"We may not like it. I understand. But we must not assassinate him": Mansour Bahrami urges fans to show respect for GOAT Novak Djokovic
ATPMonday, 20 November 2023 at 23:02
Renowned tennis entertainer Mansour Bahrami has urged the fans
to show some affection to the current world number one Novak Djokovic.
The 36-year-old is often regarded as the greatest player in the
history of men’s singles tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 24 Grand
Slam titles. Bahrami was recently quoted in a report where he urged the fans to
show more respect towards Serbia’s legendary tennis star.
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“He is unloved, and he suffers from that,” he said. “But you
have to have respect for this boy. He is the greatest player in history. We may
not like it. I understand. But we must not assassinate him. If you don’t like
it, don’t applaud it, but don’t whistle at it.
“He wins and we whistle him. What did he do wrong? Nothing!
He suffered from this for a long time. Now I think he manages to take a step
back from this situation. He’s a great pro. We must not forget that he fell
into the same era as [Rafael] Nadal and [Roger] Federer, two very popular
players.
“He did everything to be loved. Sometimes too much for me.
He’d better play his matches, win them and go home. People think it’s fake.
This is not true. He loves the public and he wants the public to love him.”
Djokovic won his 24th major title earlier this
year as he defeated the current world number three Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in
the final in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.
The current world number one ended his year as the
top-ranked player as he ended up lifting the last major tournament in the
calendar year — the ATP Finals. Djokovic Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the final in
Turin in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-3.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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