The US Open semi-final match between Novak Djokovic and Ben Shelton delivered the thrill, drama, and entertainment that tennis fans seek from a Grand Slam semifinal. Djokovic displayed his usual skill and took the match in straight sets. He copied Shelton’s ‘dialing-in’ celebration, which sparked controversy and kept the vibe of the match alive even after delivering the final verdict. Though the Serb did not have the huge crowd of Arthur Ashe backing him, one legend cheering for him substituted for the audience’s stance.
Former QB Tom Brady surprised the Serbian legend by attending the match with his kids. The NFL legend filled the Djoker with much-needed confidence and admiration as he delivered a strong message.
Tom Brady brings out his inner Novak Djokovic fan
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Grand Slams and celebrity spotting go hand-in-hand. One of the most anticipated of all is the US Open, and the hype it receives gets more unreal with each passing year. Djokovic is on his quest for the 24th Slam and is only one step away from the glory of an impossible record. But his on-court antics cast a shadow over the momentous occasion as he drew flack for mocking his defeated 20-year-old opponent. However, just when the crowd of Arthur Ashe and the Twitterati snubbed him, the Djoker found his motivation in Brady.
Two 🐐 in the house at the #USOpen @DjokerNole 🤝 @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/sstbCG3LMA
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023
The official Twitter account of the US Open posted a priceless video of Brady and Djokovic bonding with each other. The NFL legend introduced his kids to Djokovic, as he encouraged, “Keep kicking a** like always.” The Serb humbly replied, “Trying.”?The 23-time major champion greeted the 7-time Super Bowl champion’s children, after which Brady expressed his regret over not being able to watch him play.
Despite being there to boost Djokovic’s spirits, Brady could not be present for the whole match. He even explained the reason behind not being able to witness the legend make it to the US Open final and expressed hope to see him play in the next.
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Tom Brady reveals why he could not spend much time in the stands
The NFL quarterback interacted with the Serb after the match and explained why he couldn’t be there for the whole match. The 46-year-old said, “I wish we could’ve seen you play tonight. But they [his kids] had school in Miami, so we had to let them finish. Then we flew up. But I was hoping you’d have the night match.”?
Djokovic, too, wanted the night slot, and he got it for the semi-finals after a brutal humidity-laced quarter-final against Taylor Fritz. This is the Serb’s 36th Grand Slam final and the 10th US Open final. The 36-year-old will face off against Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling encounter at the other end of the draw. Will this be a repeat of the 2021 US Open Final showdown? Or will Djokovic clinch his 24th title? Let us know in the comments.
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