Dragging up Biles and Osaka, some ill-informed sadists are taking glee at Djokovic’s US Open tears – they should learn the facts

As he sat in his chair, wiping sweat from his face and preparing for what would be the final game of his loss to Daniil Medvedev at Flushing Meadows, the emotion all got too much for Novak Djokovic.

Ordinarily, Djokovic is known as a man of steel, a competitor unlike any other in tennis – and perhaps anywhere else in sport.

This, however, was a different side to the Serb.

Needing a miracle to stay in the match against an inspired Medvedev, Djokovic was confronted with the reality that his tilt for a historic calendar Grand Slam – and a record 21st Major overall – was unraveling.

The tears came and the cameras picked them up; Djokovic was still red-eyed as he rose from his chair to face Medvedev for what would be the final game in a straight-sets defeat.

Some of the immediate speculation was that the pressure had all been too much for Djokovic, that he was crumbling as his dream slipped away in the New York night.

The reality, though, was something different.

These were emotions not born of despair at his fate, or even of Djokovic suddenly cracking under the intensity.

Instead, the tears emanated from a New York crowd which was showing Djokovic the kind of affection with which he has rarely been bestowed on big occasions throughout his career.

Still tearful, Djokovic confirmed as much in his post-match interview, saying: “You guys touched my soul. I’ve never felt like this in New York.”

Locked in his three-way battle with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Djokovic has always been the least-loved of the trio, something of an outsider.

Admittedly that narrative is sometimes over-egged, but even Djokovic himself would probably agree that it at least partly rings true.

At Wimbledon earlier this season, one journalist even began his question by asking Djokovic how it feels to be “a bad guy” compared to his illustrious Swiss and Spanish rivals.  

Likewise on court, the Serb’s post-match celebration – which famously involves throwing his arms out wide, spreading ‘positivity’ to the crowd – is a move which isn’t always reciprocated.

Part of the reluctance to embrace Djokovic comes from his on-court belligerence, his win-at-all-costs mentality; another part of it undoubtedly stems from his non-mainstream views off the court – not least his thoughts on vaccines and alternative medicine, as well as the debacle of his ill-fated Adria Tour last year.  

The result has manifested itself in a begrudging respect for Djokovic as he racked up his haul of 20 Grand Slam titles, rather than the unfettered adulation enjoyed by Federer, and to a less extent Nadal.  

That’s why the turnaround on Sunday was particularly remarkable: from the outset it was Djokovic who was being willed to win by the vast majority of the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It’s also why Djokovic’s post-match words felt genuine rather than forced, and the moment felt cathartic for both the world number one and tennis fans as a potential signpost for a turning point in their relationship.

Most right-minded observers would admit it was a heartwarming moment – anyone straying onto social media, however, would have been confronted with a somewhere different narrative.

Indeed, here you could find some people actively reveling in Djokovic’s despair, seeing it as a moral victory against a man whose comments on the ability to handle pressure have been widely misconstrued.  

Inevitably, it was the names of Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka – two athletes who have faced their own struggles with pressure this year – which.  cropped.  

You may recall that Djokovic was widely accused of targeting US gymnast Bile after her withdrawal from the Olympic Games in August.

When asked about the intensity of life in elite sport, Djokovic had replied that “pressure is a privilege.”

“Without pressure, there is no professional sport. If you are aiming to be at the top of the game, you better start learning how to deal with pressure and how to cope with those moments,” the world number one had said. 

Some had mistakenly taken that as a dig at Biles – even through the reality was far from it.

It was simply a comment on how Djokovic sums up his own approach to pressure – as the Reuters reporter who asked him the question later clarified.

Predictably though, the quote began to be thrown back in Djokovic’s face by gleeful fans on Sunday night.

Likewise, Djokovic was accused by some of “bluntly slamming” Japanese star Osaka when she pulled out of the French Open following her media boycott earlier this season.

“I understand that press conferences sometimes can be very unpleasant… But it is part of the sport and part of your life on the tour. This is something we have to do, otherwise we’ll get fined,” Djokovic had said at the time. 

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Hardly a damning indictment of Osaka, but again, in some quarters Djokovic was styled as the cold, heartless bad guy – no matter that he soon publicly stated that Osaka was being “brave and bold” with her decision.

Indeed, the Japanese star herself cited Djokovic as among those to reach out to her to offer support.

But on Sunday night, the message being sent to the Serbian star from some observers was along the lines of ‘Ha! It serves you right!’ – supposedly in recompense for an attitude he had never even held towards Biles and Osaka in the first place.   

As outlined – that was never the reality, and direct comparisons with Osaka and Biles are in any case spurious.

Djokovic did struggle to hit his usual heights against Medvedev, but the Russian world number two was enjoying what was arguably the match of his life. Nor had Medvedev had to come through a grueling five-set semi-final epic just days previously, as Djokovic had done.  

“I was just below par with my game,” Djokovic said. “My legs were not there. I was trying. I did my best.”

No excuses.

Djokovic has fallen short this year, but you can bet your life that he will come again with full force in his efforts to capture that record Grand Slam title next season.

In the meantime, Sunday should shift some of the narrative surrounding Djokovic and open up the eyes of more people to his achievements as well as his character.  

He’s not perfect, of course, but he’s far from the villain he’s so often painted to be.

The US Open crowd have realized that – let’s hope some others can too.   

By Liam Tyler 

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.