Novak Djokovic has gained the respect of the entire tennis world for his superb feats on the court, but he’s also transcended the sport itself.
Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam champion, with that figure placing him at the very top of the pile for men’s titles.
His nearest rivals are Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer with 22 and 20 respectively, but both legends have retired from tennis.
Moreover, Djokovic will be eager to extend his tally in 2026, with the Australian Open representing the first Grand Slam in the schedule.
Why Gerard Butler watched Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer in the 2015 US Open final
Djokovic often had to make it past Federer for Grand Slam success, and that was certainly the case at the 2015 US Open.
But the Serbian enjoyed a relatively straightforward win over the Swiss icon, winning their final 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
Intriguingly, supporting him in that match was actor Gerard Butler, with Djokovic tasked with sharing how that connection came about after his win.
He explained: “Yes, well, we’ve known each other for several years and we are good friends. So he happened to be in the city the last couple of days, so I invited him to come.
“It’s very nice of him to be there and show me support. Funny enough, I actually sent him a photo and a message last night.
“I was watching the 300 movie, and so one of the things when I went to my box, when I embraced all my family and team, when I looked at him I said, ‘This is Sparta’. It felt great. That’s one of the most inspiring movies I watched. So actually, yeah, he’s a very cool guy.”
Novak Djokovic confirmed which of his rivals Gerard Butler was a fan of
Hailing from Paisley, Scotland, there was perhaps unsurprisingly another tennis icon who Butler was a fan of.
When it was posed to Djokovic that Butler would be an Andy Murray fan, the Serbian simply said: “He is, but I was not playing Murray. He thought it was appropriate to come to this match.”
Like Djokovic, Butler has reached fantastic heights in the acting world, famed for his roles in films such as 300 and Law Abiding Citizen.
But unfortunately for the Scot in 2015, third seed Murray was knocked out in the fourth round in New York by Kevin Anderson.
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