They loved his stylish play and, more so, his wit and his shtick.
They cheered raucously when Djokovic stuck around after winning his quarterfinal and, prompted by a TV interviewer, did spot-on impersonations of Maria Sharapova (pretending to tuck his hair behind his ears, exactly how the Russian does) and Rafael Nadal (even yanking at the back of his shorts, exactly how the Spaniard does).
My, how things were different after Djokovic won his 2008 U.S. Open quarterfinal.
Given an opportunity to address the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd by the same TV interviewer after beating Andy Roddick in four sets Thursday night, Djokovic dispensed with niceties.
No charm this time.
Instead, the third-ranked Djokovic lashed out at the Roddick, taking him to task for making light of the Serb’s series of medical issues earlier in the week.
“You know, Andy was saying I have 16 injuries in the last match,” Djokovic said, anger in his voice. “Obviously, I don’t, right?”
He was booed. Loudly.
And he wasn’t deterred in the least.
“They’re already against me because they think I’m faking everything, so it’s all right,” Djokovic said. “That’s not nice, anyhow, to say in front of this crowd that I have 16 injuries and that I’m faking.”
It will be fascinating to see how Djokovic is received when he faces four-time defending champion Roger Federer in the semifinals, which are scheduled for Saturday afternoon but could be moved if, as expected, Tropical Storm Hanna hits the area.
New No. 1 Rafael Nadal meets No. 6 Andy Murray in the other semifinal, but Federer-Djokovic will draw far more attention, and not just because it’s a rematch of the 2007 final at Flushing Meadows.
Federer has drawn more support at this U.S. Open than at any other player, including the warmest reception during a parade of past champions on Day 1. Perhaps it’s a result of his rougher-than-usual season, but he has suddenly become an adopted son at this site.
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