Djokovic does not have to "sell" anything: all he has to do is play his game. What really matters is how a player performs throughout the year; year after year. The rest just follows, with or without the "packaging" as a "product" (that sounds really insulting given all the hard work the players put in to get the well-deserved popularity).

He has plenty of fans all over the world. Whether you want to agree or not, Djokovic?s rise to top 3 gave new momentum to Tennis popularity and brought many new young fans and old fans (like me) back to Tennis. That?s already been very good for the business. Only a very small fraction of fans are concerned about what goes on outside the court or after the game or in blogs like this; majority of them just want to watch good tennis and support their favorite players. And to suggest he is ?bad for business? because he wore a funny mask ? that is beyond ridiculous.

Many top players have trouble at the start of the year to find their rhythm, no specific reason or excuse; this is how it is. Sure the #2 ranking would have been nice, but it wouldn't really have changed anything, he still has to defend his AO title. We are just 14 days into 2009 season, there are several other top players who have had losses early in the year, so why this vicious "personal grudge" article towards only Djokovic - so early in the season?

I don't think those comments are really fair. Murray hasn't exactly got a legion of fans, in fact, I did a blog about him and one about Nole and I got more response from Novak fans. My blog for Murray was pretty negative and I didn't recieve any criticism. I believe Novak has more fans than Murray at the moment. Novak brings alot to the game- hes funny, entertaining, and hes up and down. His game is great to watch when its on, and he cares alot about his fans. He isn't the bad boy of tennis - he is the class clown. If you want a bad boy, I recommend Del Potro.

Who is the author of this non-sense story! What a ridiculus subject? It is so ridiculus that I don't even want to comment on it, because there are more interesting subjects to talk about and comment on prior to the beginning of the first GS in the year.

That night was halloween! Can you open your heart and tell us what are your problems? Novak is a 20 year old kid who plays awersome tennis. If you didnt know, he does it every year.

Hi Kell :kiss:
Looking for trouble? :devil:

kellie,my thoughts about djokovic are exactly the same. his tennis is great to watch but he's far from being a rolemodel for young people. i've been thinking like that since he got to finals of us open and throughout last year,i had to live with djokovic bandwagon. so,i'm happy that this bandwagon has disappeared.

I tried my very best to like this young man, but he made doing so a nil possibility. I find him rude and obnoxious. His game is fine, nothing all that special but fine. His deportment is awful. I remember the spitting disaster in Miami. A terrible thing for tennis fans to see.

Pardon, I nearly forgot. If the comments left by his fans here and on other boards I have visited are an indicator of en masse behaviour, both Nole and his fans need lessons in proper conduct.

how many pro guys you see who did something that dumb for halloween? right just djokovic & he thinks he's funny. sorry but the one slam wonder sux!!!

look im far from a djokovic fan, but why are people so harsh on him? there are other massive egos in the top ten who are full of arrogance and confidence. why not pick on them? oh and god, i DONT mean federer. I just feel Djok gets the rough end of the stick alot. But we will see

KdM,

typical confused western market logic. Not everything is on sale, not everything has it's price. Try understanding Slavic sensibility, Dostoyevsky is a good start - you may find some answers there or perhaps reading is not so cool like Novak's mask.

Novak worked hard his entire career to play professional tennis; not be marketable by whatever your "standards" are. I don't know how you can diss this guy when he was the first to step up to the plate and say " I'm going to challenge the top two". Everyone else was more or less handing Fed and Nadal matches for free.

If tennis was sold by its merits; players like Djokovic are certainly marketable. He has as much flair as anybody when he plays, its beautiful to watch when he's at his best.

now whose got no clue? everybody is for sale and pro athletes are no different than anybody else. we'll all skip the slavic sensibility thing whatever that is. quoting dustyouryefsky on a blog~~ & gimel called anna a douche.

Its ridiculous to think of an athlete as an item for sale. Not after hes given so much to getting up there. The game should be marketed on its merits.

