NOVAK Djokovic is being lauded as one of sport’s most gracious losers after being reduced to tears during a spine-tingling two-minute standing ovation following his gut-wrenching French Open final loss to Stan Wawrinka.
Wawrinka admitted he “played the match of my life” to shatter
the world No.1’s dream of finally completing a cherished career grand slam in
Paris.
Runner-up to Rafael Nadal in 2012 and 2014, Djokovic came up
short for a third time but vowed to return with added motivation next year
after feeling the love of the French crowd on a memorable Sunday afternoon at
Court Philippe Chatrier.
Spectators could clearly feel the Serb’s pain as they chanted
“Novak, Novak, Novak” before he received yet more second-prize silverware.
Commentators in all languages at Roland Garros could never
recall such a reception for a beaten finalist as Djokovic confirmed his class
with a warm embrace of Wawrinka before the triumphant Swiss took centre stage
to collect the Muskateers Cup.
Watch the standing ovation in the video player above
“I respect the appreciation they show me and it was more or less
the same situation like last year in closing ceremony,” Djokovic said.
“This is something that definitely gives me even more motivation
to come back and keep on trying.
“They are truly respectful fans and I thank them very much, very
much for these emotions I felt on the court.
“Obviously it was not easy to stand there as a runner-up again,
but I lost to a better player who played some courageous tennis and deserved to
win.”
The top seed had been unbeaten on clay in 2015 and entered the
final on a 27-match winning streak after sweeping to five titles, including an
open-era record fifth Australian Open crown in January.
But he offered no excuses in defeat.
“I’m proud of the fight that I put into this match. I tried my
best. It wasn’t to be,” Djokovic said.
There was no hiding his disappointment, though, with Djokovic
admitting this defeat cut deep.
“It’s a loss. Of course it hurts, especially because it was in
the finals,” he said.
“I think I have played a great claycourt season, a great Roland
Garros.
“I came to the position to really win this trophy. I was set up
and was really in the match and trying to play tactically as I intended.
“But
he just found the solutions on the court. This is sport. That’s what happens on
this level. “You have to accept the loss.” More than anything, Djokovic - too
shattered to think about his Wimbledon title defence starting later this month
— fell victim to the elegant Swiss’s lethal one-backhand, which the title
favourite dubbed as surely the best on tour.
“No question one of the best one-handed backhands that I have
seen in tennis,” Djokovic said.
“Very powerful and can create a lot of spin, a lot of rotation
on the ball.
“He can hit it flat down the line. He can block the ball very
well. He has a short slice, long slice. He has a lot of variety from that part
of his baseline game.
“But his forehand, I think, has improved a lot. His forehand
wasn’t the weapon, but now last two years it became a weapon. “And of course
his serve. He’s very complete player.”
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