Novak Djokovic admitted he was overcome with an urge to taste the hallowed Centre Court grass after defeating Rafael Nadal to win his first Wimbledon crown. While most Wimbledon champions mark their moment of triumph with a roar of elation or a joyous leap, Djokovic opted for an altogether more unusual way of celebrating his 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 victory over the defending champion at the All England Club.
After completing his two-and-a-half-hour victory, the Serb knelt down and picked out some grass from the famous court before popping it into his mouth for a taste. The extrovert 24-year-old, who has won 48 of his 49 matches this year, described his reaction as an animal instinct that overwhelmed him at the moment of triumph.
“I felt like an animal. I wanted to see how it tastes,” Djokovic said. “It just came to me. It came spontaneously really. I didn’t plan to do it. You know, I didn’t know what to do for my excitement and joy. “Winning this match was the best feeling I had ever on the tennis court. To win Wimbledon and then look at my box to see the closest people in my life there supporting me, getting to share that moment and that experience with them was incredible.” After spending much of his career expressing a dislike for playing on grass, Djokovic has clearly developed a taste for the surface – in more ways than one judging by his thoughts on how the Centre Court turf tasted. “The grass tasted quite well, really. It was well kept. It tasted good!” he said with a grin.
