There’s nothing that the crowds that flock to Wimbledon like more than an underdog. Of course, if you’re the underdog in question, the lively support of Centre Court can provide you with the internal fire needed to pull off an upset.

However, if you’re the favourite who eventually snuffs out a feel-good story, the love from the terraces isn’t as forthcoming. For Novak Djokovic, this is the relationship he has with the patrons of Wimbledon; they see the Serb as the ultimate spoiler of a party.

Novak the Great 

At just 6/4 in the latest tennis betting odds, the Serb will arrive at the US Open as one of the favourites to win the tournament and claim his 24th career Grand Slam. 

The reality is that after 23 Grand Slams, Djokovic’s reputation as the most clinical tennis player of all time goes before him. This means most fans arrive at the stadium ready to root for their opponent in the hope of an inspiring result against all odds. However, could this sentiment be about to change after Djokovic’s heartfelt post-match interview after losing in the Wimbledon final?

Two to tango

It’s important to say from the outset that the Serb doesn’t always do himself any favours when it comes to helping win over a partisan crowd. More often than not, the 36-year-old will take exception to the overwhelming support for his opponent and then goad a disappointed crowd on his way to winning. Of course, sometimes this is done in good spirits, and at other times, the exchanges can be tense. 

While the wisest response would be to focus on winning, you also have to have a degree of sympathy for the situation that the champion of the 2023 French Open finds himself in. To that end, you can understand why his frustrations sometimes get the better of him. 

Is the long-standing narrative about to change? 

But having lost the Wimbledon final and the world finally getting the fairytale ending they have been desperately after, Djokovic showed a rare side to himself as he momentarily became emotional when expressing his regret at not being able to win. At that moment, Djokovic’s image as a dominant world-beater was replaced with the sight of a man who has his own reasons for wanting to win. 

Essentially, Djokovic’s words are likely to have left fans in a reflective mood. This is, after all, a player who should be nearing the end of his career but is now coming across as very relatable. In other words, there could now be a nagging sense among supporters of not appreciating the Serb during his extraordinary journey. Fans may also ask if time has been wished away during the career of the greatest player of any era.

Granted, not everyone will feel this way but Djokovic’s revealing interview is likely to earn him the respect of more fans going forward. Now, we wait to see if those in attendance cheer the all-conquering Serb on in the future.