Too outspoken and unpleasantly cocky to become a fan favorite?

Andy Roddick is a fan favourite. What is he if not cocky and outspoken?

Tennis should be marketed on its merits, most definitely. Outside of a revolving door of head chairmen, lawsuits, scandals, and a debt more than one million pounds wide, that mode of transport has proven successful time and time again.

i learnt two things reading this blog. one that nole djokovic is loved by loonies (inflammatory content edited by RocketQueen for KT @ 4:14am) :D

Kelli, I think you'll find that as Djokovic finds his place in tennis and matures a little, he is much more "marketable" than you currently think. Sure he is somewhat polarising amongst fans - and his parents, well ... let's not go there - but much of his "behaviour" over the last couple of years have actually been good for the game and its profile. And from personal experience of dealing with him at two tournaments, I can tell you he is MUCH more fan and sponsor friendly than the likes of the Roddicks, Ferreros, Murrays et al.

Adrianne, if you are staying you know the rules. No more of that kind of thing please dear, thank you kindly.

This is the guy who created fresh excitement in the game after the start to 2008. If playing was all about supporting the ATP's financial causes, I don't know if Djokovic would have wanted to become a professional in the first place.

Novak is going to stay number 3 for while, cause, he'll be number 2 this year, Novak is just a 21 years old guy, who plays his incredible tennis Novak has at least 5 million people from his country, who loves him deeply from their hearts, from his own country, and he doesn't need overseas fans, OK. if they support him, if not, what do you think, he'll give up playing tennis or what,
NOVAK FOREVER...

Folks... it's juz Kelly's opinions... she may be a bit harsh on Djokovic, but don't need to be so harsh on her either.
Yes, he could hv acted better on and off court to promote a better image... but I don't think Murray has more fans than Djokovic. Murray is not very marketable himself with that look of his...

agnes, if it's Kelly's opinion, then she should participate as fan, by the way, Novak's promoting himself in best way, I think so, and the others do...

I don't think he's not marketable. He's actually very funny with the impressions he made but then some players couldn't take a Djoke and criticized him for making fun of them and unfortunately he listened to them and mellowed down. He is actually a little bit childish sometimes but I prefer his attitude than Murray's constant frowning. I remembered watching the trophy presentation ceremony for Indian Wells last year and Novak tried to kid around with Murray but Murray didn't respond. Murray is soo serious, he needs to lighten up. Even Nadal who is so focused and serious smiles during trophy presentations. Murray just never smile even with Spanish supermodels around him. BTW, Fed didn't play well against Seppi. :(

JERK-O-VIC is rude and a braggart... One more example in that you can't buy class... Hope he loses soon!

Djokovic is NO-BRAIN guy.

Not everything is for sale? Slavic soul? Should I remember you that he switched from Wilson to Head just when he had to defend his most important title? Why do you think he did it? Because Wilson didn't match his outfit?

i saw enough to know now, djokovic and his parents and his fans have no class. i hope he doesn't get out of his quarter. rude punk shouldn't deserve another gs trophy to hold up. :D

pffffffffft the devil doll herself gets a pony ride to the glammy mami slam without me being in town. my bad i won't cya at all~~ lol, have fun tho you won't have fun if i'm nowhere around!

milvice, if you'd have brain, you wouldn't say such a thing, but it's forgiven to you, cause you don't have it at all.
DejaBlue, you saw enough, I'm sorry, but I think, you're blind, you don't see quite well, you might need some spectacles, cause our Novak is tennis king, whatever you & others thing, your opinion is not valid at all, fortunately, otherwise, I would give up watching tennis for ever, regarding the 'classy' attitude, I could tell you, you can't make an statement generally, cause here you can find only few Novak's supporters, and if you have basic home education, you'd never say anything about Novak himself, especially his parents, who do you think you are, basically, such a stupid comments don't touch me at all, cause I do understand, you're childish guys, desperate in need to spit on our national icon, be sure, you don't bothering me at all, the main goal for our golden guy is to play his magic tennis.
Finally, your 'wishes' for our Novak to don't achieve the quarter is just confirm my opinion about you, luck of education, bad attitude, selfish and bad manners, your dreams will never come through, cheers for all of you who don't like, as a matter of fact, hate our Novak, that's why, he's such a successful guy...

