It’s only when they get older and start losing that we start loving them. That’s how it was with John McEnroe. ‘Superbrat’ we used to call him in the early 80s, when he was pretty much unbeatable. But come the last years of that decade, and by then the underdog, fans were willing him on.

Even if some in the Wimbledon crowd still haven’t forgiven him for posing as some kind of threat to public health they should surely now start appreciating his wonderful sporting talents while they have the chance

It’s starting to be the same with an even greater player. The greatest of all time, in fact: Novak Djokovic, who is on Centre Court today. He’s won more Grand Slam titles than any other male player – ten Australian Opens, seven Wimbledons, three French Opens and four US Opens, making a total of 24. Only the Australian superstar from the 1960s, Margaret Court, can match that number. He leaves all the other greats, male or female, trailing. Yet it’s only now, at the age of 38, with his powers fading and retirement, surely, not that far away, that the fans are showing him some affection.

Why has it taken us so long? Because........

© The Spectator