With all the emphasis on money in sport and allegations made against the tournament organisers this week about them forcing players to compete in the rain to avoid paying refunds to ticket holders, World No1 Novak Djokovic reminded us of what tennis is supposed to be about.
The Serbian icon became the first player to surpass $100 million in prize money, thanks to his fourth round win on Wednesday, but spoke his mind when he was asked what that milestone means to him.
“Nothing. Money does not mean a thing to me. I do not look upon tennis as a profession and as my life through the eyes of money. It is a mean that increases the quality of my life and lifestyle, but no more than that,” Djokovic told Serbian media outlet B92.
“I don’t like it when prize money discussions take over. Media are putting me in a very unpleasant position when they want me to talk about the amounts that I’ve won during my career.
$100m man! @DjokerNole doesn't like to talk about it but he's first player to reach prize money feat #RG16 @Anhopi pic.twitter.com/EktN65I4R0
— Sport360° (@Sport360) June 1, 2016
“Success is being presented and explained through money and power and that shouldn’t be the unit of measure. I am 100 per cent against it and I have completely different views and values…
“Money comes as a consequence, a positive one, of course, of dedication, love, passion for the sport and a consequence of your success. Can you imagine me speaking about money right now, while the average salary in Serbia is 200-300€? What would that be like?
“Sports have lost its initial purpose, now it’s a business, a machine for making money, which is pitiful.”
A pleasant reminder from Djokovic, whom I will no longer refer to as tennis’ $100million man.
.@DjokerNole is the sport's first US$100 million man - passes prize money milestone at #RG16 https://t.co/hHPQhhnyRa pic.twitter.com/TSn1aYqMuC
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) June 1, 2016
Timea the train?
Meanwhile, Timea Bacsinszky took her press conference chatting skills to a whole other level as she discussed everything from trains to ladybugs.
“Kiki Bertens from The Netherlands is moving like a fast train here at Roland Garros. Are you afraid?” a reporter asked her.
To which Bacsinszky responded with a smile: “Switzerland is quite famous for trains, too, you know?”
A demain Paris 😘 ! #millemerci #limitless #RG16 #RolandGarros #Amourinconditionnel pic.twitter.com/dv2yZM5rqu
— Timea Bacsinszky (@TimeaOfficial) June 1, 2016
She was told by another reporter that she is an inspirational figure, just like the opponent she beat, Venus Williams, but Bacsinszky gave a story to refute that theory.
“Yesterday I was at Jean Bouin at the practice facilities for the French Open,” said the Swiss.
“Yesterday they uncovered two courts for (Andy) Murray and for myself. Well, my hitting partner told me that some juniors were complaining because they were saying ‘oh? Who is Bacsinszky? Why does she need a court?’ So I don’t know if I’m such a big inspiration then.
“I don’t know. I remember when I was myself a junior, believe me. I remember seeing Elena Likhovtseva. She was probably top 20 and she was playing in the second week. I saw her and like she was not my idol, but still, I was shaking in front of her. I was like ‘ahh’ she’s in the same locker room as I am.
“But I think maybe now I don’t know if juniors are feeling differently. I have no idea. But I got to talk during the juniors with Monica Seles in Hungary and it was like probably one of the best days of my life. I will remember that forever.”
She was then asked to choose which train would best “express her as a person” and she happily responded, before the conversation then swerved to ladybugs, as a reporter quizzed her on a bug she removed off the court unharmed in one of her earlier matches this tournament.
“It was a ladybug. It’s a lucky charm. I cannot step on it,” she explained.
“Also on the social media, one of my first practices on clay I took a picture and I posted it on Instagram. My first practice on clay – or second one, outdoor clay, there was a ladybug. Landed just on a tennis ball just in front of me.”
Once again, someone give this girl a radio show to host, stat!
