Emotions ran high at Wimbledon on Monday as Novak Djokovic found himself in a heated exchange with the crowd following his commanding three-set victory over young Dane Holger Rune in the fourth round. Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev faced an unexpected exit at the hands of Taylor Fritz.
After displaying tentative performances in his previous matches, the seven-time champion Djokovic seemed to rediscover his form, delivering a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 masterclass against Rune. This win sets him up for a quarter-final face-off with Australia's Alex De Minaur.
But what stole the spotlight wasn't just the dazzling forehands and backhands. For the fans who stayed late under the closed Centre Court roof, the lasting memory will likely be Djokovic's surprising post-match interview where he openly criticized the crowd for what he perceived as disrespect.
Irritated by the crowd's enthusiastic chants of \"Ruuune!\" whenever his opponent shone, Djokovic vented: \"To all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player, in this case me, have a goooooood night! Goooooood night! Goooooood night!\"
When the interviewer suggested that the fans were merely supporting Rune, Djokovic wasn't convinced.
\"I don't accept that, no, no, no. I know they were cheering for Rune, but that's an excuse to also boo. Listen, I've been on the tour for more than 20 years. So trust me, I know all the tricks. I know how it works. It's fine. It's fine,\" he remarked, gesturing towards the stands.
\"I focus on respectful people that have respect, that paid the ticket to come and watch tonight, and love tennis and appreciate the players and the effort they're putting in. I've played in much more hostile environments. Trust me, you guys, you guys can't touch me.\"
On another court, the previously indestructible Alexander Zverev saw his Wimbledon journey cut short by Taylor Fritz, adding another layer of excitement to an eventful day eight at the championships.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
