“Pretty sure he has already printed a #24 jacket”-Novak Djokovic’s potential tribute to late friend Kobe Bryant by winning the Wimbledon triggers reactions from fans

The wait is finally over. The famous Grand Slam of All England Club, Wimbledon 2023, begins on Monday (3 July). For the next two weeks, the tennis world will be completely submerged in keeping up with the matches of their favorites. The grass courts will be occupied by great players from around the world, competing against each other to lift the Golden Trophy in the end.

But one thing that everybody will be commonly anticipating, despite whomsoever they support, is to watch the Serbian maestro, Novak Djokovic playing for his 24^th Grand Slam and 8^th Wimbledon Trophy. All around the world people will be united to see if the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) will make it.

Some people have already predicted the Serb’s fate and are sure that he is going to lift the trophy. One of them is Tennis writer and author Bastien Faschan. Tweeting from his account, Faschan predicted that two weeks from now on Djokovic will win the Grand Slam and will reference his late friend and basketball player Kobe Bryant in his winning speech.

“Two weeks from now, around this time: Novak Djokovic wins his 8th Wimbledon and 24th Grand Slam and references his late friend Kobe Bryant, who wore #8 then #24,” tweeted Faschan.

Djokovic and Kobe had been good friends for many years. They shared a close connection, and, on many occasions, the Serb has shared how Kobe helped him during 2016-2018 when he was going through a period of injuries. Even Kobe had declared Novak as his favorite tennis player and addressed him as ‘his guy’.

After winning his eighth Australian Open title, Novak Djokovic paid respect to Kobe during the presentation ceremony. In his champion’s speech, he paid tribute to the late great and dedicated the trophy to his friend, Kobe’s daughter Gigi, and the entire Bryant family. Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gigi lost their lives in 2020 during a fatal helicopter crash.

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Fans react to Bastien Faschan’s tweet and remember Kobe Bryant

Minutes after Bastien Faschan tweeted his prediction, fans started commenting on the tweet and shared their feelings regarding the Serbian and the American’s friendship. Fans reminisced about how Djokovic wore the jacket bearing the numbers 24 and 8 during the 2020 Australian Open.

Fans agreed with the prediction and claimed there is no possible outcome than Djokovic winning this year’s Wimbledon. Some people even went on to say that Djokovic will probably invite Bryant’s family on the stage after he wins the GS. Here are some of the reactions of fans.

As Djokovic pursues greatness at Wimbledon, his plan to include Kobe Bryant in his winning speech serves as a bittersweet reminder of their long friendship and the influence Bryant had on his life.

In case you missed it:

• WATCH: Stefanos Tsitsipas marks his and Paula Badosa’s relationship as TRUE LOVE in a post match interview
• Novak Djokovic discards Carlos Alcaraz as ‘motivation’ to win the 2023 Wimbledon

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