There is something of incomplete love, of unrequited desire, in the connection between Novak Djokovic and Wimbledon headquarters. Yes, there is, but it’s more for convenience than crushing. The English crowd, noblote, has always recognized the Serb’s great skills on the pitch and his rising hierarchy in a tournament not so long ago dominated by the Swiss Roger Federer, the real sigh of the local fans. But the one from Basel is gone, the Balkans – champions of the last four editions, in six of the last eight – have stolen his house keys and this afternoon London can witness an eighth title for a legendary tennis player who is so tense as you know.
For example Djokovic’s last mission against the Italian Jannik Sinner. The clapping bestowed upon the young Italian each time he threatened his rival’s victory contrasted with some mistimed shouts – occasional but perceptible almost every day – that attempted to destabilize the victor, who resigned and angry at the same time trying to accept a strange situation. Having won six of the last eight Majors played, he has always expressed an unconditional fondness for the tournament in both his speech and gestures. He has done them all. From kissing the grass every time he wins to eating it. Delivered, Nole sees no response that matches his devotion.
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From a pure tennis point of view and from the numbers, his favorite band is undisputed. Nobody, not even this supersonic weed-adapted Alcaraz, plays so naturally and exuberantly in the cathedral. The tally states that he has strung together six years (nearly 2,200 days) without a loss in the tournament, a decade without a fall on center court and 45 wins in this Sunday’s final, a more than significant date for him. As a record lover, he may match Australia’s Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand, but he suspects fans might choose Alcaraz, young, dazzling and top-notch. Between one and the other is the third largest gap in a major men’s final.
Djokovic, on the central square lawn. TOBY MELVILLE (Portal)
“All love is all love. Love and acceptance,” he replied wryly when reminded of those attempts to upset him against Sinner. “The stands support my rivals in most games of my career, but that’s okay, that’s my destiny,” he commented two weeks ago in statements collected by the Tennis Majors portal; “Sometimes it’s difficult to accept, sometimes I don’t understand their reactions, but they are right. This has happened to me in the best tournaments in the world. In the end it’s something that gives me extra drive and inspires me to play even better. As a player, you always want to have people on your side. My desire has never been to play in a hostile environment.
Federer, in the background
Despite his experience, the odd atmosphere surrounding his performances could lead to the contained explosion that threatened on Friday when the Serb – after hearing a “Come on Rafa!” – put his hand to his ear and pretended he would cry, how it was in the stands Every time he scored a point, there was a distinct growl coming from him. Every day cat and mouse, Djokovic and London have always shared a peculiar relationship between respect for a genius of his time and the general subconscious wish that he doesn’t win an eighth title lest he meet the aristocratic Federer, the champion to match. catches up Like a glove with Wimbledon, both on and off the track.
“Of course Novak is under pressure, but over the course of his career he has already shown how well he knows how to deal with it and how little he is affected by it,” explained Alcaraz, who was the number one confronted with the defeat today. “He has exemplary behavior, he respects the history of our sport very much,” praised the giant, who has 92 tournament wins to his name and has only conceded 18 sets since losing to Thomas Berdych in 2017; “He’s very young but incredibly consistent. Consistency and the ability to adapt to any circumstance have been great strengths of my career and to see that in him at just 20 is incredible. I have a feeling we’re going to have the best final possible, we’re both very fit and hungry for glory.”
The All England Tennis Club is designed to accommodate the best pulse possible. And annoyed, Djokovic continues to demand affection.
“Desperate to be Loved”
AC | London
The latent dissatisfaction between the tennis player and the English audience is on the stage and is also transmitted to the press. The day after the duel against Sinner, local media sharply criticized the Serb.
The Telegraph published one of the most haunting sentences, which at the same time took up Nole’s hegemony and his feelings: “Novak Djokovic’s supreme power is that as much as he desperately strives to be loved, he also draws inexhaustible energy from being hated.”
The same newspaper clarified: “Djokovic’s relationship with his SW19 audience [el distrito de Wimbledon] could well be described as annoying.”
The Times in turn headlined: “Ugly victory.” And he continued: “A grumpy Djokovic prepares the confrontation with Alcaraz. The champion loses a point for snarling and then taunting the crowd on Center Court.
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