Djokovic on the crowd: They wake something in me that they perhaps don’t want to see

Novak Djokovic told Serbian reporters that he would prefer to have the crowd on his side, but that he uses the hecklers as extra motivation

Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon (Fotoarena/Panoramic)

Sasa Ozmo

July 6, 2023

Over the years, seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic has had his ups and downs in his relationship with the crowd at the All England Club, and his second-round match versus Jordan Thompson was no exception.

Thompson provided an excellent test for Djokovic with his forays to the net and by changing the pace constantly, but the Serb managed to win in straight sets anyway – 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-5 – and will face his longtime rival Stan Wawrinka in the third round on Friday.

Throughout the match, particularly from the start of the second set, Djokovic had issues with certain parts of the crowd.

“In fact, they are doing me a favour,” Djokovic told Serbian reporters afterwards. “The more they cheer against me, the better for me. They wake something in me that they perhaps don’t want to see – a winner.”

Djokovic: It’s my destiny

Asked whether the comments from parts of the crowd elevated his game, Djokovic replied: “Well, yes and no. As a player, you want to have the majority of the crowd on your side. My wish is not to play in a hostile atmosphere.

“It turns out, though, that the crowd supports my opponent in most of the matches in my career. That’s my destiny and that’s all right – sometimes I find it harder to accept it, sometimes I don’t understand the crowd’s reactions, but it’s their right.”

He added: “Sometimes, though, some people are more daring in what they’re saying from the stands – when it’s like that, they have to expect me to answer and react. It’s happened in the past, in the big tournaments around the world. It gives me extra fuel, inspires me to play even better.”

In the third round on Friday, Djokovic is due to play Stan Wawrinka, against whom the Serbian owns a 20-6 head-to-head record.