Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic wins – and is not loved – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Sue Barker tried everything. She pulled the name of Novak Djokovic in the length, when she asked him the winner interview. Those who wished could even hear a little desperation in the voice of the BBC presenter. Her reaction was appreciative but cautious. Barker asked for Boris Becker, the trainer of the winner. Hardly anyone is still popular at the Church Road. Djokovic answered, there were friendly applause

Finally, Barker tried the question, in 2011 and 2014 was human touch Djokovic already in his two victories. “I’ve noticed,” she said, “that you here after every victory take a little bit from the Centre Court lawn in your mouth. Why are you doing this? ”

Djokovic told so again the story of how he had met with his Wimbledon wins a childhood dream and even then, when he was growing up in Serbia, always wanted to try the lawn. This year he has tasted especially good, the Serb told yet. Again a couple of friendly laughter and much more polite applause for the man who longs for the affection of the public. In Wimbledon the technocrat Djokovic is respected. But he is not loved.

Small nuances decide

Here the duel Djokovic-Federer is one of the best rivalries that has ever seen the sport of tennis. Even with his 7: 6, 6: 7, 6: 4, 6: 3 victory against Roger Federer, the playful quality of the presented, as in the previous year’s final between the two was enormous.

Often it seemed that Djokovic and Federer have been made for each other, the perfect tennis marriage. Your games do not invite you to dream, as did the duels of Federer and Nadal a few years ago. They are not fighting large egos or incompatible principles like Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.

But the matches of Djokovic and Federer are a permanent athletic scanning, in which not decide the big mistake. But tactical nuances, little lack of concentration or perfectly executed game sequences.

Djokovic faces almost every other player on autopilot, he closes the baseline, forcing the opponent to make mistakes. Once again, he was forced by Federer, “Super blows unpack”, as formulated by the Swiss after. Just in the few opportunities that presented themselves Federer, Djokovic hit again and again the line.

against Djokovic helps only perfection

Federer was in the Press Conference asked whether his defeat because so little zusetze how it appeared. “I had a good tournament, had seven good matches played. Even today. Of course, I’m at the end with empty hands,” Federer said. “Thank God, I’ve won here in the past, quite a few times. So it’s not that I feel, chasing something.”

In fact, Federer played well against Djokovic. The world number one forced him to ever more daring attack attempts. But only once did Federer audiences from eighth title dream match, blocking seven set points in the second set and the tiebreak despite a 3: 6 won residue still 12:10.

But after Federer failed as virtually all players in the last two years at the Graduate Djokovic. Almost every beat of the Serbs ended up in centimeters near the baseline. Unlike Murray Djokovic returned the serve Federer perfectly and could no longer escape from the playful embrace the 17-time Grand Slam winner.

Hoping for Navratilova effect

For Djokovic the victory in Wimbledon is also a compensation for the lost French Open final. As Serena Willams is Djokovic this year almost unbeatable. Only three times he has lost in the first six months, including in Paris against Stanislas Wawrinka. Had Djokovic Federes compatriot defeated a month ago, he would have had at the US Open, the chance, so to win the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 the Grand Slam, all four major tournaments in a year. This historic opportunity is gone.

A lot of construction work had to do his support team, told Djokovic. “That was a very tough defeat at Roland Garros. But Boris and the whole team were really in the time for me. That’s why this trophy here feels even better at.”

During the 28-year-old even more talked long, the eyes went to Centre Court. There, someone played the final of the senior competitors, which was at the beginning of her career as Djokovic also more likely to be tolerated who just do not fly the heart wanted, but now one of the most intimate love relationship with the Wimbledon crowd cares: Martina Navratilova. A look into the future for Novak Djokovic?