As tennis enters a post-golden age, Novak Djokovic, at 38, faces a unique challenge at Wimbledon: winning over the crowd. Despite his immense success, he has often been overshadowed by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in terms of public affection. The article discusses his recent performance decline, his dramatic statements about retirement, and his perceived insecurity about being liked. It suggests that gaining the crowd's full support at Wimbledon might be his ultimate, unachieved goal, even more so than winning.
Winning over Wimbledon’s crowd may be Djokovic’s last Holy Grail
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️As tennis enters a post-golden age, Novak Djokovic, at 38, faces a unique challenge at Wimbledon: winning over the crowd. Despite his immense success, he has often been overshadowed by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in terms of public affection. The article discusses his recent performance decline, his dramatic statements about retirement, and his perceived insecurity about being liked. It suggests that gaining the crowd's full support at Wimbledon might be his ultimate, unachieved goal, even more so than winning.
Trending- 1 Recent: Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal have left professional tennis.
- 2 Nearly two years ago: Novak Djokovic last won a major.
- 3 May (recent): Novak Djokovic won a tournament (without top competition).
- 4 Recent French Open: Djokovic lost in the semis; Alcaraz won the final against Sinner.
- 5 Thursday (recent): Djokovic played Carlos Alcaraz in a Centre Court practice match.
- 6 Monday (upcoming): Wimbledon tournament begins.
- Djokovic's personal quest for crowd acceptance
- potential shift in public perception of him
What: Novak Djokovic's ongoing struggle to gain full crowd approval at Wimbledon, despite his tennis achievements, as he enters a later stage of his career.
When: This fortnight (Wimbledon tournament), Monday (Wimbledon begins), nearly two years (since Djokovic won a major), May (Djokovic won a tournament), Thursday (Djokovic played Alcaraz practice match).
Where: Wimbledon (London, UK), Centre Court, French Open (Paris, France), U.S. Open, Paris Olympics.
Why: Djokovic has historically been less favored by crowds compared to Federer and Nadal, and he projects insecurity about being liked. The article suggests this approval is his 'last Holy Grail.'
How: Through his performance and demeanor at Wimbledon, and the crowd's reaction to him. The article analyzes his past interactions and recent statements.