There is no denying Novak Djokovic’s dominance on the tennis court. He is looking for something even more elusive than his unmatched talent and his unwavering devotion to his followers. Jim Courier, a former tennis player, has joined the list of people who have acknowledged that Djokovic is seeking love from the crowd.
Following a five-year break from the competition, Djokovic achieved his 400th master’s-level victory at Indian Wells this year. In his reflections on this comeback, Courier noted how much Djokovic wanted it to happen—that is, how the fans’ love and admiration for the tennis star had returned.
The 2020 BNP Paribas Open had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic. However, due to some severe limitations, Djokovic was also unable to participate in the next three events. This prevented the legendary tennis player from celebrating his wins and receiving affection from the crowd.
Djokovic was relieved to be back on the same court this year and to feel the support of his supporters. Addressing this point, Courier said in the latest podcast: “And, you know, he’s a guy who craved it, understandably. And it’s been a bit of an up-and-down relationship with him and the audience. But at this stage of his career, it feels like he’s getting into something overdue. It’s hard to believe it’s been since 2019 that he’s been here, and the energy is great. And it’s kind of been a constant. He is coming back to places where he hasn’t been for a while—the US Open last year, Australia.”
Novak Djokovic & LeBron James linked up in LA.
If longevity was a picture…
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 17, 2024
Novak Djokovic in 2024
At the moment ranked no.1, Novak played his last match on the 11th of March when he was defeated by world no.96 Luca Nardi 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the 3rd round in Indian Wells (draw).
During this season Djokovic has managed to achieve a composed 8-3 match record. Novak Djokovic’s most significant result of this season was getting to the semifinal at the Australian Open.