Novak Djokovic reaction to Ilia Malinin said it – Sports News
24-time Grand Slam tennis champion Novak Djokovic has praised youthful expertise in his sport, together with Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Joao Fonseca, and more, however few athletes have made him grab his head in full disbelief.
To get that reaction, Djokovic‘s consideration was directed to the ice as he sat within the stands together with his spouse during the latest 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. It was there that cameras caught the tennis icon in awe and admiration of Team USA ice skater Ilia Malinin.
The Serbian legend then rose for a standing ovation as the sector erupted round him. He stood together with his arms on his head, eyes large open, in complete shock, half disbelief, half appreciation.
Malinin later admitted the sensation was mutual. While he wasn’t particular about his tennis fandom, the 23-year-old was blown away by the extent of athletes in attendance to watch him carry out.
“I did see Djokovic, it’s so unreal,” Malinin said. “I heard that after I landed my back flip, he had his hands over his head. That’s incredible,” he said. “That’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment: Seeing a famous tennis player watching my performance … I’m absolutely blown away.”
Malinin made his Olympic debut in Milan and won team gold with USA members who shared in the achievement, including Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Ellie Kam, Danny O’Shea, Madison Chock, and Evan Bates. The “Quad God” finished eighth in the individual men’s singles event after a series of unexpected errors and falling twice, which caused him to miss over 70 points in comparison to his best score achieved.
He later admitted that fear played a major factor in the uncharacteristic single’s performance. “Everything that led up to this level felt like a waste, no goal to proceed, no religion on the earth, no motive to trust myself. I let FEAR in, and it ruined me,” Malinin wrote on social media. “Now, time to get back up and do it again. It’s performed, completed, gone. New targets and challenges await.”
That “Fear” was turned upside down on his hoodie and paired with $1,300 distressed Balmain black jeans after the USA star’s exhibition performance depicted his symbolic buckling under pressure.
His performance, including the flashing lights of paparazzi, pulling his hood over his eyes to block out the noise, and symbolically scrolling on his phone to see the reactions to his shortcomings. He pieced and tied the routine together to rapper NF’s track “Fear.”
For Djokovic, the go to got here after his Australian Open finals loss to Alcaraz. The Serbian star has competed in 5 Summer Olympics, lastly capturing singles gold in Paris in 2024 to full his profession Golden Slam.
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