Later claiming Elegant Slam Incorrect. 24 on Sunday at the United States Perceptible, Novak Djokovic took a year to acknowledge his ancient win and certainly one of his akin pals courtesy of a touching tribute to the past due, admirable Kobe Bryant.
Djokovic’s Bryant homage adopted a dominant, straight-sets victory over Daniil Medvedev in Fresh York. In a while later the contest, Djokovic, nonetheless status at the court docket within Arthur Ashe Stadium, turned into a blue blouse decorated with an image of him and Bryant at the entrance and the Incorrect. 24 at the again.
The Serbian celebrity nearest pointed to the back and front of his blouse sooner than pointing and kissing towards the sky, signaling his manner of dedicating his twenty fourth Elegant Slam to Bryant in honor of his 10 seasons dressed in Incorrect. 24 with the Lakers.
Novak hits 24 and will pay tribute to the past due Kobe Bryant 💙 pic.twitter.com/rDXVUvYe1Z
— US Perceptible Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2023
Later the emotional post-match year, Djokovic defined he had the theory for the blouse a age sooner than the general, when he learned he used to be ultimate in on historical past. He additionally shared that he and Bryant, who died in a helicopter accident in 2020 along with his daughter, Gianna, and 7 alternative sufferers, had evolved a decent dating through the years.
Regarding Bryant as a “close friend,” the 36-year-old mentioned the the Corridor of Repute Lakers safeguard used to be all the time there for backup and recommendation “in a most friendly way.”
Stated Djokovic of the tribute, “What happened a few years ago, him and his daughter passing, hurt me deeply. And, I thought 24 is the jersey that he wore when he became a legend of Lakers and world basketball. So I thought it could be a nice symbolic thing to acknowledge him for all the things he’s done.”
Novak stocks the theory at the back of his tribute to Kobe 🗣 pic.twitter.com/aFd7xStqVx
— US Perceptible Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2023
As two of probably the most a success professional athletes of all-time, each Djokovic and Bryant, along with their very own bond, will ceaselessly percentage a hyperlink for his or her accomplishments of their respective sports activities.
And, now, the legends might be hooked up in any other distinctive manner with Djokovic’s 24 Elegant Slams tying Margaret Court docket for probably the most all-time.
