The Serb has lengthy been searching for the lacking ingredient to make him an equal of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal within the hearts of tennis followers.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic throughout Wimbledon 2022. Picture: Twitter/@DjokerNole
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -Novak Djokovic is already a sporting immortal however he will likely be desperately hoping he’s lastly turning into a “people’s champion” after successful a seventh Wimbledon crown on Sunday.
The Serb has lengthy been searching for the lacking ingredient to make him an equal of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal within the hearts of tennis followers.
His four-set victory over unseeded Nick Kyrgios nudges him forward of Federer into second place within the all-time checklist of Grand Slam males’s winners with 21 titles, one behind Nadal.
Djokovic nibbled a blade of grass in his customary celebration earlier than making his “cup of love” gesture to all corners of the Centre Court, who roared their approval for the champion.
While Federer and Nadal get pleasure from an virtually god-like standing within the sport, the Serb has been a participant that followers have discovered harder to love.
Many had already picked both the Swiss or the Spaniard as “their man” by the point Djokovic gained his first main in 2008, leaving him able because the awkward interloper.
The Serb, who left Belgrade when he was 12 to coach in Munich and escape NATO’s bombardment of his house metropolis, is a spikier character than the graceful, unruffled Federer or the self-effacing Nadal.
FIERY CHARACTER
His notorious default from the US Open in 2020 for petulantly swiping at a ball that hit a feminine line decide gave a glimpse of his fiery character.
And a few of his private beliefs have drawn criticism — together with his refusal to have the coronavirus vaccine, a call that value him a spot on this yr’s Australian Open.
One declare that raised eyebrows was his perception that it was doable to change the composition of water and meals by way of constructive pondering.
Djokovic — so used to battling the gang alongside along with his opponent — appeared to have turned a nook eventually yr’s US Open remaining, which he misplaced to Daniil Medvedev
He acquired heartfelt help from followers urging him to battle again towards Medvedev but it surely was in the end in useless as he missed his likelihood to grow to be the primary man to win a calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.
“The amount of support and energy and love I got from the crowd was something I’ll remember forever,” he stated, giving a sign of how a lot it means to him.
Time seems to be on the aspect of the Serb in his quest to be thought of the best participant of all time and to additional win over the followers.
Federer, approaching his forty first birthday, has been out of motion for a yr after a knee operation whereas Nadal, 36, pulled out earlier than his semi-final at Wimbledon with an belly harm.
Djokovic, only a yr youthful than Nadal, reveals no signal of shedding his bodily edge — if something, he seems to be getting higher with age.
But he seems prone to be kicking his heels when the US Open begins subsequent month at Flushing Meadows.
Under present US legislation, he wouldn’t be allowed to journey to play as he has not been vaccinated towards Covid.
It can also be unclear whether or not he’ll have the ability to journey to Melbourne to play within the Australian Open in January after his deportation earlier this yr following a row over his vaccination standing.
Djokovic, who has spent a report variety of weeks as world primary, is already assured of his place in tennis historical past.
To add lustre to his achievements, he has successful information over each Federer and Nadal — 27-23 over the Swiss and 30-29 over the Spaniard.
Djokovic captured the primary of his majors on the Australian Open in 2008 but it surely was three years earlier than he added his second.
He dropped gluten from his weight loss plan and his lithe physique allowed him to chase down misplaced causes, reworking him into the rubber man of tennis with a rock-steady defence.
In 2011 he loved a spectacular yr, successful three of three Slams and turning into world primary for the primary time.
Since then he has gained no less than one Grand Slam every year since aside from in 2017.
Djokovic married long-time girlfriend Jelena Ristic in July 2014 they usually have two youngsters, a son, Stefan, and daughter, Tara.
Father and son have been pictured enjoying collectively at Wimbledon this yr however whereas the seven-year-old may be a future star Djokovic senior is way from completed.