Novak Djokovic was booed by the Wimbledon crowd for playing his tennis racket like a violin after his semi-final win over Lorenzo Musetti.
It’s not the first time Djokovic has suffered boos on Centre Court this year with the seven-time champion also targeted during his victory over Holger Rune.
That happened on Monday, with Djokovic unleashing an angry rant at spectators for ‘disrespect’ in an on-court speech, bragging that he simply cannot be touched.
Djokovic then stormed out of an awkward BBC interview when he was persistently asked about disrespectful fans in SW19 and as well the popularity of an opponent.
John McEnroe has compared the 37-year-old to fictional Star Wars villain Darth Vader – but why do British crowds keep booing Djokovic at the All England Club?
Centre Court crowd thought Novak Djokovic was goading them
The Centre Court crowd believed that Novak Djokovic was goading them after his semi-final victory over Lorenzo Musetti on Friday.
After his winning match point, Djokovic played his tennis racked like a violin, which is a tribute to his daughter who is currently learning to play the instrument.
But the crowd were confused as to why Djokovic was doing it – and thought he was doing it to wind them up – resulting in loud booing towards the Serbian.
‘Why are people booing?’ John McEnroe said on the BBC. ‘I have no idea,’ Nick Kyrgios added. ‘Because they think that he is making fun of them… But he’s not. Or is he?’ Andrew Castle said. ‘No, he’s not,’ Kyrgios replied. ‘Even if he was… he would deserve [to do] it,’ McEnroe added.
It was easy to disguise boos as support for Holger Rune and it became ‘infectious’
Novak Djokovic was also booed during his last-16 win over Holger Rune, with some fans using their support for the Dane as a sly way to disrespect him.
Most fans were chanting ‘Ruuuuuuune’ – which sounded a lot like ‘boooooooo’ – but it was later confirmed that some spectators had actually been throwing in boos as a subtle way of making their hostile feelings towards Djokovic known.
‘There were jerks sitting next to me using Rune’s name to boo Djokovic and it became infectious,’ said one Wimbledon fan, who was sat on Centre Court. ‘It was embarrassing. That’s no way to treat a player who has given this sport so much.’
Speaking after the match, Djokovic angrily turned to the crowd and said: ‘To all the people that have chosen to disrespect the player, in this case me, gooooooooood night. They were [disrespecting me]. I am not accepting it. No no no. I know they were cheering for Rune but that’s an excuse to also boo.
‘Listen, I have been on the tour for more than 20 years. I know all the tricks. I focus on the respectful people that pay for the ticket, and love tennis and appreciate the players. I played in much more hostile environments, trust me – you guys can’t touch me.’
Novak Djokovic is villain to Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
Djokovic was always Andy Murray’s No.1 rival – the true sweetheart of SW19 – and the British crowds have never forgotten that.
Especially given this year’s emotional send-off for the man who beat the Serbian in 2013 to end the country’s 77-year wait for a men’s champion at Wimbledon.
Djokovic was also the nemesis of his fellow Big Three stars, Federer and Nadal, who like Murray, are adored in Britain.
Djokovic came along as the Fedal rivalry was peaking and was left in no-man’s land. He was the one guy who was so remarkably talented that he could challenge these titans and he became the antagonist. Federer, Nadal and Murray were heroes who ultimately needed a suitable villain.
‘I think deep down he gets a bit annoyed at some of his rivals, in particular Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and they were so popular on court,’ John Lloyd said about Djokovic this week.
‘Novak, sometimes, is just not as popular as those two. Well who would be? And I think sometimes he gets a little bit annoyed at it, the crowd gets on him, thinks it’s a bit personal, it isn’t.’
Arrogance, on-court behaviour and non-genuine
There are some who actively dislike Novak Djokovic, something the Serbian puts down to the fact he doesn’t come from a ‘western country’ as well as his ‘attitude’.
Djokovic has acknowledged some view him as an ‘arrogant p****’ due to his unapologetic and passionate desire to become the greatest tennis player ever.
Other reasons include his on-court behaviour, with Rafael Nadal’s uncle describing Djokovic’s antics as ‘complicated’.
Djokovic is known to regularly motivate himself by picking fights with fans, umpires and even his own box during matches. He’s also been branded a ‘whiny-loser’ and ‘non-genuine’ by some critics.
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