Australian Open: Novak Djokovic’s desperate search for love continues
Novak Djokovic has banked tens of millions of dollars to go with the cabinet full of titles. But he wants that bit more, the love, and who knows how that will happen despite the endless PR offensives.
Tennis
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When Dominic Thiem took the second set, a thunderous roar cracked out across Rod Laver Arena, the crowd rapturous and, a touch, disbelieving.
They were cheering because they now had a contest – these seats do not come cheaply – yet most probably, for something deeper too.
There has never been a more accomplished champion of Australia than Novak Djokovic, eight titles now at an age where he could conceivably play for another five years at this level. The man is a robot, a serial pot grabber, the Tiger Woods of tennis in that he is never, ever down and out. Whatever it takes to win, he’ll do.
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But with the cheers for Thiem, a personable and free and easy player, there was an anticipation, a desire even, for a new champion. When does one title become too many? When does continued dominance become stagnation?
If you listened to this crowd, it’s right now.
Djokovic always attracts a bevy of Serbian football shirt wearing, flag draped patriots and their fervour and chants for their man were undimmed all night.
It’s the rest, the neutrals (obvious Austrians were thin on the ground) who were the better barometer.
On break points to Thiem, they cheered when he won and grimaced when he slipped, gut wrenchingly so, Novak, right before them, in the middle sets particularly, the forgotten finalist, all eyes and hearts with the Austrian.
It was not just a new experience for the crowd, the champion was rattled, a serving time violation that led to the loss of a first serve went unchallenged but at the change of ends Djokovic put his hand on the umpire’s foot to complain presumably, and an odd course of action. Deep uncertainty does such things.
An hour before, it had been so different, the first set point (to Djokovic) played out in absolute silence, on-court foot squeaks the only noise, Novak’s defensive play extraordinary as ever on his court, his kingdom.
Forced to extremes, Thiem upped his game and Djokovic’s discomfort grew.
A glance at his box for support will not have helped, the Serb’s team – whoever it comprises, Goran Ivanisevic, Marian Vajda or Boris Becker – is never a beacon of warmth and joviality, we are not to be messed with is the message. There can be charm but a menacing undertone is rarely far away.
Novak meanwhile is intelligent and courteous, an all-time great, yet has failed to grip the crowds no matter each year’s PR offensive and there is always one.
He will never be more box office than Roger and Rafa but he may still be better than them, a leaden more than silver lining maybe. And therein lies his quandary.
But although he has another crown – 17 majors now – he probably has not won any new fans. There will be, should be, more admiration but that’s it with Novak, you know he’s bloody good but there is little desire outside his camp to see him carry on winning. This crowd was unrelenting in its cheering of Thiem, whose profile pre Open was not the highest.
This men’s singles final illustrated it perfectly. The heart with the loser but the trophy to Novak.
He pointed to the sky and thumped his heart at the end but how many it moved is another question.
As well as his titles he has banked tens of millions of dollars. But he wants that bit more, the love, and who knows how that will happen?