Well, well,
not surprised with all this vitriolics from a closet Nadal fan...

Well, let me put it like this: the world does not revolve around US and its pathetic dollar culture.
People don't live to become media darlings, the intelligent ones that is, hence Murray and Novak's unmarketablitity.
It's called integrity and class: tellilng the truth not what you think will make your sponsors sell more trash.

djokovic's fan base is made up of people who need to up there dose of head meds. nole is king? king at BURGER KING? he hasn't won not a thing since may except the end of the year tourny which had no nadal and a busted up feddy. nole is a one slam nothing, get a grip. he won't get out of his quarter, mark it here.

i can call him trash all i want. wannta know why i can? go watch the desperate attention ho on the tennis channel where he does this disgusting strip show. hes' asking people if they like it while he's working an invisibile pole in his mind. Yea djokotard he has class. NOT!

Wow, djoker's fans are sometimes really annoying. Truth is, Djoker is not so classy but I think his fans and parents probably has lesser class than him.

dejablue & torres9, two guys who're completely out of their lost mind, I feel sorry about you, honestly, you need medical care, it's not easy to be in your skin, such an individuals like you makes me wondering where does this world goes, but fortunately, you're so small, spoilt, worthless crooks and therefore, by no means, you can't insult me and the other Novak's supporters, especially Novak himself, you fools, he doesn't care about your trashy comments at all, neither do I, cheers from tennis country, Serbia, go Nole, make them crazier then they really are, by showing your incredible tennis.

i've to admit tht i'm not the biggest fan of djokovic out there but i don't trash him for nth, i try to be fair. gordana, of coz i shdn't be telling u wht to do, i know u luv djokovic & all tht, but really don't need to take others' comments so personally. no need to go fuming at every -ve comment re: djokovic. it won't do ur health any good nor do djokovic any good, and esp when the comments won't affect him. cheer yr guy in a sensible way. how a player's fans behave does affect the player's image. and i mean to express things in a nice way, don't get me wrong...

gordana, i think you have bipolar disorder. Seek a psychologist, dear.

agnes, don't worry about me, I'm having fun with these creatures, they don't have any influence on me, regards for you...
torres9, 'dear' I'm an psychologist so I do know what I'm talking about, most probably, I'd help you medically, cause it's not your fault, you're sick, you need assistance sweet heart, so if you want, come in Serbia in May for an ATP to watch some nice tennis and to talk with me, I might help you, who knows, by the way, Novak is so 'bad player' even Pete Sampras is going to be an official ATP Promoter, what to tell you, we're simply like that, we have our Novak ranking 3, Jelena Jankovic number 1, Ana Ivanovic number 5, Nenad Zimonjic % Danijel Nestor number 1, so basically, we're very bad really, but only in your sick mind...

You obviously have never met Pete Sampras. He is on par with Novak for rudeness.

aw what's that about ivy? u still bent out of shape because he blew you off outside of nobu? get over it & don't compare petey to djokobitch~~ pete doesn't cheat during matches.

mishy,I guess NOvak's cheating is his medcal timeouts (roughly once per tourney), the guy gets an injury scare, has it looked at, (just like Nadal's blsters, Federer's back etc,etc), ok so for you thats cheating.
And what about your government that was dropping bombs (and still does) on Novak's and Ana's country (and still does elsewhere around the world), who's cheating whom there, or is it too much to take on you tiny fragile popcorn brainwashed mindset.
I appogise for being a bit over the top, butdo you think that living through constant bombing dos not leave any scars and has not left an inprint in their minds,?
Of course dhey don't give a toss what you and the likes may think if they feel they need help during the match, they're used o fending for themselves, be trthful and speak their mind, not give any of that hypocritical load of cliches you get from everyone else.

