If you happen to follow me on Twitter, you’ll see that I had a hunch sometime around the start of the third set that Novak Djokovic would retire in his quarterfinal against Andy Roddick. And then, a few commercial breaks later, the Williams sisters’ Oreo ad ends and there’s Novak Djokovic shuffling off the court.
Un-F’ING-BELIEVABLE!
Novak, the Australian Open defending champion, now needs only the U.S. Open to complete the career Retirement Slam – a feat the top two guys will never get close to achieving. I can’t help but wag my finger and offer some tongue-in-cheek advice: Whenever you start feeling funny in the tummy, Nole, take a few bites of a Power Bar and ask yourself, “What would Roger and Rafa do?”
And even before Novak got glassy eyed on the change overs, he was up to his usual self-defeating antics. Was it really necessary to sic security on that one guy who was over-cheering for Andy, Nole? Your parents weren’t even there to whine about it.
But something’s changed – it’s just not fun to scold him anymore. He hasn’t reached the Jennifer-Capriati-shoplifting-at-the-mall level of dysfunction yet, but there’s definitely something wrong with Novak Djokovic. The trash talking parents, the combative attitude with fans, the tap outs in big matches – it’s unhealthy in more ways than one. I foresee much more drama before he ever hoists another Major trophy over his head.
Of course he’s only 21 years old, meaning he has a good eight years or so to work out his issues. This alone could motivate the affection-hungry Djokovic – everyone loves a comeback story.
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