"Am I? I mean isn't it obvious?": Novak DJOKOVIC hilariously reprises role as Bert Critchley to accept role as James Bond
ATP
Novak
Djokovic amusingly accepted a simulated offer to become the next James Bond
after embodying his fictional character named 'Bert Critchley' from the
fictitious program "The Tour." Earlier this year, the ATP launched
its exclusive reality show in February, where tennis players were given unique
identities, revealing that their on-court personas are merely acting roles.
In the
storyline shared on social media, several protagonists narrate their
experiences of portraying the tennis greats, with glimpses of "the
actors" portraying ATP Tour players.
Novak Djokovic as ‘Bert Critchley’
For instance, in the first episode, Andy Murray participated as Fraser
McKnight, Novak Djokovic as Bert Critchley, Gael Monfils as Peter Arthur, and
Casper Ruud as Thomas Johnson, among others. Subsequently, the ATP also
organized the "Golden Racket Award," a parody in which Bert Critchley
(played by Djokovic) receives the 'Best Storyline' trophy.
Djokovic wins a record fifth World Sportsman of the Year award
Nole
recently received the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award for his outstanding
2023 season, where he won three Grand Slam titles and finished the year as No.
1 at the age of 36. Before the award ceremony, the ATP interviewed him as
"Bert Critchley" and asked if playing James Bond is the next step in
his career.
"So
Bert, you’re at the top of your game, you’ve won the Golden Racket Award,
you’re nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year again. There’s a
lot of talk about you being the next James Bond. Are you the next James
Bond?" the host asked.
"Am I?
I mean, isn’t it obvious? I don’t know what took them so long, but, if that’s
the official offer, I’m ready. I mean, I love my Novak Djokovic character. I
think I enjoyed it. We had fun with it, but, I probably would leave Novak for
James Bond. I think it’s time to take my acting career to a different
level," the 24-time Grand Slam champion replied.
When
Djokovic (portraying Bert Critchley) received the simulated award from the
series, the 'Golden Racket Award,' the Serbian thanked his fans and praised
Fraser McKnight (played by Andy Murray) for his work as one of the co-stars:
"Finally
all these years of playing Novak Djokovic, I’m so happy. I wanna thank all the
Bert Fam that has been trusting me, following me, supporting me over the years.
Thank you for supporting my character."
"It’s
been really incredible journey, incredible ride for 20 years, playing Novak
Djokovic. At times, he was really funny, at times, boring as hell. But you know
it’s part of the job. You have to just accept it, embrace it. I love working
with Fraser McKnight, my friend, and others," he said.
"It
didn’t start the way I would normally start winning the Australian Open but you
know, it was fun. So thank you to all the producers, directors, I’ll be back
soon," he added.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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