I disagree with the thought that Novak is not a fan favorite. Of course he is. Just look at all the fans dressed in Serbian flags who chant his name during matches and the girls who ask to marry him. He is popular enough, more so than moody Murray, just not popular with YOU.

cliche is having to read the same america drops bombs crap all the time. novak is a known cheater~ go look it up.

sorry mate,
no time for that media cr@p, I don't buy NIKE, either.

Miss gordana, seriously, I would love to have a heated tennis talk with you and who knows, we might even agree on each other after that. If you are really a psychologist (I didn't know psychologists spend so much time on a tennis blog), I guess you might be losing a screw on your head as a result of meeting too many mentally-ill patients. I never hated Serbians players, I definitely would want to sleep with Ana if I have the chance too. Noleistheworst, If Djoker really comes from a difficult environment, why is he acting immatured all the time? People from war-stricken countries shouldn't act like a spoiled rich kid. And his cocky parents doesn't have the humility that people who had such a difficult time.

mishy, hey you, WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE, otherwise I would act on the same way, don't repeat never ever again such a bad word, but if you still want to be rude, my next post will be totally different in a sense, I'd tell you straight forward what I think about such a creatures like you, have you got my point, you brainless one...
torres9, for your information, I have to spend some time on sites like these, cause, professionally, there are too many challenges, which strives me on understanding people like you, psychologists are visited by different level of people, not only mentally ill, but it's not the time and place to talk about it, anyway, you don't have any reason to HATE someone from Serbia, it's allowed to everyone to like or dislike some players, but putting such hard words, and obvious hate for our Nole, it's not acceptable at all, so I'll never let you or the others to talk about him like that, I do have a long tongue, and I'm able to answer on different ways, it depends only, with whom I'm talking to, if you're nice and polite, it'll be OK with me if you don't like Nole, cause nobody force me to like Federer, but if you're spitting on him, I could be very bad.
Finally, as you most probably have noticed, I give my comments about the other players, such as Nadal, Murray, Tsonga, Simon, so ask yourself, why I never said something bad about these guys, actually, I don't like Murray at all, but have to admit, he's in best condition so far on the tour, and yes, he's better than Nole right now, OK...

While I am not exactly a fan of Nole Djokovic, I think this article is a little too harsh on the boy. He's young and probably not that adept to handling fame yet and therefore could be a little inappropriate on court, off court and during interviews. That being said, he has time to mature and to groom himself to be well presented as long as he stays on the top (and he'll be there for some time, I believe). People need to remember he's only 21. Of course, the Rafa argument comes in about how well Rafa handles himself at age 21 or whatsoever, but Rafa has been a champion since his late teens and has plenty of time to adjust himself.

Give Nole some time, and he'll be in some-man's land soon enough. His parents are not a good influence on him admittedly, and contributed a lot to inflating his ego but Nole can't be blamed for that, you can't choose your parents after all.

And on an off note, is it ALWAYS that hostile in here, between Nole fans and, from what I can see, Federer/Rafa/Murray fans? Geez take a chill pill, people.

Jyannis,
I don't think it's often that heated here. But it always happens when you have that "divide and rule" thing. My first comment was erased because I, like Novak, dared to tell the truth.

Novak has more fans around the world than his haters can count to. He is liked for the exact same reasons for which his haters can't stand him. Here is why I like him:
a) excellent tennis,
b) great sense of humor,
c) true gentleman on court:
- applauds his opponents' great points,
- gives points to his opponents if he believes the call was wrong,
d) gives to charities,
e) honest, goodhearted, real if you like. There is no false pretense with him. Speaks out his mind. Unfortunately, seems like people like phonies today.
f) brought in with him some fresh air to the stale atmospehere that professional tennis had become,
g) last but not least, he is a Serb.

