Novak Djokovic has never received Wimbledon love afforded to rest of the ‘Big Four’

For all the booming groundstrokes, unreturnable serves and emphatic smashes, it was Novak Djokovic’s volleys down the throats of the Centre Court crowd that left the deepest impression following his latest victory.

As if dismantling Holger Rune in straight sets were not enough, Djokovic had a few more aces to dispatch after becoming incensed at how much the audience craved an upset.

The seven-time champion’s irritation festered as the 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win progressed as he misinterpreted the prolonged chanting for Rune as booing of his domination.

One could not help believe that had more to do with two decades of under-appreciation at SW19 rather than the two hours last night.

Six days earlier, Djokovic had stood on the same court seeing the love afforded to Andy Murray. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were similarly worshipped. Carlos Alcaraz is the new darling.

For all his majesty, Djokovic remains appreciated more than adored at Wimbledon, his routine brilliance too often seen as snuffing the life out of a match rather than enriching it.

That is grossly unfair given the freakishness of him delivering at clutch moments but every rivalry needs a favourite and Djokovic keeps finding himself on the wrong end of that particular net.

Not that he has not contributed to that status, often giving the impression of revelling in being the antihero. That was certainly at work with his feisty on-court interview. He knows the support against him was more pantomime than intimidation.

“I know all the tricks. I have played in a much more hostile environment, trust me, you guys can’t touch me,” he said.
Rune was surprised Djokovic believed the crowd were jeering him: “It all started in the US Open the first time we played each other. They were shouting Rune and it sounded a bit like ‘boo’. I mean, if you do not know what is happening it sounded like boo but it was my name. They were supporting him on good points and supporting me.”

Djokovic had been simmering the closer he got to the finish line. He blew kisses after winning the second set, and mimicked playing the violin after converting the first match point, although that was for his daughter who is learning the instrument rather than the crowd.

Not everyone was team Rune. “Show some respect to a champion,” yelled one Djokovic fan after another winner was met with lukewarm applause.

Djokovic can be forgiven for wondering what more he must do to quicken the pulses in the manner of his peers and pretenders. He is endeavouring to conquer what was beyond Federer, Nadal and Murray by defying age and time. All the pre-match chatter was of the threat of 15th seed Rune.

The Dane was supposed to be the first significant test of the 37-year-old’s physical and psychological condition after his recent ailments, the strapping on his knee and a mid-match abdominal complaint.

Instead, Rune, 21, rapidly found himself outclassed. He never recovered from losing the first 12 points, the Centre Court’s backing serving only to rile and empower the Serbian. Djokovic’s best work was in those sizzling opening exchanges, when he administered a reminder that if you want to meet pre-match expectations of testing one of the greats, do not bother turning up armed with a slow start.

The second set was more competitive. After his explosive first 35 minutes, Djokovic pulled up in the fourth game holding his stomach, and briefly left the court. There was a sense of a momentum shift until Rune – seemingly oblivious to any medical concern – lapsed from 40-30 up, the inexplicably bad timing of his errors sure to be the focal point of his debrief. No one is more equipped than Djokovic at seizing a mile when offered an inch.

After defending a break point in the service game which eventually gave him a two-set lead, Djokovic let the crowd know who was boss.

The post-match riposte further lit the fire. The fake violin was out and Djokovic is back in harmony with his game.