where the waiter bets on the boss: the Roland Garros final is Novak



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The National Sports squad was able to follow the clash between the Serbian tennis player and Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros final at the café of Novak Djokovic and his family in Belgrade. Although the happy ending was not enough for our hosts, we still had a special sporting experience and atmosphere.

Coffee was characterized by contained confidence, even with a double disadvantage (Photo: Miklós Szabó)

Novak Djokovics – Rafael Nadal 0: 6.


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Second set, first boom – 40:40. Djokovics punches wide and then responds with a winning palm. He directs Nadal, who hits the net like this, giving the Serbian an advantage, but there is still no end to the game. So Djokovics manages to finish, has his first game – 1: 0!

All the guests sitting around us in the cafe start clapping. One one “Again!” an exclamation is also heard. How would it sound, since we are not sitting in a simple cafe in Belgrade, but in the Novak 1 Restaurant. In the restaurant of the Serbian tennis player and his family.

(…)

Novak Djokovics’ poster “drops” passersby from afar, “here is the place you are looking for” (Photo: Miklós Szabó)

There’s a huge Djokovics sign across the street, the 33-year-old tennis player in the picture looks much younger, grinning broadly, as if to point out something, “stop here my young friend, you’ve been looking for this place!” – and indeed, the entrance to the cafeteria and restaurant unfolds in front of us behind the foliage of the trees that line the sidewalk.

Inside, it exudes almost all the elegance. Between the wooden cassette furniture, a red carpet leads to the tables. To his left is a man-sized statue of Djokovics, in combat uniform, and in his hand a tennis racket instead of a sword. Elegance is only broken with a blue jet ski and some classic sports posters.

Those who arrive at the cafe are greeted by a statue of Novak Djokovics, the tennis player with a Serbian combat ornament, who spins a racket instead of a sword (Photo: Miklós Szabó)

In the first room, after the headline of the projector, Roland Garros, the image of the orange scum almost fills the minimally lit space. Players are applauded, including Nadal. A masked waiter immediately approaches us, asking for a table and coffee, and permission to take photos and make some videos during the match. “Of course” – comes the short answer, then disappears around the corner. Moments later, he returns with definite steps and leads us to our place.

Better by hand is another head-level display case, featuring a world-leading glass trophy, seemingly well-thought-out lighting. Awarded for the 2011 rankings.

NSO TV REPORT ON THE SITE THREE YEARS BEFORE

Nadal starts off with confidence. What else could you expect from a scum king? Of course, Djokovics could have also expected the clash in excellent form. The reality, however, is that the Spaniard, who has already lifted 12 GS trophies in Paris, has a chance. However, guests are queuing, places are running out. Nothing more natural, is the coffee located on each screen of the game.

His superiority in Spanish persists, little by little he recedes. With a bit of hype, even the ball pass won is a rarity, and then when Djokovics hits a really nice baseline along the line, the audience gets noticeably excited. “That was beautiful” says one of the guests at one of the tables next to him in ornate but concise English.

The world’s first ATP trophy (Photo: Miklós Szabó)

Tennis enthusiasts come to Novak 1 from all over the world. There are no complaints in the guestbook at the entrance, much less messages from everyone – from Shanghai to Arizona and Brazil City, Doha, Athens to London – thanking both the service and Djokovics for his game. “You are our hero, you are our inspiration, you are a true legend” One post says and a dozen more could be cited.

The waiters rush and turn. “We would love to talk to someone about the restaurant and of course about it.” I nodded towards the screen, where Djokovic was gaining a growing disadvantage over Nadal. “With pleasure, but only after the game” – The answer comes from the head waiter, who then turns to pick up another order.

Coffee to watch games “Djokovics style” (Photo: Miklós Szabó)

The door to the VIP room is only slightly open, with a single gray-haired gentleman dressed in an elegant gown sitting inside, not taking his eyes off the television. One of the waiters quickly dismisses us, shows us that we should not take photos or videos. According to the entries in the guestbook, Novak’s father, Szrdjan Djokovics, also often spends time in the restaurant during matches he cannot travel to …

After the first, the second set will also be Nadal’s.

Taking advantage of the pause between the two games, it’s time to explore new details in the huge cabinets and dozens of framed photos hanging on the walls. The five Wimbledon cups won by Djokovics are all here at our fingertips. But we can also find four of the eight Australian Open trophies in a matter of seconds.

This time the Djokovics and Nadal came out as winners with a great advantage (Photo: Miklós Szabó)

The third game begins, and two waiters, taking advantage of their breathing time, stop half a meter away and stare at the projector for a good minute. Now or never. “Are all the employees in love with tennis here?” I ask, taking control of the atmosphere of the place (maybe its romance?). “Nothing is more natural. You can be a waiter anywhere, but working here means so much more. You may not see it today, but look at this place when Novak wins. “ The enthusiastic response sounds, and perhaps a smile under the mask.

The smiles of those sitting at the tables, on the other hand, visibly widen. Although Nadal has a double advantage, the third game is in a completely different setting. The two giants are fighting a balanced battle, “Yesss” (“Igeeen”) one of the tables roars again. The tennis “fingertip” clap is getting louder. At 0: 6, 2: 6, 4: 3, Djokovics has a chance to step into the first set won with a break, but he starts with 15:40 and then comes a big palm (actual clapping appeals). , but cannot return after 30:40, slips and hits back – 0: 6, 2: 6, 4: 4.

Heightened mood fades in a matter of moments. Every point earned by a Serbian is applauded and a TV show “Beginner! Beginner!” an exclamation that some also take over the restaurant. A lady in a red coat, her back surprisingly straight all the way, her gaze radiating an almost astonishing tension, her hands crossed, played along to the end, shaking her head and then returning from her grin in a moment to her rigid look, much less emotional.

Now Nadal is approaching halftime, saving the Spanish giant on the far left of the field, but the high-arc ball just doesn’t fall into the right half of the other half of the field – you get into it, hold your breath, then sigh by the Serbs and Djokovich-drukker. kill the British.

There was also occasional applause for the ball runs, as if at least Djokovics had been given a set (Photo: Miklós Szabó)

Resurrection lost: King of Paris, now 13-time Roland Garros winner Rafael Nadal, tied the match in three sets.

The door to the VIP room, until now open, is completely closed.

“He’s your father, right?”We asked the waiter.

“HE. If there had been a victory I would have welcomed you He replies while crumpling up the coupon he had proudly pointed out to us for an hour. Djokovics couldn’t win and so was he. “This is not the time.”

TENNIS
ROLAND GARROS, PARIS
Novak Djokovics (Serbian, 1st) – Rafael Nadal (Spanish, 2nd) 0: 6, 2: 6, 5: 7



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