Wimbledon 2023 : Tears, tantrums and controversy – welcome to the Novak Djokovic Show

Finally, Djokovic snapped at their ingratitude. When Sinner carved out a couple of points to take the third set at 4-5, 15-40, one wag, believing himself to be the heir to Noel Coward, called out: “Vamos, Rafa!” The Serb, not taking kindly to having the stress of a second serve compounded, responded with sarcastic applause and a mocking thumbs-up. As he struck back to level at 5-5, he turned to the fans closest to him and mimicked them weeping.

It seemed a curious way of trying to convince his detractors to view him differently. But then the spectators’ antipathy was, at times, equally unedifying. What more is he supposed to do to encourage a more generous perception? He has spoken gushingly of his veneration for Wimbledon, he has credited every player he has faced, he has stayed behind to sign autographs and even to hand out most of the contents of his on-court bag. The more that the energy flows against him, the more you wonder whether the problem lies with his critics, not with Djokovic.

He did not wish to add to the antagonism afterwards. “All love,” he grinned, when asked what he felt of his latest mixed reception on Centre. “All love and respect.” But he did not extend the same diplomacy to the decision by Richard Haigh to issue a rare hindrance warning, deeming that the noise that Djokovic made with one pulverising baseline shot disturbed Sinner.