I don't see any class in Robredo's or Stepanek's behaviour. I don't see any class or jesting in Rodick's rude comments on Novak's health. I don't see any class in Federer's complaints about the line calls which ended in changing of all the line guys. I can keep on going like this til the end of the world.

I am fine with those who have different opinions. I am not fine with malicious and biased journalism and I am not fine with insults and name calling.

PS:
Excuse me administrators of this site, I have never ever seen any other player being called names. Why are the posts that are disrespectful to Novak still here? For what reason is that tolerated?!

Danica,
Point taken and understood. However, I've read comments calling Federer "arrogant", "washed-up" and Murray "ugly" - aren't those insults and name-calling as well and shouldn't be tolerated the same way Nole being called "one hit wonder" shouldn't be tolerated, in the terms of fairness? The way I see it, people insult other players but are fiercely protective of their own favourites and that is human behaviour but regrettably double-standard, as I see it.

And re: Federer's complaining about the line guys - he wasn't the only one. His Belgian opponent agreed full-heartedly with his decision, therefore I conclude there was something really wrong with the line guys. Just a thought.

Miss gordana, I don't hate Djoker. I am just telling the truth. He is sometimes immatured. A matured person won't do immatured things like lashing out to the American crowd after the Roddick match. If he was smart, he would just keep quiet or just talk about it in the post-match interview. How am I 'spitting' on him? All I did is just compare his inferior statistics to Fed's.

Danica, if a person has good manners, does that mean he is a 'phony'. Having a great sense of humor is subjective. I thought the impressions were funny but some of his Djokes are of bad taste.

I agree with Danica's points. Everyone makes their own share of mistakes as a player; but its the media hype I cant stand. Constantly putting down Novak; constantly glorifying Federer, its not as though Fed himself wants it.

Federer has made certain comments under pressure that we won't like, but at the same time, he's supposed to be a fantastic person according to those around him. Its the same with Djokovic. Where the fans are concerned, he's always a great guy. His problem is the fact that he doesnt handle the media well. And the problem lies with the media, not the player.

And from personal experience, I don't think Sampras was rude at all. He was just shy.

danica, well done, nothing to add, regards for you, just presented the facts, regards for samprallica as well, thank you folks for an objective comments...

serbs getting arrested after throwing chairs. what classy behavior!!!!

Samprallica, don't forget that without the media, tennis wouldn't get much hype at all so I wouldn't blame the media too much. These players get so much money and answering questions is part of the job. They get millions hitting a ball and the media hype helped them getting sponsors. So the media shouldn't be blamed too much.

Media always overhype everything and anything for the fact that sensational news SELLS. They don't care about the players, they care about how much attention their news will get. It's up to us an individuals to form our own opinion. Fed is not Mr.Perfect as the media makes him out to be, and Nole is not Mr.Worst-Manners-With-No-Respect-For-Others as the media makes him out to be. In the end they are human beings and they have their bad moments etc.

Trixxyfest, it is hardly appropriate to being nationalism into discussion here. As far as tennis is concerned, nationality plays no role. There's no need to come in here and specifically make negative comments pertaining to Serbians.

How would you know anything about these players if it weren't for the media? Do you follow them across the world? Without the media, we wouldn't have anything to talk about too. Tennis is still not one of most watched sport in the world, so I think we need all the media we can get.

some may not like it - it is all about cultural differences - west (british invention) embraced hypocrisy as a behavioral model in numerous situations - east (again read dostoyevsky) will tell you straight what they think even though it may not be politically correct and that is usually interpreted as rudeness by the westerners. since westerners have more money and a better economy they think that their model is the right one and needs to be adopted as a reference. Novak just needs to learn how to be hypocritical and tell the media what they want to hear. simple as that.

i'll stop making negative comments pertaining to serbians when they stop throwing chairs like drunk savages. don't tell me you don't know this happens every year in oz. novak did his homoerotic dance with delic at the net last night, so hopefully their little pansy act will shut the rest of the freaks up so we can all enjoy tennis in peace for once.

trixxyfest

or should i call you christiane amanpour?

you are welcome to make negative comments about Serbs and express your hatred for Novak, it tells more about you than it brings damage to us. cheers.

