BREAKING: Novak Djokovic Urged to Withdraw from Pickleball Event Amid Tensions with Tennis Establishment
Novak Djokovic has been told to pull out of an event ahead of the US Open.
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has been urged by fans and followers to withdraw from the upcoming Head NYC Mash Up pickleball tournament scheduled for Thursday. The call comes just weeks after the 24-time Grand Slam champion issued a stark warning about the growing threat posed by newer racket sports to traditional tennis.
The pickleball event, which will be streamed live on the Head Tennis Instagram page, has sparked controversy among tennis enthusiasts, particularly after Djokovic’s recent comments at Wimbledon where he expressed concerns about the future of tennis. Djokovic highlighted that sports like pickleball and padel are increasingly encroaching on tennis’ territory, threatening the sport’s foundation, especially at the club level.
Despite his strong stance, Djokovic is set to participate in the star-studded event alongside tennis peers Jannik Sinner and Barbora Krejcikova, as well as pickleball stars Callie Smith and Roscoe Bellamy. The timing of the event, just days before the start of the US Open, has added to the outcry, with fans expressing their disappointment on social media.
One fan wrote, “Stop this immediately,” while another pleaded, “Noooooooo. Please Novak, nooooo. I hate this sport.” Others criticized the move as “ironic” and “shameful,” given Djokovic’s previous remarks about tennis being endangered by these emerging sports.
Djokovic’s participation in the pickleball event has intensified debates within the tennis community, especially after his comments during Wimbledon where he underscored the financial pressures facing tennis clubs, which might convert their courts to accommodate more profitable sports like pickleball. He urged the tennis world to address these challenges before it’s too late.
With tensions high and the US Open on the horizon, all eyes are on Djokovic as fans and pundits alike await his next move. Will the Serbian superstar heed the calls to withdraw, or will he continue to challenge the tennis establishment in his own unique way? Stay tuned as the drama unfolds.
