Novak Djokovic suggestion met with 'arrogant' response from world's richest tennis player

Novak Djokovic has copped disapproval for his comments suggesting tennis should beryllium much similar the NBA and NFL - and the world's richest tennis subordinate has had her say

Jessica Pegula has backed Novak Djokovic amid the statement sparked by his caller comments astatine the Australian Open.

The tennis world was divided aft Djokovic suggested the athletics should germinate to go much of an amusement spectacle similar the NBA oregon NFL. The 24-time Grand Slam victor - who faces Carlos Alcaraz successful the Australian Open quarter-finals connected Tuesday - urged tennis to innovate to pull younger fans.

"Why not see doing thing betwixt sets similar the Super Bowl oregon the NBA? When there's a timeout, they bring successful dancers and this and that," helium said connected Friday. "I wouldn't person a occupation with that. Good dancers, you know, determination for a fewer much minutes of interruption truthful I tin unbend and deliberation astir thing other [smiles]."

Pegula - whose billionaire parents, Terry and Kim, ain the Buffalo Bills NFL franchise - hinted alteration could beryllium bully for the sport. Despite often being embroiled successful controversy, Djokovic recovered enactment from Pegula, who critiqued tennis for its old-fashioned ways.

"Tennis has ever been a stuffy, arrogant sport," she said astatine a property conference. "Back successful the days earlier societal media, you had truthful overmuch much property successful tennis, astir apt due to the fact that those things didn't enactment with you forever.

"I deliberation that shows adjacent erstwhile radical deliberation Novak [Djokovic] is the atrocious feline oregon Nick [Kyrgios] is the atrocious feline and things similar that. I deliberation fans similar to presume they cognize and they enactment these radical successful those roles."

Despite facing backlash from immoderate during the Australian Open, Djokovic has made it to the quarter-finals successful Melbourne. The 37-year-old stalwart - who was infamously expelled from the 2022 Australian Open for not having the required Covid-19 vaccination - has been met with boos and jeers from immoderate Aussie spectators.

He precocious boycotted an on-court interview aft Channel 9 News newsman Tony Jones mocked him and his Serb fans during a TV segment. Although Jones has since apologised, Djokovic whitethorn inactive beryllium bracing for a hostile reception successful Tuesday's quarter-final.

Pegula, connected the different hand, ended her Australian Open travel aft losing to Olga Danilovic successful the 3rd round. The 30-year-old heiress - whose household luck is estimated astatine astir £6.3billion ($7.7bn) - knows a happening oregon 2 astir American sports amusement arsenic her begetter owns some the Bills and NHL squad the Buffalo Sabres.

As such, she mightiness beryllium much driven than astir to spot Djokovic's ideas implemented to boost interest. This comes arsenic racket sports similar Pickleball and padel person seen a surge successful popularity, raising concerns that tennis could endure arsenic a result.