"Use it to motivate him and to fire himself up": Henman believes Djokovic harnesses negative crowd view for success

Going into his US Open return after two years away, Novak Djokovic being seen as the pantomime villain of tennis has been under the microscope. But Tim Henman believes he uses the negativity portrayed against him as an advantage.

Henman claimed to Tennis365 that he needs the fuel that it provides which is why he has been so successful over the years winning 23 Grand Slams and that the former British No.1 finds it 'fascinating' that he focuses in on those in the crowd who give him abuse to play better.

“He has always been a character that has slightly divided opinion and that is not just because of his tennis and the decisions he has made on the court,” Henman told Tennis365.

“Having watched him a lot, he is almost a confrontational character. So if he has 80 per-cent of the crowd’s support, he is the type of person who will focus on the 20 per-cent and use it to motivate him and to fire himself up.

“I find it amazing and fascinating that he focuses on individuals in the crowd who are against him.

“Whatever way he approaches it, you can’t deny it isn’t working for him because his results are just incredible.

“I thought he had a real chance of doing the calendar Grand Slam this year as he was playing so well and it took an incredible performance in the final at Wimbledon from Carlos Alcaraz to stop him.”

“Going into the US Open, I feel there is a little less expectation around Djokovic as he is not chasing the calendar Grand Slam,” he added.

“It was one step too far when he was going for it against Medvedev a couple of years ago and it wouldn’t surprise me if he relishes this challenge and wins against Grand Slam.”