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One of Novak Djokovic’s close friends is seriously concerned that his problem at the 2020 US Open is just the tip of the iceberg.
Retired Slovak tennis star Daniela Hantuchova did not strike out as she spoke about her longtime friend on the Amazon UK event broadcast and hinted at a larger anger management issue that Djokovic must address.
“It seems like sometimes anger gets out of control,” he said of the current world No. 1.
Hantuchova, 37, is close to Novak and his wife, Jelena, as well as Djokovic’s coach, Marian Vajda, who is also Slovak. His comments come in the wake of the controversial disqualification of the 17-time Grand Slam champion from the US Open this weekend for unfortunately hitting a linesman in the throat after his service was broken against Spain’s Pablo Carreño Busta in the fourth round.
“I care a lot about him and respect everything he is doing for our game,” he said, “but I just hope there is a lesson to be learned, even if it came at the worst possible time, where practically the only thing that stood between him and an 18th Grand Slam title was himself, with all my respect for the other players. “
The 33-year-old Djokovic has a fiery fan base known as “Nolefam,” which is dwarfed by that of his teammates Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He has come under fire for questionable views on vaccines and his bifurcation of the ATP Players Council. More recently, he was criticized for holding Adria’s charity tour in June amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision that many in the tennis community deemed unwise, especially in light of limited social distancing measures. Djokovic was seen partying at a Serbian nightclub at a European tennis who’s who days before the event was closed after several players, including Djokovic, contracted the coronavirus.
“A lot of times he has the right intentions, it’s just that with the right moment he’s not doing well, like on the Adria Tour,” Hantuchova said. “There is no problem with going on an exhibition tour like that, but not when everyone stops. The same goes for ATP stuff. Things must change, but not now. “
After Monday’s drama, Jelena posted a cryptic message on social media, which comes from “The Wisdom of Tao.”
“If you let yourself go from one place to another, you lose contact with your root. If you let worry move you, you lose touch with who you are. “ she wrote on twitter.
Djokovic left the Flushing Meadows grounds without speaking to the media.
“Unfortunately, you are compounding the error. He needs to face it, apologize and accept that he made a mistake, ”said retired British tennis player Tim Henman during the Amazon coverage. “Basically, by running away, it’s going to last longer.”
Djokovic immediately apologized to the linesman but was later heard criticizing her reaction and the Serbian star issued a mea culpa on Instagram, although it appears the damage to her already tainted image was already done.
“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked the person on the lines and the tournament told me that thank God she feels good, “he wrote. “I am very sorry to have caused you so much stress. So involuntary. So wrong. … Regarding disqualification, I need to go back inside myself and work on my disappointment and turn all this into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and a human being. I apologize to the @usopen tournament and all associates for my behavior. “
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