via Imago
TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning his match against Alex de Minaur of Australia during the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Monday, January 23, 2023. ACHTUNG: NUR REDAKTIONELLE NUTZUNG, KEINE ARCHIVIERUNG UND KEINE BUCHNUTZUNG MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJOELxCARRETTx 20230123001755830081
via Imago
TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning his match against Alex de Minaur of Australia during the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Monday, January 23, 2023. ACHTUNG: NUR REDAKTIONELLE NUTZUNG, KEINE ARCHIVIERUNG UND KEINE BUCHNUTZUNG MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJOELxCARRETTx 20230123001755830081
Novak Djokovic just made history by securing his 10th Australian Open championship with a triumphant victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Serbian phenom let out a roar of triumph as he claimed his place among the tennis greats. Now, he is tied with Rafael Nadal for the most Grand Slam titles.
But, even the most dominant athletes like Djokovic sometimes fall victim to mispronunciations from broadcasters. It was 6 years ago that Novak Djokovic’s name was “butchered” by a broadcaster. Let’s reminisce about it!
MLB broadcaster once butchered Novak Djokovic’s name
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In a surprising turn of events after a US Open final, Dan Shulman, a well-known MLB broadcaster and play-by-play announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays took a swing at pronouncing Djokovic’s name and struck out.
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Men’s Singles Final – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 29, 2023, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates with his team after winning his final match against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
According to TheScore.com, despite being a seasoned pro in the broadcasting game, Schulman’s mispronunciation left the audience and the player himself gaping. This is how he said it, “Djovak Nokovic.” This added another level of tension to an already nail-biting match where Djokovic fell just short of his 13th Grand Slam title. Even the best in their industry, it seems, are human and prone to slip-ups.
Yes, the famous tennis player "Djovak Nokovic." pic.twitter.com/FRBKEBNAlE
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) September 12, 2016
Currently, Shulman has continued to call college basketball games for ESPN. But has chosen to focus solely on his role with the Toronto Blue Jays for Sportsnet Canada.
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Novak Djokovic wins his 10th Australian Open
After being forced to sit out of last year’s tournament. Due to his unvaccinated status for Covid-29, Novak Djokovic made a triumphant return to the court. Dominating his opponent in straight sets to claim his 22nd Grand Slam title and record his 10th championship at the Australian Open.
READ MORE: 3x Grand Slam Champion Leaves Suspended MLB Star Awestruck With a Wild Australian Open 2023 Moment
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With a forehand that sent Tsitsipas’ final shot spiraling out of bounds. The match came to a close and Djokovic turned to the crowd. He expressed his gratitude with a gesture towards his head and heart. 15 years after his first Grand Slam victory, the Serbian phenom proved that winning still holds a special place in his heart and mind. And let’s be hopeful after being this iconic and well-known, no one else will ever mispronounce Novak Djokovic’s name again.
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