Led 5-0 in the first set of the semi-final, on the edge of a void in 8th when he was led two sets to nothing… Novak Djokovic has sometimes sweated profusely in the last fortnight to reach a new final at Roland- Garros.
Fortunately, each time, he was able to count on an exceptional boy band.
Boris, Igor, Rade and Mihajlo are one of the attractions of this Roland-Garros covid edition.
In the stands, we only see and hear them.
They sing in chorus, move in rhythm, and wear the same blue outfit.
Standing, sitting, standing, sitting.
A choreography as rigorous as it is passionate and never unsportsmanlike.
A few hours before Sunday's final against Stefanos Tsitsipas, Boris answers us from their base camp in Vaires-sur-Marne (Seine-et-Marne) where he receives his gang during the tournament.
Patriots, not "fans"
You could believe this 43-year-old math teacher emptied by the sensational game played late Friday night by Nole and Nadal.
He is necessarily a little, since he went to bed at 5 o'clock in the morning "in a trance", but his patriotic passion irreparably takes the upper hand.
"It is our greatest memory of supporters with Nole," he breathes.
This term of supporter, he is attached to it and takes the time to explain it.
“We are not fans or groupies, Novak is not our God, he is also younger than us.
We support Serbian tennis as a whole above all, from the little junior to the world number one (…) It is moreover this speech that pleased Novak.
"
The first meeting of “Team Srbikosi” with Novak Djokovic on May 31, 2019. In order: Boris, Igor, Rade (top) and Mihajlo (bottom).
DR
We have to go back to 2012 to understand the path of these diehards, born in Serbia but now residing in France (Paris, Pau) or in Belgium (Brussels for the last two).
So nine years ago, the four "amigosi" met on short number 7 Porte d'Auteuil.
“Janko Tsiparevic was playing that day against Youzhny.
With Rade, we saw two guys in the distance wearing shirts from Djokovic's sponsor and we quickly hit it off.
"
First built to support all the home players of the circuit, the "Team Srbikosi" flies to Rome, Madrid, Monte-Carlo in addition to Roland-Garros and the Paris-Bercy tournament at the end of year.
"When you talk to him, you have the impression of being yourself Novak Djokovic"
Their passion for the icon Djokovic is declared later. June 1, 2019, to be precise, still at Roland Garros. “At the start, we didn't have enough money to go to the main courts. But one day, we bought tickets for the Chatrier, because there were Filip Krajinović and Novak Djokovic ”. Touched by the support, which we imagine as ardent as today, Nole is won over and wishes to thank them. “When you talk to him, you feel like yourself, Novak Djokovic. It's crazy how comfortable and valuable it makes you. He hardly speaks of himself, continues Boris. From there, we stopped going to some tournaments abroad to be able to really follow the path of Novak here in Paris. "
They have since crossed paths a dozen times in France, until they slammed a few dance steps together, a sombrero on their heads, in November 2019 in the corridors of Bercy.
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Bringing some warmth and applause to Nadal's garden is obviously not innocent.
“The Serbian people are never as good as their backs to the wall.
We awakened his vengeful and warlike side in the previous rounds and we will do it again as much as we need on Sunday, ”promises Boris.
Read also Roland-Garros: Djokovic, at the origins of his fury to win
He understands in passing the love for the class of "Federer" and the king of clay that is Nadal, but also asks for a little indulgence. Empathy towards "the one who built himself without infrastructures with his father in the former Yugoslavia" and whose bloodletting should not be interpreted as "aggressiveness, but frustration".
