After what happened in Australia, his career and his own future image can never be the same again
The question that Novak Djokovic must ask himself now is: it was worth it? Why should the last chapter of the tormented story of his visa go, after what happened in Australia his career and his own future image will never be the same again.
His dream was to complete the Grand Slam or at least to be able to beat Nadal and Djokovic’s 21 Slam record, but now he will probably have to face three-year ban from Australia, and risks being penalized also by the ATP (three years of exclusion from the circuit if it should be proven that he cheated on positivity). At 35 years of age, a very hard blow. Goodbye records. I don’t hope so, but perhaps we are witnessing the end of the tennis player Djokovic.
As a champion perhaps not loved by everyone, but certainly respected and admired, he has in fact decided to definitively enter another dimension, that of the over-athlete, of the divisive champion even outside the playing field.
Now whether he likes it or not he is seen as the champion of the no vax, the rebel of a cause supported only by a – noisy – minority across the planet. A label that will never come off, which will accompany it forever. In New York he had finally managed to conquer the public also on an emotional, human level. In these weeks of hard struggle against sporting and political institutions, he has squandered that treasure. From Paris they made it known that he could play Roland Garros – he is the n.1 in the world, having him in the competition is tempting to anyone – but at the same time even in Serbia politics has begun to distance itself from him. Yet until a few days ago the Serbian president had said with pride: “Djokovic is Serbia”.
History teaches us that it is easy to pass from Masaniello to a rejected immigrant, that once the image has been chipped it becomes difficult to restore it. Among other things, there are those who argue that the Djoker risks losing up to 50 million dollars in sponsorship; other analysts argue that instead many brands like to be approached with characters who have a strong personality, who “makes the news”. And then what will happen in the locker room, in the stands every time Nole the rebel, the self-styled Spartacus of sport, makes his appearance? Will there be protests, scuffles, divisions, or will Djokovic simply walk with his finger, wearing the stigma of the bad teacher?
To his colleagues – Stefanos Tsitsipas has already explained this – but also to the fans, to those who follow tennis more or less casually and to anyone who has suffered the consequences of Covid, it bothers above all. the arroelegance with which the champion wanted to “write” the rules himself, making everyone else look foolish or cowardly.
For tennis too, this risks being an important customs point, a watershed. The legal and human, sporting consequences of the Djokovic case risk casting long shadows on the season. Perhaps Djokovic, who is used to “cheering against”, will decide to ride the wave. Or perhaps he will understand that the time has come to take a step back, not to incite the crowds, to placate the spirits. And then he will have to ask himself that question: was it worth it, Novak?
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