Djokovic Annoyed With Wimbledon's Audience, Zverev Eliminated In Fourth Round

Novak Djokovic, celebrate the victory for his daughter (photo: x @wimbledon)

JAKARTA - The emotion peaked over Novak Djokovic on Monday night, July 8, when he was angry with Wimbledon's audience after defeating Denmark's young Holger Rune, in three sets in the fourth half. Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev's previous unbeaten adventure had to end.

After appearing hesitant in the previous two matches, seven-time champion Djokovic looked back to his best against Rune with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win to advance to the quarter-finals against Alex De Minaur from Australia.

However, for thousands of spectators who lasted late at night watching the match under the roof of the Center Court, their memories of the eighth day of the championship are likely not about a stunning backhand or foreplay.

On the other hand, what they remember are the surprising words that came out of Djokovic's mouth during a strange post-match interview, where he accused the audience of disrespecting him.

Annoyed by the audience welcoming Rune's brilliant moments with the screams "Ruuune!", Djokovic was angry, "To everyone who chooses not to respect the players, in this case me, I hope you guys have a good night! Good night! Good night!"

When the interviewer said that the audience was only shouting his opponent's name, Djokovic disagreed. "I don't accept that, no, no, no. I know they support Rune but that's the reason to mock too. Listen, I've been on tour for more than 20 years. So believe me, I know all the tricks. I know how this works. No problem. No problem," he added while pointing at the audience.

"I focus on people who respect, who pay tickets to come and watch tonight and love tennis and appreciate the players and the business they do. I've played in a more hostile environment. Believe me, you can't touch me," he said.

It was a strange way to end the event at the Center Court, which previously saw Zverev, ranked fourth in the world, being the highest seed eliminated. The German lost in a tense five-set game against Taylor Fritz despite just two more games to secure a place in the quarter-finals for the first time.

Like Djokovic, who underwent knee surgery last month, Zverev appeared on the pitch with a protective support on his feet after falling in the previous game. Even so, the German still fought fiercely with Fritz for 3-1/2 hours before finally losing 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 6-3 after his service was broken for the first time in this year's championship after successfully maintaining 56 consecutive service times.

Zverev regularly bombarded an opponent from America with a 130 mph shot, recorded 19 aces, generated 55 winners, and even won the longest rally in a match that lasted 21 punches -- and at the end of all, the German stated that he played "with one leg".

"Obviously that I wasn't 100% today, wasn't it?" Zverev asked reporters before explaining that the MRI results showed that he had torn in the knee capsule and bone bruises.

"There aren't many long rallies because I can't play long rallies. Credit for him who can come back, but it wasn't a great tennis match," he said.

The Fritz-Zverev marathon match is the 35th match to take place in five sets at this year's All England Club, equaling the record for the most in one slam since tennis became professional in 1968.

Fritz's victory also raised hopes that the 21-year Slam title drought for American men may end soon after he joined Queen's Club champion Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals. For the first time since 2000, more than one American man will appear in Wimbledon's quarter-finals.

However, that wasn't a good day for the French players, as De Minaur beat Arthur Fils 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-3, while Lorenzo Musetti of Italy will meet Fritz after beating Mpetshi Perricard with a score of 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-2.

Elena Rybakina, the only female Wimbledon champion left in the draw, got an easy win after Anna Kalinskaya stepped down with an injury as she fell 6-3 3-0. The Kazakhstan player will face Elina Svitolina, who beat Xinyu Wang 6-2 6-1.

The other quarter-finals at the top of the women's draw will feature two players who have both won the French Open. Barbora Krejcikova beat Danielle Collins 7-5 6-3, while Jelena Ostappenko won 6-2 6-3 over Yulia Putintseva.