Novak Djokovic accuses Wimbledon fans of “disrespect” after reaching 60th Grand Slam quarter-final

Novak Djokovic Accuses Wimbledon Fans of “Disrespect” After Reaching Quarter-Finals

Novak Djokovic, the world number two and seven-time Wimbledon champion, had a strong message for a section of Centre Court fans after his victory over Holger Rune on Monday. Despite reaching his 60th Grand Slam quarter-final and 15th at the All England Club, Djokovic was visibly upset by the constant chanting of “Rune” throughout the match.

In a post-match interview, Djokovic expressed his frustration, stating, “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. And to all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player — in this case me — have a goooooooood night.”

When informed that the fans were actually chanting “Rune” rather than booing, Djokovic remained firm in his belief that he was being disrespected. He emphasized his experience on the tour and his ability to handle hostile environments, stating, “I focus on the respectful people that pay for the ticket, and love tennis and appreciate the players.”

Despite the incident, Djokovic acknowledged that crowds have the right to cheer for whomever they choose. He also mentioned that Wimbledon may not be able to control the behavior of individual fans but stated, “If someone steps over the line I will react.”

Djokovic, who is still recovering from knee surgery, displayed his dominance on the court against Rune, setting the tone early in the match. He now looks ahead to a quarter-final clash against Australian ninth seed Alex de Minaur.

The incident at Wimbledon serves as a reminder of the passion and intensity of tennis fans, as well as the challenges that players like Djokovic face in maintaining their focus amidst distractions.