Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, seems to be on cloud nine and having a gala time these days. Success at the U.S. Open 2023 meant he went two clear of Rafael Nadal, the nearest contender for his record of most no. of slams. Though he shares that record with legendary Margaret Court, he should be overhauling it in the coming year.
The occasion was the All-Star Match of the 44th Ryder Cup. It was only fitting that Novak Djokovic, arguably the best athlete the world has ever seen, was invited to take part in it. The 36-year-old didn’t disappoint; he enthralled the gathering with a few gimmicks of his own. He came to the course with a Tennis racquet, which he exchanged with a driver for Golf clubs.
He played alongside Kipp Popert, the world’s number-one golfer with disabilities, and Welsh soccer player, Gareth Bale, as part of Colin Montgomerie’s team. Spain’s F1 driver Carlos Sainz and Italian G4D golfer Tommaso Perrino were their opponents. And it was the team represented by the Serb, that emerged victorious based on points, that is usually the case.
.@DjokerNole drives the 16th green 🤯 #AllStarMatch | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/H5Ozc0U2JU
— Ryder Cup (@rydercup) September 27, 2023
But it was not for what, the crowd had gathered for. Entertainment was their priority and Djoker Nole obliged gleefully. After a couple of practice swings, “the shot of the day” came from an advanced tee position on the 16th Green.
Did he just drop the @Cristiano siuuuuu
— Nick Tannahill (@nickjtannahill) September 27, 2023
Thus, giving vent to thunderous applause. To top it off, Novak channeled the Cristiano Ronaldo within him as he performed the “Siuuu” celebration, much to the delight of the crowd.
Novak Djokovic managed to perform with golf clubs instead of tenins rackets
Though Novak has won the Rome Masters six times, this experience should have been special in its way. “It’s such an honour, a golden opportunity for a once in a lifetime experience,” the nervous-looking champion said. He then thanked the fans for coming out in large numbers and putting that extra bit of pressure on the first tee.
Fans of Djokovic were ecstatic at the fact that their hero had skills to be showcased about other sports as well. They thronged to social media to share their reactions. The one that struck a chord right away was that of Novak’s wife, Jelena Djokovic. She took to Instagram to share a hilarious emoji at the footage of her husband’s trials with a Golf Club.
Others, who were awe-struck by what Novak did, responded by marveling at the brilliance of the man. Some chose to question whether is something he is not good at, while others preferred to play it safe by saying that, Novak should have been engaged with Golf sparingly,
Is there nothing this guy can’t do!
— Paddy Nomad 🇺🇸 (@PaddyNomad) September 27, 2023
Never knew he played golf sparingly, not bad Novak
— PK (@KavzPk) September 27, 2023
Though one cannot find the actual golf handicap for Novak Djokovic with his limited outings, he is playing well enough to not calculate it. On a cheeky note, even if his handicap score is calculated, it should be quite less than the glimpses on view during the Ryder Cup.