Wimbledon Day 13: Djokovic is the Champion, but not of the people

[Editor's note: I don't agree with much about Galileo's wrap-up of the final Sunday of Wimbledon. Well, I'm on board with the Hingis stuff, so there's that. But this is his turn on the proverbial soapbox, so I'll let him have his say without volleying back any discent beyond this point, other than to say (since I have the power of the final edit here) that I've stated my opinion on this issue multiple times, and that I'm also happy to direct anyone who agrees with me to Sally Jenkins' great piece in the Washington Post today, as well. Anyway, all for now. - Todd S. ]

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

I'm afraid this post is going to be unpleasant reading for Djokovic fans. Yes he won. He won 7-6[1], 6-7[10], 6-4, 6-3 in three hours. Federer hit 58 winners, but more errors. And he did admirably to recover from 3-6 in the second set breaker. He played better in the third but still lost it. And Djokovic played a clever match. He came out and was too good. The worry for him next year will be how he is going to defend all these points. But he is the champion. And now, ATP BACKSPIN, is going to have it's first official rant.

Usually ATPB tried to stay neutral, to remain impartial. Though, of course, its favorites and not so favorites are clear. But this time there is to be no understanding of the world number one's actions. With Kyrgios, ATPB could write that off as a 20-year old showboating. That’s what 20 year olds are supposed to do.

Back in 2009 Roger did this.



And that image has stuck in the minds of many. Federer is beloved for being human and for being able to emphasize. He cares. In that way that Bruce Springsteen sang for the people, Federer seems to play for the people. And he cares too about his colleagues.



He and Nadal get on. Federer knows Nadal's girlfriend and even stops and asks her how she is doing when he passes her in the corridors. And that's why he and Rafa are beloved.



But here comes brash Novak with his ridiculous diets and ridiculous compression chambers. I don't hate Serena intentionally. I get no pleasure from wanting her to lose. But I and many others get pleasure in wanting Djokovic to lose. When Wawrinka beat him in that final I had a ridiculous grin on my face for about four days. He inspires such hatred and dislike in some. My attempts at impartiality at least force me to merely dislike him. Perhaps it’s the way he celebrates. Here is Roger celebrating when he wins Wimbledon in 2012.



And here is Novak.



And the question from ATPB is simply this; why? You aren’t playing Nadal in a five setter. You’re playing a dignified classy champion. And how is this ever acceptable?



But Sunday he did this.



And that's just insulting. He stinks of arrogance, it's part of him. It’s physically ingrained. During the match he flouted the timing rule, shouted at the crowd and yelled at his box. He celebrated like some untamed wild beast fresh from the kill. He showed why the crowd, the Wimbledon crowd, of all crowds, was not on his side. It isn't just Federer. It’s the fact Novak cheated in Australia to win. He even to a lesser extent cheated in Paris to win. He acts like he is the greatest tennis player ever and he thinks he is god's gift to humor. Well, unless his name is Bill Maher, I don't think so.

His parents are obnoxious and rude to the other players and yet he does nothing. He and Murray aren't even friendly anymore. He plays negative tennis and lives off mistakes. His opponent played all the tennis today just like in the semi-final. He counterpunched his way to a third Wimbledon title and that feels wrong. He was barely even at net.

He doesn't even seem to respect the crowd. He cares only about winning and then celebrating that win. And that mentality is understandable. But it was never Federer's. After Roger lost to Rafa in that 2008 French Open final, the one where he got four games, he still had a party. Because, hey, a final is a great results.

History will remember the classiness of Federer. Let us hope that it remember the assiness of Novak Djokovic. And ATPB unofficially hopes he never wins the French Open so that he may not be put in the discussion of the all time great. Federer, Nadal, Laver, Sampras and Agassi all had a crucial thing in common. They had class and dignity, especially as they matured. And, really, Djokovic could do with some more Rafter in him.
Djokovic wins the title but he has lost the Wimbledon crowd and he has lost the respect of ATPB. Because in the end you have a twelve year career and then the rest of your life. And it's more important to be a dignified person who can lose gracefully than a brash arrogant winner.
Congratulations Novak. You've won Wimbledon. The trophy is hollow. And it's not the only thing. Flashy on the outside, empty on the inside. Doesn't that just sum up Novak's performance from today.

Question: How many matches did Boris Becker play against Stefan Edberg?

Right let us get started...

CENTRE COURT: PAES/HINGIS D. PEYA/BABOS

...Hingis and Paes won 6-1, 6-1 in 40 minutes. They never hit an error. Their opponents won just 20 points in total. This was a thrashing. This was Graf/Zvereva. This was McEnroe beating Connors for the loss of only four games in 1984. This was like the Serena/Sharapova rivalry. Hingis was imperious in picking up another title. She and Paes had a fantastic partnership from the start. The pair lost just 22 games in five matches. It was a nice cool down for the crowd, as well. Really, there isn't much more to add unfortunately. Except to say that's pretty much it till next year.
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Any other notes?
* - Isner will beat Tomic in one semi-final in Newport. In the other Karlovic will beat a total surprise. I pick Falla. Then Karlovic loses out to Isner because it is America. Mark P lost in qualifying in two tiebreakers. So he still kind of has it.
* - In the Davis Cup, GB were foolish to pick grass but the reasoning is clear. We aren't better than them on any surface so let's go with our best. France win 3-2. Kazakhstan go to Darwin. They play just behind the airport and 30 minutes from the hospital I was born in. Australia 4-1 despite the fact the Kazakhs always shine at Davis Cup. The grass outdoor courts will help the Aussies. Without Djokovic the Argentines triumph over Serbia on indoor clay 3-2. And Belgium beat Canada on outdoor clay 4-1. If Raonic is there then 3-2.
* - Consider Stakhovsky's comments officially condemned by ATP BACKSPIN. ATP BACKSPIN also reserves the right to bring them up in conjunction with the Ukrainian whenever it so feels. ATP BACKSPIN also reserves the right to refuse to post good things about the aforementioned player even if he should win a title.
* - In Bastad, I like Stosur to do well. Serena committed last time. If she does so again, I think she has a Wimbledon hangover and Stosur wins the tournament. Strycova and Barthel could also make runs but look for the top seeds to excel there. I like Niculescu to get to the final in Romania, but Vinci to win. That would be a very watchable final.
* - There may be some interesting things in the works for BACKSPIN. Watch Todd's space. (Hint: Volley)
* - Casey Dellacqua has decided to take a break. But we will continue to update. And next year we'll follow a man because this is the ATP, after all. But halfway through, well, more than halfway through, this experiment has gone well. And next year we'll have a righty not from Australia around the 30 mark.

ANSWER: Becker led the head to head 25-10. So many great players in history never got the French Open. And you can add Djokovic to that list.

Well I'm out for now. But I will see you next week. Same Bat time, same Bat channel.

Thanks all and visit WTA BACKSPIN please.

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