In a fiery Davis Cup showdown, Novak Djokovic accused a section of British fans of displaying “disrespect” during his match against Cameron Norrie. Despite the vocal disapproval, Djokovic secured a victory for Serbia, closing out the tie with a 2-0 win over Great Britain.
Novak Djokovic voiced his frustration, stating, “The entire match, pretty much, [they showed] disrespect, but again, that’s something I kind of have to be prepared for.”
The Serbian player highlighted that while fans may sometimes cross the line, he, too, responds to such behavior, emphasizing that he won’t tolerate disrespect.
The annoyance with the British fans, particularly those behind the Great Britain bench, was palpable throughout the first set. Djokovic even blew a kiss to a particularly loud spectator while serving out the set.
During the post-match on-court interview, parts of the British fan groups disrupted Djokovic’s address by drumming loudly. Unfazed, Djokovic addressed them directly, urging respect: “Learn how to respect players. No, you shut up! No, you be quiet!”
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Novak Djokovic reflects on incident!
Reflecting on the incident afterward, Djokovic acknowledged that while fans have the freedom to express themselves, he will continue to react in similar scenarios. He described the intentional disruption during the interview, with drumming to drown his voice, as an attempt to annoy him throughout the match.
Despite the controversy, there were no issues between the teams, according to British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith. “I shook hands with [Viktor] Troicki, said well done, said well done to Novak. Look, he played a great match. No, there was zero animosity with us,” said Smith. The British team, including their entire coaching staff, expressed respect for Novak Djokovic.
Beyond the dramatics, Novak Djokovic added another milestone to his illustrious career. The victory marked his 44th Davis Cup win, making him Serbia’s record holder for the most match wins in the Davis Cup, surpassing former doubles No. 1 Nenad Zimonjic. Djokovic remains unbeaten in 21 singles matches in the Davis Cup since 2011, continuing to etch his name in tennis history.
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