Move over, Storm. Novak Djokovic is the wolf of the 2021 US Open.
Djokovic reached the US Open fourth round for the 14th time on Saturday, beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
During the four-set win, Jelena Djokovic, Djokovic’s wife, sported a white T-shirt with five words on it: “I run with my wolf.” The tee also showed Novak Djokovic’s face on a howling black wolf.
“She runs with the wolf,” Novak Djokovic confirmed during his on-court interview. “It can be very stressful to run with the wolf. I know that she doesn’t enjoy it at all times. It’s kind of living on the edge with the wolf. But I love her, she’s my great support.”
Djokovic, the world No. 1 and top seed, is the latest wolf to make an appearance on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
Storm, which appeared to be a docile and kind wolf (if those exist), was seen supporting Canadian Denis Shapovalov throughout the 2018 US Open. At the time, Shapovalov also considered himself a wolf.
“I like to joke around off the court. When it's down to business, when I'm hunting, when I'm on court, I'm pretty fierce, intense. I show my teeth. I'm very emotional, very similar to a wolf,” the Canadian said then.
Djokovic is also doing some big-game hunting in New York. He’s trying to become the first man in 52 years to win all four Grand Slam championships in the same calendar year.
He will next face American wild card Jenson Brooksby for a place in the US Open quarterfinals, after 20-year-old outlasted No. 21 seed Aslan Karatsev in five sets.
