‘You Can’t Touch Me’: Tennis Ace Hits Back at Wimbledon Crowd After Advancing
Top-seeded tennis star Novak Djokovic delivered a scathing response to sections of the Wimbledon crowd following his straight-sets victory over 15th seed Holger Rune in the fourth round on Monday. Djokovic defeated the young Danish challenger 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to cement his place in the quarterfinals for the 15th time, having previously lifted the coveted trophy on seven occasions at the All England Club.
However, Djokovic was clearly angered by cheers and chants emerging from segments of the crowd as Rune’s supporters attempted to rally behind their player. In his post-match interview on court, the 35-year-old Serbian directed some choice words at those disrupting the proceedings, thanking respectful fans who paid to watch the battle while admonishing disruptors. “To all those choosing to disrespect players, in this case me, have a very good night. I’ve played in much more hostile environments, trust me – you can’t touch me,” stated Djokovic defiantly.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion indicated he was well-versed in dealing with such theatrics over his illustrious two-decade career. While acknowledging Rune had his supporters, Djokovic dismissed excuses for unsporting behavior, claiming to know “all the tricks” from his rich tennis experience. The interviewer attempted to downplay accusations of deliberate provocation, but Djokovic was adamant booing had occurred from certain sections. He will now prepare to tackle debutant Jannik Sinner for a semifinal berth, aiming for an eighth Wimbledon crown.