Oh dear lord. I am by no means a fan of this young man, but honestly. What is the objection to a friendly embrace after competition has ended? Mind you, there were many factions knocking furniture about, dear. I categorically disagree with you thumbing your nose at what went on netside.

*****yawn***** at you. the serbs bring the house down on themselves. go talk to the aussie police if i;m making this up.

The only reason there is so much hatred here is the fact that Novak's going to clean the floor with Federer in the semis (thst is if Cilic does't do it at quarters) so Federer's fans are using every opportunity to say something nasty if not about Novak, then about SErbs.
No wonder those people are cheesed off, in Australia, they had to emigrate form Croatia/Bosnia/Serbia because the big boys from NATO needed to upgrade and play with their latest toys...just sick!
COME ON NOVAK!

But then again, who cares for thousands killed every day...so long as Kelly de Whatsoever and the likes are media darlings...

huh wat?!!!!!!!!!!!!! djerkobitch will be lucky to get out of his quarter!!!! and you need god himself to help him get by federer. nationalist prayers aren't gonna help your hero this time.

*****yawn***** at you.

it's not nice yawning with your mouth wide open. btw i can see a lots of nasty decay there, go and visit your (mental) dentist.

Jyannis ,
my comment about name calling had nothing to do with little insults like being arrogant, cocky, one hit wonder. Just take a look at the last post by Trixxyfest and you'll get the idea. Or scroll up to Hatemyjob62 (obviously, hating not just his/hers job) and Milivice.

As for the chair throwing, there is no excuse for such behaviour but one needs to know that those were Bosnian fans who also showered Novak with insults on his way out of court. One only needs to read PHM's or T. Dent's comments about the fans of poor Amer Delic (by the way, congrats to him for great play). Such atmosphere is possibly the reason why PHM lost his five setter in the first place. By saying this, I don't want to take the blame off of Serbian fans, or Croatian for that matter. So, Trixxyfest, I have no clue why you are biased towards Serbs, it may be because you also fell under all the media hype of late nineties. Whatever. If you want to be taken seriously, then don't distort the truth and don't say halftruths. Tells more about you than anything else.

Noleistheworst again with a presumptuous comment. Danica, according to reports, both the Serbs and Bosnian gang threw chairs at each other. Were you there when it happened because unless you were there, how can you say only Bosnian threw the chairs? Judging by the behavior of Serb bloggers here I must conclude that Serb fans are the worst fans ever.

gimme a break will ya? unless you missed the whole thing, tipshareadick had to tell the serbotards to shut the hell up when he was playin cilic. go look it up. besides the pansy party with delic and djokovic the serbotards started the whole thing. some girl got her head bashed from a chair that THE SERBOTARDS threw. got that? THE SERBOTARDS, NOT THE BOSNIANS OR CROATIES OR ANYONE ELSE BUT THE SERBOTARDS. quit bitching at me to be taken seriously or being under the media hype of whatever else nationalistic crap you spouted off.

trixxyfest, where do you come from originally, I'm just wondering, could you tell me, please?

trixxyfest, no one needs this kind of talk at a TENNIS website. All that you're saying is completely irrelevant and extremely insulting. The brawl that happened was unfortunate but it takes two hands to clap. And FYI Nole and Delic never condoned that kind of actions whatsoever. And what is wrong with you condemning a friendly and sportsmanship-like hug at the net? I just don't get.

trixxyfest, one more question, SERBOTARDS, what does it mean, if you continue using such language, it will be very bad, WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE, your retard one...

because tennis is like war we don't need pansy asses hugging at kissing at the net. instead of asking me stupid questions over and over,go watch some old copies of matches with people like connors, mac, lendl even rios for fuck's sake. when you ever see any of those guys sucking each other off at the net. djkerobitch does that all the time, i'm beginning to think the kid's a poof.

because tennis is like war ...

you are actually condoning violence, chair throwing etc ...

