Novak Djokovic expressed his displeasure with Wimbledon fans on Monday, accusing them of being "disrespectful" during his match against Holger Rune. Djokovic made his comments after winning in straight sets and mocking the crowd with a "Have a good night" taunt.
Novak Djokovic's Wimbledon journey continued on Monday, but it was not without its share of controversy. The No. 2-ranked tennis star advanced to the quarterfinals with a straight-sets victory over No. 15 Holger Rune, but his post-match comments cast a shadow over his triumph.
Djokovic accused a section of the Wimbledon crowd of being "disrespectful" throughout the match, claiming they booed him and cheered for his opponent. The awkward moment came when Djokovic believed fans were jeering him during Rune's name announcement.
Djokovic Calls Out Wimbledon Fans for 'Disrespectful' Behavior, Drawing Boos
"To all the fans that have respect and that stayed here tonight: Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. I appreciate it. And to all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player, in this case, me," Djokovic stated.
He then drew out the "O's" in "good" to imitate booing as he wished the crowd a "Have a good night." Djokovic's comments were met with a mixture of applause and boos.
Djokovic Calls Out Wimbledon Fans for 'Disrespectful' Behavior, Drawing Boos
The Wimbledon interviewer attempted to explain that the crowd had been mostly cheering for Rune, but Djokovic remained skeptical. "They were, they were, they were," he insisted. "I don’t accept it. No, no, no. I know they were chanting for Rune. But that’s an excuse to also boo."
"I’ve been on the tour for more than 20 years. So trust me, I know all the tricks. I know how it works. It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s OK. I focus on the respectful people, that have respect, that paid to watch tonight and love tennis," Djokovic added.
Djokovic Calls Out Wimbledon Fans for 'Disrespectful' Behavior, Drawing Boos
"I’ve played in much more hostile environments. Trust me, you guys can’t touch me." Djokovic's remarks seem to indicate that he may have alienated a portion of the Wimbledon crowd. He has a history of polarizing opinions among tennis fans, and his latest comments are unlikely to improve his public image.
As for his performance on court, Djokovic was in impressive form against Rune. The 35-year-old Serb dominated the match from start to finish, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. He converted all four break points he earned and won 57% of points on Rune's serve.
Djokovic has now reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the 10th time in his career. He will face No. 9-ranked Alex de Minaur from Australia in the next round. De Minaur is having a breakthrough season and has already defeated two top-10 players in Wimbledon.
It remains to be seen how Wimbledon fans will react to Djokovic in his upcoming matches. The crowd's behavior could have a significant impact on his performance and his chances of winning the tournament.
