Novak Djokovic, the reigning Wimbledon champion and a four-time consecutive winner of the tournament, has faced an unexpected challenge from the crowd during his first two matches at this year's Championships. Known for his dominance on the court and his pursuit of tennis history, Djokovic arrived with the aim of joining Roger Federer in the record books for the most title wins at SW19 in the Open Era.
However, the Serbian player was left disgruntled by the reaction of the spectators, who booed him during his matches against Pedro Cachin and Jordan Thompson. Despite securing straight-set victories in both encounters, Djokovic appeared visibly distracted as the majority of the Centre Court crowd rallied behind his opponents. While he has faced hostile conditions from the crowd throughout his career, the cheers against him seemed particularly difficult for him to accept.
In a statement to Serbian media, Djokovic expressed his frustration but also found motivation in the situation. He remarked, "They're actually doing me a favor. The more they cheer against me, the better off I am. With me, they wake up to something they might not want to see - a winner. As a player, you want to have the majority of the crowd on your side, I don't want to play in a belligerent atmosphere."
While Djokovic admitted that he often finds himself in such situations, where the crowd supports his opponents, he acknowledged that it can be challenging to accept at times. However, he also recognized the spectators' right to cheer for his rivals. Djokovic's reaction at the end of his match against Thompson, where he cupped his hand over his ear, reflected his disappointment and desire to respond to the crowd's behavior.
The experience of facing adversarial crowds is not new to Djokovic, as it has occurred in major tournaments around the world. Nevertheless, he views it as an opportunity to find additional motivation and elevate his game. He stated, "It gives me fuel and additional motivation, it inspires me to play even better."
In the upcoming third round, Djokovic will face his familiar rival Stan Wawrinka. Although Wawrinka trails Djokovic 6-20 in their head-to-head encounters, he has emerged victorious in four of their last five Grand Slam meetings. The match promises to be an intriguing battle between two formidable competitors.
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Kasaragod: The Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) Kasaragod Deanery, in collaboration with the Christ King Youth Movement (CKYM) Kayyar, is all set to host the highly anticipated cultural and arts festival, Kalotsav-2025. The event will take place at Christ the King Church grounds in Kayyar on January 11 and 12.
According to a release from CKYM Kayyar, the festival will commence at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 11, and will continue on Sunday, January 12, from 11:00 AM until 10:30 PM.
Kalotsav-2025 promises a spectacular celebration of creativity, entertainment, and community engagement, with an array of cultural performances, family entertainment activities, exciting games with prizes, and a variety of competitions. Featured events include face painting, stand-up comedy, bottle painting, singing, dance, and more.
All Konkani speaking people from across 16 parishes under the Kasaragod Deanery will participate in the festivities, making it a grand showcase of talent and unity.