Novak Djokovic has spoken about the challenge of dealing with hostile crowds and when “facing adversity on and off the court”.
The tennis icon explained he sometimes thrives in these situations because it is the only option he has in that moment to find a solution to win the match.
Djokovic is renowned for his mental strength and his ability to prevail when the majority of fans are behind his opponent is a highly impressive aspect of his character.
The Serbian’s final victories against his great rival Roger Federer at the 2015 US Open and the 2019 Wimbledon Championships are two of the most significant instances of Djokovic winning after defying crowds that were vociferously against him.
The 36-year-old frequently tackled hostile crowds when he felt disrespected during 2023, with his Wimbledon semi-final win against Jannik Sinner one notable example.
Djokovic mocked spectators by imitating crying after he saved set points to hold serve in the third set. Some fans had tried to distract the world No 1 by shouting as he prepared to serve.
Speaking to Nick Kyrgios on the Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios podcast, Djokovic addressed the perception that he performs better when crowds are against him.
