Former tennis player and legendary entertainer Mansour Bahrami believes Novak Djokovic “suffers” from the fact he is “unloved” by the fans and urged them to show the Serbian GOAT the respect he deserves.
Bahrami lauded Djokovic as the greatest player in history regardless of whether people love or despise him and criticized those who boo and whistle the 24-time Grand Slam champion for nothing but having a habit of winning.
The 36-year-old has set the final clash against the ATP #4 Jannik Sinner at the year-end Finals in Turin and is set to meet him on Sunday to claim a record-breaking seventh title in a year where he has already won three out of four majors and multiple tour titles.
Djokovic will seek to avenge his round-robin loss against the determined Italian who defeated him in three sets to register a perfect 3-0 record in his first three fixtures at the coveted tourney.
Sinner prevailed against Daniil Medvedev in three sets in the semifinals while Djokovic handed Carlos Alcaraz a drubbing as he was able to dismantle the Spaniard in straight sets to book a Spot in the final.
The 36-year legend of the sport at the moment will be bookies favorite to win the championship match and get ahead of his former rival Roger Federer with whom is currently tied at 6 titles at the season-ending Finals.
Bahrami sat with DH Sports+ for an interview to talk about the unreal achievements of the Serbian ATP #1 while making it clear to all that the 24-time major champion should be respected by the crowds.
“He is unloved, and he suffers from that. 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,” said the French-Iranian.
“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.”
Since retiring in 2003, Bahrami, a former Roland Garros doubles runner-up, has gathered fame as a tennis entertainer known for his trick shots and humorous antics on courts during exhibitions and invitational matches.
Former pro and notable tennis commentator Mark Petchey earlier also raised questions over the lack of support Djokovic received during his three-set triumph against Pole Hubert Hurkacz during the group stage.
“I find it really disheartening at times when I hear that kind of support for Hurkacz. Maybe they want three sets, maybe they don’t understand the significance that Novak might go through even if he doesn’t win,” said the Brit while commentating for Amazon Prime Video.
“I just feel Novak is at this stage of his career that, even if you don’t agree with every decision that he has made, no genius across all walks of life has always made decisions you always agree with.
“But I do feel that as he strides atop of the men’s game at this stage of his career and given all the sacrifices and sporting moments he has given to us, I hope the crowds around the world in the final vestiges of his career give him the love and support and the embrace that all of that hard work deserves.
“I would hate to feel that every time he sits in this situation that all that cascades down from these stadium walls because I just don’t think it’s fair. I understand it against Sinner, with an Italian crowd, but in this situation (against Hurkacz), it just wouldn’t happen for Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal] and it’s just not right.”