Novak Djokovic honours promise after Wimbledon loss as journalist receives present
Novak Djokovic confirmed his class after tasting defeat on this yr’s Wimbledon ultimate by gifting his tracksuit prime to a Serbian journalist, who made a guess with the 36-year-old previous to the beginning of the event. Djokovic was the recent favorite to beat Carlos Alcaraz however ended up on the mistaken facet of a five-set defeat, with the Spaniard taking part in a few of his finest tennis to say the spoils at SW19 for the very first time.
Djokovic struggled to carry again tears within the instant aftermath of his slender defeat however managed to place his feelings to at least one facet in a heartwarming post-match exchange with reporter Nebojsu Viskovica. He cheekily requested Djokovic if he might have his Lacoste tracksuit prime within the occasion of one other Wimbledon triumph, a request to which the 23-time Grand Slam winner agreed to with a handshake.
Although the outcome didn’t go Djokovic’s manner, he nonetheless determined to present Viskovica the jacket once they bumped into one another after Sunday’s match. The journalist was left speechless as Djokovic handed him the highest and requested him for a hug, which he acquired in an aesthetic gesture simply hours after the Wimbledon ultimate had drawn to a detailed.
Djokovic was additionally gracious in defeat as he showered Alcaraz and his group in excessive reward after the 20-year-old’s historic victory, a outcome which ended the previous’s decade-long profitable streak on Centre Court. His earlier defeat got here by the hands of Andy Murray within the ultimate again in 2013, whereas Sunday’s loss marked his first on any Wimbledon court docket within the final six years.
“I think people have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his game consisting of certain elements from Roger [Federer], Rafa [Nadal] and myself,” mentioned Djokovic when quizzed on Alcaraz’s strengths. “I would agree with that. I think he’s got basically best of all three worlds.
“He’s received this psychological resilience and actual maturity for somebody who’s 20 years previous. It’s fairly spectacular. He’s received this Spanish bull mentality of competitiveness and combating spirit and unimaginable defence that we have seen with Rafa through the years, and I believe he is received some good sliding backhands that he is received some similarities with my backhands.
“Yeah, two-handed backhands, defence, being able to adapt. I think that has been my personal strength for many years. He has it, too. I haven’t played a player like him ever, to be honest. Roger and Rafa have their own strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is a very complete player, amazing adapting capabilities that I think are key for longevity and for a successful career on all surfaces.”
Djokovic will quickly be trying to bounce again from his Wimbledon defeat by profitable the US Open, the place Alcaraz would be the defending champion after claiming his maiden Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows final yr. The consequence is for certain to play a serious function in figuring out which of the pair will finish the yr on the prime of the ATP rankings, with Djokovic presently trailing Alcaraz by a margin of 880 factors.