It feels politically radical at this stage, a break from the phoney wars, to say can we just appreciate Djokovic for what he is?
Who knows, maybe one day Novak Djokovic and the people of Australia will stop mid-argument, bottom lips quivering, and just kiss it all out, right there in front of the cameras, while in the background the studio audience gasps and whoops and we cut tantalisingly to the break with a jaunty bass solo.
Perhaps not yet though. Judging by the scattered boos and jeers from the crowd as news filtered through that Djokovic was retiring with injury after the first set of his Australian Open semi-final on Friday, it seems there is still some way to go in that narrative arc.
Written by Barney Ronay
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jan/24/give-us-our-goat-back-tribalism-remains-a-bar-to-appreciating-djokovics-greatness under the title “Give us our GOAT back: tribalism remains a bar to appreciating Djokovic’s greatness | Barney Ronay”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
