VIDEO. Novak Djokovic to supporters: “Shut up, shut up!” Why the tennis champion violently reframed fans

Tennis is known to be a microcosm, usually rather calm or even sterile. Except… in the Davis Cup! We remember, especially before the change in formula adopted in 2018, evenings and scenarios that ignited the public, including French ones.

Read also :
VIDEO. Tennis: Djokovic, winner of the Masters, breaks a new record and proves that he is indeed the best player in the world

Is it because of this framework that some Great Britain fans cheered their players on Thursday, November 23 in Malaga, in the quarter-final of the competition against Serbia? A fervor that the leader of the Serbian selection, Novak Djokovic, had very little taste for.

While he dominated without much difficulty his opponent Cameron Norrie (18th in the world, 6-4, 6-4), sending his national team to the semi-finals, the meeting was punctuated by several incidents and disagreements, between the player and the British fans. So much so that the Serb, after a point, brazenly stuck out his tongue at some of them.

Nobody hates tennis crowds more than Novak Djokovic. ? ? pic.twitter.com/XS2bPftvj2

— Scott Barclay (@BarclayCard18) November 23, 2023

“In the Davis Cup, it is normal for fans to sometimes go overboard, but in the heat of the moment, we also react,” he explained at the end of the match in a press conference. “They can do what they want, but I will react.”

Read also :
Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Gaël Monfils… This Lot-et-Garonnaise was the ball collector for the greatest at Paris-Bercy

And that’s actually what happened once the meeting was over. While Novak Djokovic was, as usual, questioned about his performance courtside, the British fans did not turn down the volume. Which had the gift of annoying the world number 1, who let them know. “Learn to respect the players, to behave, to respect people. Shut up, shut up!” he said.

Drama. ?

? The Team GB section was playing drums during Djokovic’s interview, after knocking Great Britain out of the Davis Cup:

Novak replied: “Learn how to respect players, learn how to respect people, you shut up, you be quiet.” pic.twitter.com/SNNsCcxtSn

— Olly ??? (@Olly_Tennis_) November 23, 2023

An episode to which the Serb returned, a few minutes later, once his anger had subsided: “At the end, they started playing the drums on purpose. So we talked a little…”