Tim Henman offers alternative view on Novak Djokovic’s relationship with tennis fans

Kevin Palmer 24 Aug 2023 1:44 AM

Novak Djokovic points at Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic often appears to be the bad boy for tennis fans around the world, yet former British No 1 Tim Henman has suggested this story is not as one-sided as it seems.

The 23-time Grand Slam legend clashed with fans at Wimbledon this summer, as he pointed his finger to his ear in an effort to snap back at his critics.

This was not the first time Djokovic has had negative experiences with spectators, especially in London, yet Henman believes the Serbian uses the negativity to his advantage.

Speaking to Tennis365 in his role as a Sky Sports analyst, Henman claimed Djokovic needs the fuel provided by dissenting voices in the crowd.

“He has always been a character that has slightly divided opinion and that is not just because of his tennis and the decisions he has made on the court,” Henman told Tennis365.

“Having watched him a lot, he is almost a confrontational character. So if he has 80 per cent of the crowd’s support, he is the type of person who will focus on the 20 per cent and use it to motivate him and to fire himself up.

“I find it amazing and fascinating that he focuses on individuals in the crowd who are against him.

“Whatever way he approaches it, you can’t deny it isn’t working for him because his results are just incredible.

“I thought he had a real chance of doing the calendar Grand Slam this year as he was playing so well and it took an incredible performance in the final at Wimbledon from Carlos Alcaraz to stop him.”

Henman also believes Djokovic is heading into the US Open with less pressure on his shoulders after losing against Alcaraz at Wimbledon.

On his last appearance in New York, Djokovic lost the US Open final against Daniil Medvedev when he was just one game away from completing the calendar Grand Slam.

The pressure of that moment proved to be too much for the Serbian maestro and Henman claimed the absence of chasing more history by winning all four majors in the same year will help him.

“Going into the US Open, I feel there is a little less expectation around Djokovic as he is not chasing the calendar Grand Slam,” he added.

“It was one step too far when he was going for it against Medvedev a couple of years ago and it wouldn’t surprise me if he relishes this challenge and wins against Grand Slam.”

Henman’s comments are backed up by former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, who told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview that Djokovic will always have the respect of tennis fans, but he may never completely have their love.

“I just feel that Novak raises himself and is even stronger when he is against adversity. He likes to play and compete against it,” Bartoli told us.

“I think people just got used so much to two players facing each other. If you look at the history of tennis it was (Bjorn) Borg against (John) McEnroe, it was (Pete) Sampras against (Andre) Agassi and it was Roger (Federer) against (Rafa) Nadal. You are not used to having a third one.

“The third one feels like the disruptor. You want to cheer for one or the other. You say ‘I want to cheer for Roger’ or ‘I want to cheer for Rafa’. You don’t want the third one that comes in and wins everything.

“It was more the timing than anything else. When you talk to all the players and the fans around the world, people like Novak’s personality and they have so much respect for his game.

“But one was for Roger, the elegance, against Rafa the grinder, who has won 14 times at Roland Garros. But you can’t really go to the third one.

“If Novak had played just one other player, I think he would have had a much bigger fan base.

“So I think he has gained the respect from everyone, but in terms of the love, this is slightly different. It’s just human nature to cheer for one or the other and you don’t want the third one.”

The US Open returns exclusively to Sky Sports and NOW with access to all court feeds from 28 August.