Novak Djokovic Criticizes Centre Court Crowd for Booing During Match Against Holger Rune
Novak Djokovic accused parts of the Centre Court crowd of using a Holger Rune chant as “an excuse to boo” during their fourth-round Wimbledon match on Monday. The Serbian tennis star, who won the match convincingly with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, felt the crowd’s behavior was disrespectful.
When on-court interviewer Rishi Persad suggested the crowd was supporting his opponent, Djokovic said it was more than just support for Rune.
“I know they were cheering for Rune, but that’s an excuse to also boo,” Djokovic remarked. “I have been on the tour for more than 20 years. I know all the tricks.”
Djokovic, who is aiming to win a record-tying eighth Wimbledon men’s title and has been a finalist nine times at SW19, has had a turbulent relationship with the Wimbledon crowd over the years.
History of Tension with the Wimbledon Crowd
After defeating Roger Federer in the 2019 final, Djokovic’s former coach Boris Becker claimed the Serb deserved more respect from a crowd that heavily favored Federer. Additionally, Djokovic faced boos two years ago after blowing a kiss to fans following his semi-final win over Briton Cameron Norrie.
During Monday’s match, Djokovic appeared mostly unfazed by the crowd’s behavior. However, after winning the second set, he did stare at a section of Rune supporters and acknowledged the chanting fans while standing by the microphone for his post-match interview.
“I played in much more hostile environments, trust me – you guys can’t touch me,” Djokovic said. “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’s Perspective and Crowd Behavior
Holger Rune, for his part, thought it was clear what the fans were doing. “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.”
It is not unusual for a sport star’s name to be chanted with elongated vowels, as seen with Sue Barker and Joe Root during this Wimbledon tournament.
Djokovic’s Final Thoughts
Djokovic, who will face Australian ninth seed Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals, appeared to find humor in the situation by the end of his interview. He signed off by saying: “To all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player (in this case me)… have a goooooooood night.”
In a later interview with BBC Sport, Djokovic stood by his comments. “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.”
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