{"id":15121,"date":"2024-12-28T02:51:21","date_gmt":"2024-12-28T02:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=15121"},"modified":"2024-12-28T02:51:21","modified_gmt":"2024-12-28T02:51:21","slug":"persistent-novak-djokovic-critic-adriano-panattas-most-controversial-quotes-about-the-tennis-great","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=15121","title":{"rendered":"Persistent Novak Djokovic critic Adriano Panatta’s most controversial quotes about the tennis great"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/header>\n
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\"Persistent<\/figure>\n

Adriano Panatta hands the 2016 French Open trophy to Novak Djokovic<\/p>\n

Italian great Adriano Panatta has become known as a tennis pundit who is not afraid of voicing his unvarnished opinions, even if it involves attacking some of the sport\u2019s biggest stars.<\/strong><\/p>\n

During a professional career spanning from 1969 to 1983,\u00a0Panatta\u00a0secured 10 singles titles, including the 1976 French Open, and reached a career-high ATP ranking of world No 4.<\/p>\n

The 74-year-old, who helped Italy win their first Davis Cup title in 1976, was the only player to defeat tennis icon Bjorn Borg at the French Open, achieving the feat twice.<\/p>\n

When Jannik Sinner withdrew from the group phase of the 2023 Davis Cup Finals in September, Panatta slammed\u00a0his 22-year-old compatriot.<\/p>\n

What Jannik Sinner\u2019s Wimbledon exit means for ATP Rankings as Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz could benefit<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cToday, tennis players are businesses and, as such, they only think about profit, especially those around them, forgetting history and feelings,\u201d the Italian said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had already given up on the Olympic Games [in 2021], today he says no to the Davis Cup. Jannik is tired?\u201d<\/p>\n

While Sinner came under fire on that occasion, legendary Serbian Novak Djokovic has been the most frequent and notable target of Panatta\u2019s criticism in recent years.<\/p>\n

Here, we look at five of Panatta\u2019s most controversial quotes about Djokovic.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s say there\u2019s a big mystery surrounding him. How is he really? Is he bluffing?\u201d<\/h3>\n

Djokovic made an impressively swift recovery to play at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships after\u00a0tearing his meniscus and undergoing surgery less than a month before the tournament started.<\/p>\n

Wimbledon: Five men with the most SW19 quarter-finals \u2013 as Novak Djokovic moves up to No 2<\/p>\n

Top 7 most men\u2019s Grand Slam quarter-finals reached as Novak Djokovic extends record<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Panatta, though, suggested he was not convinced Djokovic had been injured and raised questions over his operation.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s say there\u2019s a big mystery surrounding him,\u201d Panatta said to Libero Quotidiano<\/em>. \u201cHow is he really? Is he bluffing? And his recently operated knee?<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 37, he\u2019s not the \u2018Djoker\u2019 of the good days, but I would always be afraid to cross rackets with someone who has triumphed on Centre Court seven times.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, nothing changes \u2013 Roger Federer is the greatest\u201d<\/h3>\n

Djokovic claimed his 23rd Grand Slam title at the 2023 French Open to stand alone as the man with the most Major singles crowns, having previously been tied with\u00a0Rafael Nadal.<\/p>\n

Panatta, however, argued Djokovic\u2019s historic triumph changed nothing in the GOAT debate as he gave his backing to Roger Federer.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, nothing changes \u2013 Roger Federer is the greatest. It\u2019s not just a matter of aesthetics. And not even of statistics, which they like so much but leave the time they find,\u201d the Italian told\u00a0Corriere della Serra<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me explain better \u2013 in the few years that he has played, Borg has concentrated more Grand Slam victories than Djokovic, Nadal and Federer combined.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes he (Djokovic) say he\u2019s the best? I propose that we deal with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you ever seen Federer or Nadal behave the way Djokovic did tonight?\u201d<\/h3>\n

At the 2023 ATP Finals in Turin, Djokovic was beaten by Italian home favourite Sinner in an enthralling three-set round-robin match.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Corriere dello Sport<\/em>, Panatta lambasted Djokovic for his behaviour during the contest and accused him of gamesmanship.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you ever seen Federer or Nadal behave the way Djokovic did tonight? I would have bet anything that he would try for the match to break the rhythm, he always does,\u201d said Panatta.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst the bathroom, then the physio, he tries everything. I don\u2019t like that attitude at all. Thank goodness Sinner doesn\u2019t care, he stays there calmly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite Panatta\u2019s claims, there were no significant delays during the pulsating encounter. Djokovic took a bathroom break within the time limit of a changeover and briefly received treatment on his neck, which had appeared to be causing him discomfort.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe would become Djokovic\u2019s nightmare, pushing him towards retirement\u201d<\/h3>\n

After Sinner earned his first win against Djokovic in the aforementioned 2023 ATP Finals clash, the Italian downed the Serbian again in a three-set Davis Cup battle in November.<\/p>\n

In between these two Sinner victories, the 24-time Grand Slam winner\u00a0convincingly beat the 22-year-old in the final of the ATP Finals.<\/p>\n

Panatta asserted that Sinner would become Djokovic\u2019s nightmare and accelerate his retirement if he beat the Serb more times in 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my opinion, if Sinner were to beat him two or three more times in 2024, he would become Djokovic\u2019s nightmare, pushing him towards retirement,\u201d he told\u00a0Rai News 24<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cHistory teaches and usually repeats itself. [Bjorn] Borg quit with the arrival of [John] McEnroe, McEnroe retired when [Boris] Becker arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sinner and Djokovic have met just once so far this year, with the former winning in four sets in the Australian Open semi-finals.<\/p>\n

\u201cJannik invented a new game. Even Djokovic already seems outdated today\u201d<\/h3>\n

In April, Sinner had won 22 of the 23 matches he had played in a stunning start to the 2024 season, and his Italian compatriot issued high praise.<\/p>\n

Panatta assessed that Sinner had changed the sport and argued the Big Three of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal seemed outdated by comparison.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you ever trained with a ball throwing machine? The ball throwing machine, as you know, never makes mistakes,\u201d Panatta said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJannik invented a new game. Even Djokovic already seems outdated today, not to mention Federer or Nadal. These players are already part of the past. But not because they resigned, but because their game no longer corresponds to what is needed today.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll even say a word to you. Even Federer at his best would have had a lot of trouble with Sinner because Jannik hits too hard, I\u2019ve never seen him hit that hard, come on.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 9 players with the most career wins over the world No 1: Rafael Nadal ahead of rivals<\/p>\n

The ten richest tennis players in the world, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal preparing to step away from the game<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Italian great Adriano Panatta has become known as a tennis pundit who is not afraid of voicing his unvarnished opinions, even if it involves attacking some of the sport’s biggest stars – including Novak Djokovic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15124,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tennis"],"yoast_head":"\nPersistent Novak Djokovic critic Adriano Panatta's most controversial quotes about the tennis great - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=15121\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Persistent Novak Djokovic critic Adriano Panatta's most controversial quotes about the tennis great - 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