This isn’t the first time this has happened this season. Novak Djokovic’s fourth-round victory at the U.S. Open put the NFL legend in the spotlight.
Aaron Rodgers was in the stands at Flushing Meadows after Serbia’s victory over Bonagojo.he quarterback New York Nets player Tom Brady followed in the footsteps of his old rival Tom Brady, who appeared in Djokovic at Roland Garros last June Inside his box, the Balkan native claimed his 23rd Grand Slam title.
“It’s great to have Aaron in the stands for tonight’s game,” Djokovic told a post-match news conference in New York. “I hope you enjoy it. He was in my box during the French Open final.” Watching Tom Brady here, sitting next to my wife, was a great honor. Tom and I have had a great relationship over the years. I have a lot of respect for him.”
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Rodgers and Brady are the latest in a long line of athletes from other sports who have followed or known Djokovic over the years. His other friends in the field include soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic or two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
“Zlatan is without a doubt my favorite football player,” Djokovic said. “His Balkan mentality is very familiar to me, let’s say, even though it might be foreign to the rest of the world. I understand him completely, we’ve known each other for 15 years.”
“Nikola Jokic is the best basketball player in the world right now. He’s an incredible guy. Everyone is in awe of his skill set and his ability on the court. I’m not a basketball expert and I can’t Talk about most of his game, but I’m a big fan of him.”
“Obviously, Serbian players from Serbia are dominant in the NBA, which is something we don’t see very often. I don’t think it’s ever happened in the history of Serbian basketball to have the best player in the NBA. It’s fantastic. People love it. We adore and support him.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Novak Djokovic at the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals. Image source: FIT
Djokovic believes a special mindset will unite the elite athletes with whom he maintains relationships. Despite all the achievements of a storied ATP tour career, the Serb is still willing to learn any lessons from his peers in other disciplines.
“I try to maintain and cultivate relationships with athletes in different sports. As an athlete, I feel identified with them,” Djokovic said. “I recognize myself in what they’ve done and I can understand their pain, their sacrifice and their dedication.”
“I respect great people, especially those who have become the best in their respective sports. That’s what you want to be around people like that. You want to learn from them, and some details can be very inspiring, like it Happened to my relationship with Tom.”
Considering the No. 2 seed will face American No. 1 Tyler Fritz, Djokovic likely won’t have the support of many fellow Rodgers and Brady compatriots in the New York quarterfinals. If Francis Tiafoe or Ben Shelton beat Fritz in the semi-finals, Djokovic is poised to interrupt an American awaiting a first home-grown title since Andy Roddick in 2003 at Flushing Meadows. Tennis feast.
“I think Taylor Fritz will have the majority in our next fight,” Djokovic said. “If I win, Sheldon or Tiafoe will be in the semi-finals. I hope so. We’re in the US playing against local tennis players. I’d be surprised if things were different. I know what’s going to happen and I’m going to Go mentally prepare.”
“It’s going to be tougher, it’s the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam. I think it’s important for a big sporting country like the United States to have three players in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam. He important for the tournament. he was one of four of us majorone of the four most important events in the history of our sport.”