By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, January 13, 2024
Novak Djokovic has a transparent message for opponents: Dial up dispresect and you may hear hang-up.
Moments after dismissing Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(4) to achieve his record-tying tenth US Open remaining final September, Djokovic emphatically hung up on Shelton mimicking the 20-year-old American’s trademark celebration of hanging up a telephone on opponents.
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The world No. 1 was requested about his declarative derision in a brand new interview with French publication L’Equipe.
Djokovic stated that semifinal was private and his motivation easy: diss him and he’ll reply.
“It was a response towards him, he didn’t behave correctly, with respect, on courtroom, and earlier than the match,” Djokovic advised L’Equipe. “If anybody one locations himself within the unsportsmanlike zone, I react.”
us after they name about our automobile’s prolonged guarantee.
pic.twitter.com/M39UlKWfxu— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023
Novak Djokovic hangs up the telephone on Ben. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/AvMD9kPY2N
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023
COLD ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ https://t.co/IeWH6GtAFj
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) September 9, 2023
Shelton smiled off Djokovic’s jab in his post-match presser saying “imitation is the sincerest type of flattery.”
“I did not see it till after the match,” Shelton stated. “, I do not like once I’m on social media and I see folks telling me how I can have a good time or cannot have a good time. , I believe in the event you win the match, you should do no matter you need.
“, as a child rising up, I at all times realized that imitation is the sincerest type of flattery, in order that’s all I’ve to say about that.”
Photograph credit score: Mike Stobe/Getty
#Shelton #Behave #Respect