" i'm beginning to think the kid's a poof."
I wouldn't be hoping if I were you, they import 'em over there just to show them to EU pouffter officials since they need to get the membership.
Sorry, look elsewhere..

connors was the first guy who compared tennis to a war you idiot.

so you are saying connors is behind this ordeal you fagish halitosis sicko man?

trixxyfest,

I am astonished by the ridiculous intent you call logic and the zero amount of common sense you possess.

trixxyfest,
Bosnians started, Serbs answered. It takes two to tango. No, I was not there, my sister was. Were you there? You just read and remember selectively and than have the guts to call someone a retard?

trixxyfest, you're really an retard and idiot, do you know that, OK, that's the language you only understand...

Really bad language by some people here. Stop it and behave yourself. The topic was Nole not the fight. By the way, when I see what Kell DeMario wrote I realize that everebody can call himself tennis expert. You are not journalist since you lost your objectivity. Maybe you can try to be a weather journalist. Then you deal with the facts. YOU CAN NOT MAKE UP STORIES

yup the serbo retard train just keeps on rollin.

your mother would have done a favor to the World had she aborted you long time ago.

trixxyfest, you retard and sick-minded one, DO NOT take Serbs generally in your dirty mouth, administrators should ban your appearing over here, and as posmatrac said, you are nature mistake, and by the way our greatest Nole is in quarterfinal lol...

Hey Gordana, I am Nole fan too. What is the matter with you. Why do you have to gloat on his victory in this manner. Maybe you should try to look on all the comments from the other side. You are not polite, you are speaking same language as some "Novak haters" do. Relax and try to be positive. Do not degrade yourself. Nobody will love Novak more because of such comments from your side. Anyway Nole thank you for another victory. Great fight. People in Serbia, and I am sure in some other countries are proud of you and love you.

Well said zikili. The majority of these comments are a disgrace, absolute disgrace. I thought I had joined a tennis website to talk about tennis with other fans of the game, not SLAG each other, other players and other countries. GET A GRIP and wise up. There is enough crap in the world without bringing it in here. Whoever runs this website should get on top of this.

trixxyfest, you are correct. I was at the Tipsaravic-Cilic match and I saw that Tipsy needed to tell the fans not to cheer when Cilic missed his first served. I've always likes Tipsey and after that, I've got even higher regard for him - such great sportsmanship. But to be honest, I saw worst during my first week in Melbourne Park. Some Aussie fans sitting infront of me (in the 2nd row) during Wawrinka-Berdych match were poor excuses for human beings. One - a player himself but not on the pro-tour - shouted to a ball girl he knew personally to throw Berdych's towel on the ground and spit on it and told Berdych he sucked!!! Berdych was so close to us and likely heard it. Distasteful comments were made towards Gulbis (against Andreev) and Del Po too although that was prompted by Delpo's hooligan behaviour towards a linesman who made a call he didn't like and turned most of the audience in the stands - who were initially for him - completely against him. I think most fans are great but some should never be allowed into the grounds - and that goes for a bunch across the board - unnecessary sledging that pisses the opponents fans off and that can spark the fights.

Hey gordana - I think when trixxifest said 'serbotards' she was joining two words together, like SERBians and reTARDS. A Serbian is someone from that bad man Slobodan Milosevic's country and 'reTARD' is a derogatory word for someone who has learning difficulties. So I think Trixxyfest was suggesting that some Serbian tennis fans lack intelligence. I'm not saying I agree with her, just trying to give you the interpretation you asked for. Personally, I wouldn't let it get me angry if I were you, unless of course you're a Serbian tennis fan.

