SUMMARY
- Novak Djokovic took to the practice courts at UCLA ahead of Indian Wells.
- He casually entertained the crowd with his skills and then obliged them with photos.
Novak Djokovic is one of the best tennis players of all time. The Serb is synonymous with the sport itself, given all his exploits with a racket. Djokovic has garnered a huge fanbase over the years, and he draws crowds wherever he goes. Unsurprisingly, tennis fans showed up in droves when he was practicing at UCLA.
Djokovic is currently in the US to compete at Indian Wells and the Miami Masters. He took a break after crashing out of the Australian Open semifinals. However, Novak is raring to go once more, as he has his eyes set on his 41st Masters title.
Novak took to the courts at the university recently, and he filled the stands with students very quickly. As more and more turned up, Novak entertained them with his skills.
Legendary tennis player Novak Djokovic is practicing at #UCLA right now in front of a growing crowd of students. pic.twitter.com/6pY0op3yn5
— Gavin Carlson (@GavinCarlsonDB) February 28, 2024
Novak is an exceptional tennis player, and he has often pushed the limits of his athleticism during matches. This time, however, the world No. 1 casually pulled off what was easily the “shot of the year.”
Djokovic casually hitting a shot of the year contender during his practice at UCLA 🔥
🎥 @IraGorawara pic.twitter.com/xoi490dyfK
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) February 28, 2024
Amid his practice, Djokovic also took some time off to play with his six-year-old daughter, Tara. The father-daughter duo shared a heartwarming moment as Tara tried to capture her father’s antics on camera.
Novak Djokovic and his six-year-old daughter Tara having fun during the star’s break. pic.twitter.com/9M1rqJG819
— Ira Gorawara (@IraGorawara) February 28, 2024
After concluding his training, Djokovic indulged his young fans with photos and autographs. There was chaos, as everyone lined up to be in the same frame as him.
With little to no security present, the crowd was able to approach Novak Djokovic after his training session at #UCLA.
Wild scenes. pic.twitter.com/5xjFHw1VYR
— Gavin Carlson (@GavinCarlsonDB) February 28, 2024
Novak Djokovic has been enjoying his time in the US so far. He accompanied his son Stefan to Lionel Messi’s game recently too. As he gears up for the US swing, his former rival caused a stir with his comment on Novak.
Andy Roddick caused a stir with his statements on Novak Djokovic
Roddick, the former Grand Slam champion, started a storm online when he compared Novak to Yoko Ono. He reasoned that Djokovic broke Roger Federer’s and Rafael Nadal’s dominance. In turn, the fans of either camp hated Novak, thus his situation being somewhat similar to Ono’s when she started dating John Lennon.
Roddick’s statement did not sit well with tennis fans, who passionately disagreed with him. He then had to explain that his stance was about Novak’s public perception.
It was in the context of public perception. I think it’s entirely comparable. Beatles fans needed someone to be mad at.
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) February 28, 2024
Novak Djokovic has left both Nadal and Federer behind in the Grand Slam race. He won his 24th major title at the US Open last year, and he is hungry for more.