SportsDjokovic overwhelmed by fans in Rome, eyes victory

Djokovic overwhelmed by fans in Rome, eyes victory

Novak Djoković traveled by Melex to the court

Images source: © X | Tennis TV

2:53 PM EDT, May 9, 2024

The tennis tournament in Rome is attracting significant attention. Fans are flocking around the most popular players, with Novak Djokovic even experiencing difficulty reaching practice due to crowds despite being in a golf cart.

In Rome, top male and female tennis players compete simultaneously, turning the Italian capital into the epicenter of tennis for two weeks.

There was a notable disappointment for the hosts as Jannik Sinner withdrew from the men's draw. The Italians had high hopes for their national player's performance in Rome. Additionally, Carlos Alcaraz is out due to injury, leaving the veteran players Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the tournament's biggest stars.

Novak Djokovic is keen on clinching his first tournament victory of the season. The Serbian player is looking to capitalize on the absence of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz amid competitors eager to claim the title.

Before his first match, Djokovic navigated the court complex in a golf cart, moving from the press conference to his practice session. The crowd of fans surrounding him for selfies and autographs made it challenging for him to proceed.

To manage the situation, additional security was brought in to clear a path to the court. Djokovic appeared slightly taken aback by the genuine attention, reminiscent of the fanfare commonly experienced by footballers in Italy.

Djokovic is poised to play his first match in the tournament, with previous delays caused by rain and an initial bye in the first round due to his seeding.

"I think I'm on a good route to peak at Roland Garros in Paris. Hopefully, here in Rome, I can play better than I did in Monte Carlo," Novak Djokovic said during a press conference.