[ad_1]
IMAGE: Novak Djokovic wears a T-shirt paying tribute to ‘shut pal’, LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. {Photograph}: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters and US Open/Twitter
Novak Djokovic sat on prime of the pile on Sunday after he received his 4th US Open title and his twenty fourth Grand Slam crown to turn out to be the participant with essentially the most Main titles.
Serena Williams, who retired final 12 months, completed her profession with 23 Grand Slam titles.
After clinching his historic title, Djokovic threw his racquet into the air and dropped to his knees as the group roared.
He picked himself up, shook fingers along with his opponent Daniil Medvedev and located his younger daughter court-side for an emotional hug earlier than going again to the bench and pulling out a T-shirt with ‘Mamba Eternally’ on the entrance and the quantity 24 on the again.
The shirt was a tribute to each his achievement and to his late pal, Los Angeles Lakers nice Kobe Bryant, who wore the quantity all through a lot of his all-star profession earlier than dying in a helicopter crash on January 27, 2020.
SEE: Novak Djokovic’s tribute to Kobe Bryant. Video: Form Courtesy US Open/X
‘Mamba’ was one among Kobe Bryant’s nicknames.
‘I considered doing this T-shirt ultimately if I bought the prospect to win the event. It was about seven days in the past. I didn’t share it with anybody till a number of days in the past once I requested my individuals to assist me out to make this shirt,’ Djokovic stated through the trophy ceremony.
‘Kobe was an in depth pal. We chatted rather a lot concerning the winner’s mentality. After I was combating damage and attempting to make my comeback he was one of many those who I relied on essentially the most,’ Djokovic revealed.
The 36 12 months outdated added that Bryant ‘was all the time there for recommendation and help’.
[ad_2]
Source link