Every Fairy-Tale Needs a Villain (Djokovic)

In most cases, a villain encapsulates the malevolence of storytelling.

They are bitter, twisted and wish for nothing more than their protagonist counterpart to succumb to their devious plots. Fictional story lines like this have existed in tennis for decades, but they are far from false. This plot-line has eked its way into the modern tennis era by harnessing a stranglehold over the three greatest players of all time. However, as with all classic fairy tales, there is no room for a third hero. A villain must claim the throne.

Three’s a Crowd

By being fashionably late to the party, Novak Djokovic found himself in the ill-fated position of assuming this role. Before Novak announced himself on the Grand Slam stage at the 2008 Australian Open, Federer and Nadal had been locking horns on their respective battlegrounds for four consecutive years. They had fortified their legacies and position as the best in the world in advance of the Serbs arrival.

Does this late appearance justify Djokovic's lack of crowd support or is there more to this tale?

The ensuing BIG 3 saga has dominated the minds of pundits, commentators and fans for the better part of a decade. Yet, it has been apparent from the beginning that Djokovic's relationship with stadium crowds is volatile at best.

Image is a B$%#&

In recent years, it's been noted that audiences are more likely to boo than cheer for him, much like a scripted villain. Is it his monotonous playing style? His hostility towards ball kids? His needless obsession with records and the now tiresome GOAT debate? Perhaps. Or is it his frequent moments of indiscretion on and off the court that have cost Djokovic his public image and esteem? The later is the more likely.

In our celebrity obsessed culture, it's important to pamper your public image like the stock market. One controversial comment could see a warranted shift in public opinion.The Djokovic family has found itself at the forefront of such controversy in recent weeks after Dijana Djokovic, Novak's mother, revolted against Federer by branding him "arrogant" and "annoying". She stressed her contempt for the biased crowd at last year's Wimbledon final and their distaste for her son.

The absence of common decency in this instance has wounded Novak's volatile public image. In such circumstances, the best course of practice is to remain silent.

But who am I to hush an evil Queen?

One can only imagine how testing it must have been for a mother to see her child in such an ill-receptive environment. My empathy however, doesn't stretch much further than this. While I support Dijana's maternal instincts and her right to defend her son, it's troublesome to argue for more fan support while simultaneously perpetrating a scathing attack on the most respected and admired athlete in the world.

Admiration and respect cannot be bought or demanded, they must be earned.

A GOAT Should Be Loved

Djokovic has had 17 years on the professional tour to obtain a similar level of fan endorsement as his prime adversaries, yet these concerns continue to plague his career; most notably at the US Open last September where a fiery New York crowd booed him off the court. Novak's turbulent affiliation with US Open audiences has been the epicenter for his most antagonistic outbursts.

He has molded into the orthodox fairy tale villain that was bestowed upon him at the birth of his tennis career, and he's played the part adeptly. But even I struggle with this sentiment, as often villains are the most enchanting characters.

As we voyage through the last remaining years of the Fedalovic era, it should be noted that this chapter of tennis history has not concluded. Their last valiant forehand is yet to be struck; their last battle is yet to be fought. This historical rivalry will continue to ignite the ambition of generations to come. At this point we can only speculate as to who will wrap up their career as king of the grand slam empire.

One thing we know for sure though, not everyone will get their happily ever after.

By Calvin Hill (@calv_hill), Chief Pot-Stirrer @theslicetennis

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