By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
Novak Djokovic has accused some of the Centre Court crowd of using a chant for Holger Rune as an excuse to boo him, reflecting the ongoing complexities of his relationship with Wimbledon.
During their fourth round match on Monday, many fans responded to Rune's winners and Djokovic's errors with extended cries of 'Ru-ne'. Djokovic, who won decisively 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, felt the crowd was being disrespectful.
When on court interviewer Rishi Persad suggested that the fans were supporting his opponent, Djokovic hinted at deeper issues. "I know they were cheering for Rune, but that's an excuse to also boo," he remarked. "I've been on the tour for more than 20 years. I know all the tricks."
Djokovic is striving to match the record for the most Wimbledon men's titles, aiming for his eighth win and having reached the final nine times. However, his rapport with the crowd has often been turbulent. After his victory over Roger Federer in the 2019 final, his former coach Boris Becker claimed Djokovic deserved more respect from a crowd that largely favored Federer. Additionally, two years ago, Djokovic was booed after blowing a kiss to fans following his semi final win over Britain's Cameron Norrie.
Throughout Monday's match, Djokovic appeared unperturbed, though he did glare at a section of Rune supporters after securing the second set. He also glanced at chanting fans while waiting for his on court interview. "I've played in much more hostile environments, trust me you guys can't touch me," he declared. "To all the fans that have had respect and stayed here tonight, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I appreciate it."
Rune, for his part, believed the crowd's intentions were clear. "If you don't know what was happening, probably it sounded like 'boo'. But if we all know what happened, it was my name," said the 21 year old. "If he didn't remember, it could probably sound different for him. I don't think it played a massive part in the match."
This isn't the first instance of a sports star's name being chanted with elongated vowels, even at Wimbledon this year. When Sue Barker entered Centre Court to interview Andy Murray during his emotional farewell on Thursday, she was greeted with cries of 'Sue'. Similarly, Joe Root was welcomed with the familiar 'Root' chant when introduced to the crowd earlier in the tournament.
Djokovic, who will face Australian ninth seed Alex de Minaur in the quarter finals, seemed to have found humor in the situation by the end of his interview. He concluded by saying, "To all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player (in this case me) have a good night." However, during his subsequent news conference, he remained firm in his stance. "When I feel a crowd is stepping over the line, I react," he said. "I don’t regret my words or actions on the court."