A Serbian is someone from that bad man Slobodan Milosevic's country.

i suggest you leave politics out of this forum. i personally wouldn't mind a political discussion, but before that, you probably need to get some unbiased facts on SM instead of relying on western media that promoted disintegration of the country that refused to adopt western governments' agendas. regards to you.

serbians + retards gives you what i meant. you deserve it today more than ever after seeing that disgusting, cheating coward quit the match against roddick. he is a pathetic loser who will never defend a title. i'm glad he's gone, it proves what we have known all along about this punk. well, well, well, what a hero he is hahahahaha pansy ass quitter!!!!

"you probably need to get some unbiased facts on SM"

Oh yeah! Like it's alright to gather up thousands of Bosnian men and boys and have them executed! I would could that "military" not "political"! If this is political then it was raised by serbian tennis fans in melbourne last week, not me. BTW, if opposing ethnic cleansing is a "western" agenda then long live the west!

Again, all I'm saying is you need to understand the history of the Balkans at least from 1941. In the 2nd WW 700000 - 1000000 Serbs were executed by nazzy Croats and Muslims. Scenario arranged in 1991 was very resemblant to what had happened in 1941 - 1945 period but this time Serbs responded in a different way. I'm not condoning what you mentioned in regards to SM but things need to be looked at from the wider angle.

I suggest you do some research on the net as there are many unbiased research sites that bring the subtle issues not easily discerned by following everyday media. One of them is http://www.globalresearch.ca.

I'm sorry to use tennis thread for political topics but the whole issue of conflicts between Croats, Bosnians (Muslims) and Serbs has deep roots in the history of these nations and nationalities.

Regards

As I posted above, I find it so trying to support this young man. I know the heat was stifling, but for the sake of the spectators and those who may have sacrificed to be in Melbourne, he needed to play the match to its conclusion.

These are actions unbefitting an professional athlete of his level. I feel a mite sad about the way it transpired.

Agreed RocketQueen. He owed it to his fans to go down fighting. Now we carry the weight of being a fan of a player who didn't lose like a man.

As a Murray fan, I have to say I couldn't believe he missed the opportuniy to go to No.2 in Brisbane. I actually quite like Djoker but he really is developing a habit of shooting himself in the foot. The way things have been going, Murray now stands a pretty good chance of going No.3 by Indian Wells, even despite going out to tobasco. You Djoker fans are right to be concerned. I mean, playing golf on the day of his first tournament of the year, after a late arrival due to New Year parties etc...

The only thing I can probably say I'm glad about is that murray didn't go out first round this year. I hope he can take the uso at least.

I think there are some good things about djoker too that could be written instead of just focussing on the bad all the time. C'mon...

"...he's bad for business."
"Djokovic remains the most difficult to market successfully. As I have said many times before, he's bad for business."

"The top players are marketed and sold as "products," if you will. What, exactly, is Novak Djokovic selling?"

yeah, this is all about tennis, not money...well, a made a coment about it, regarding tomorrow's final-it will sell better than to have djokovic-verdasko in the final, or other rather than the drug-robot machines, zzzzz...Federer is bringing refinement? you are kidding me. Have you been hearing his comments at all?He pretends to be such a diva, well he is certanly treated as one, with his name all over the products, gold encrusted jumpers and such, not having the real opponent untill the finals, having a whole week brake at Wimbldon, saying that the match is of no importance after losing to Djokovic et etc. even here, the two played all first matches in the evening and so on

"Now we carry the weight of being a fan of a player who didn't lose like a man."
Are you talking about Federer here?

"He owed it to his fans to go down fighting".
I don't see a reason to "to go down" for anyone's sake if you are about to have a stroke or heart attack due to a huge blood pressure. Why did Federer retire in Paris? He should have stayed and give people who payed to see him something worth for their money. Well, seeing his poor self today made me sick. What a LOSER!