokovic. One has to call them “crowds,” not fans, as the latter are supposed to love, adore, admire, and fall head over heels to cheer their icon. Novak ain’t no dalin. Sad that Novak is hated, Novak is abused, and Novak gets pilloried. How and why goes beyond realms of reality and rationality. Born-to-be-hated could well be the mantra chanted for Novak.

For, the amount of flak he gets on social media, media, and from the crowds who pay to see him has touched the limits of insanity if not obscenity. Perhaps it would be a great topic of discussion, debate, and possible research by social scientists on why this hatred for Novak. Like a bulldozer at work, of the JCB variety, the Serbian has been pushing, breaking, and demolishing the opposition on tennis courts. It’s not his fault he is so good, so aggressive, yet so clinical.

Be it hard courts, clay courts, or grass, Novak is the Arnie Schwarzenegger version of tennis’s Terminator. It’s not a role assigned by anyone but ordained. For a man who has graced tennis, in full bloom for over two decades plus, Novak was never fans’ first love. Roger Federer is the first love for fans, and Rafael Nadal is the second love. Maybe there is a change in the pecking order, now that Nadal is injured.

Maybe, Federer’s popularity has dipped after his attempt at cooing and wooing, oops, near philandering, with Kate Middleton in the Royalty Box has become part of dubious history. A commoner wanting to kiss Royalty on her cheek was cheeky, isn’t it? Novak has done nothing like that, though rumor mills say some years ago said he was distracted by/with his physio/trainer/nutritionist.

Keep Exploring: Novak Djokovic taunts Carlos Alcaraz’s father not to invade privacy after being spotted watching the Serb’s Wimbledon practice

A pattern of hate towards Novak Djokovic continues at Grand Slam events

Today, Novak Djokovic is devoted to his tennis, family, and kids. After he won the French Open, the record 23rd Grand Slam title, he went on a hiking trip with his wife, something which relaxed him. At The Championships in London, the last 10 days, plus have seen Novak not getting love from fans. When he is in trouble, facing a break point, Novak’s opponent gets cheered. Understandable that rooting for the underdog in sports is a good thing.

The bad thing is hatred for Novak and not supporting him. Why? Has the second seed become so boring or has Novak’s rise as the biggest-ever tennis star in every sense made people go mad. If that be the case, it beats logic. One can expect Australia and France to behave boorishly or in a bizarre way. Jeez, for Britons and Wimbledon fans to behave like this is unacceptable.

Most of us grew up hearing, seeing, and believing Wimbledon means best manners, the best of everything. No, that’s a can of lies, bilge, bullshit. The way Centre Court at Big W, so hallowed, so steeped in history, so sacrosanct like a place of worship, has treated Novak Djokovic is perfidy. One cannot abuse Wimbledon, for that’s not just a Grand Slam, it’s an institution. And an institution is bigger than anything else.

What beats everyone, provided you are not a Novak-hater, is how these fans on/in Centre Court have fallen in love with a Russian. Imagine, cheering for Andrey Rublev, not Novak. Joke! It means, all this drama over Britain supporting Ukraine in the war versus Russia was kind of farcical. Despite its lousy state of economy, Britain wants to support Ukraine.

Wimbledon’s U-turn on supporting a Russian definitely a surprise

How did the narrative change, where Novak is hated, not Rublev? The same Wimbledon banned Russians and Belarussians in 2022. They got flak, a rap on their knuckles, and then decided to welcome these players like Rublev, Daniil Medvedev, and more, like Aryna Sabalenka. No sport in the world has seen a hatred for heroes and support for tyros. After all, when it comes to playing tennis on grass, sliding and hard footwork is not going to help.

One has to be like Novak Djokovic: quick steps, tiger softness, recover, and maintain balance. A bit like a ballet dancer, a bit like an executioner. He has faced tough moments in the summer of 2023 at Wimbledon as he erases one record after another. To be in a 46th Grand Slam semi-final is no less than sitting atop Mount Everest, minus an oxygen cylinder. For Novak’s 24th Grand Slam title loading is more than history.

These are iconic moments that are being witnessed in 2023, from Melbourne to Paris and now London. Is this to be cherished or hated? If you thought the men who once ruled the world, Britain, are the epitome of good behavior, forget it. They are the butt of ridicule, where an Indian origin Rishi Sunak is now their Prime Minister.

Then again, if in cricket, Long Room August members can behave like louts with Aussie Usman Khawaja, stop expecting Wimbledon to behave like genteel folks. The British DNA, their gene pool has changed. Good manners? No. Bad behavior? Yes. Never mind, nothing will stop Novak Djokovic. And even if he does not win the title on Sunday, no worry. This GOAT is not here to be offered as a sacrificial lamb!

In case you missed it:

• Mirra Andreeva slapped with a big fine after altercation with umpire and unsportsmanlike conduct following Wimbledon exit
• Andrey Rublev asked if he is ‘GUILTY’ for being a Russian as Wimbledon press makes things awkward

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW