Former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale created a frenzy among tennis fans when he shared a video of himself playing tennis on a training court a few days ago. While fans had a mixed reaction to the Welsh star’s forehand display, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic praised him and even offered to help him improve his backhand.
Meanwhile, as Djokovic prepares for what could potentially be his seventh career Masters title in Paris, the Serbian star has revealed that he has been practicing diligently to enhance his precision and accuracy in the tournament.
Novak Djokovic offers to teach Gareth Bale
Novak Djokovic, who has been enjoying a well-deserved break since his triumphant victory at the US Open in September, has graciously offered to train former Tottenham star Gareth Bale to enhance his backhand. This generous offer comes after Djokovic commended the football star for his viral video showcasing his tennis skills.
Djokovic and Bale recently showcased their partnership at the All-Star golf match during the Ryder Cup last month. The dynamic duo delivered a stellar performance for Team Monty in their match against Team Pavin, defying the odds and securing a remarkable victory.
Bale, the Welsh sensation, bid farewell to his soccer career in January of this year, culminating a remarkable 17-year professional journey. This journey included a high-profile move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, who splashed out a staggering 100.8 million Euros to secure his signature after he won the PFA award with Tottenham Hotspur in 2013.
In a recent viral video, Gareth Bale was captured showcasing his tennis skills as he smacked some impressive forehands on a tennis court. Bale’s shots left a strong impression on Novak Djokovic, who is currently focused on winning the Paris Masters 1000 and the ATP Finals in Turin. The Serbian tennis star sat down for an interview with Tennis TV, during which he disclosed that he had sent a text message to the Welsh star after viewing the video.
“Iâve seen him [Bale] ripping the forehands. I actually texted him right away as soon as I saw the video and I said, âYouâre ripping those forehands, I really like itâ,” the Serb said. “He was like, âThanks, but Iâm struggling with my backhandsâ. So I said I think I can help you with that. So the next time we see each other, weâre going to work on his backhand.â
Hopefully, fans would love the two star athletes work on the shot, as both seem to be having a great time with their lives.
Is Djokovic participating at Paris Masters?
Novak Djokovic, who has won the Paris Masters 1000 event six times (2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019 and most famous of all, beating Daniil Medvedev in 2021). The Serbian star would also be aiming for his sixth title of the season.
Djokovic during an interview with Tennis TV revealed how he feels ahead of Paris Masters, âOver the last three weeks I have practiced a lot, I have done a lot of physical preparation to make sure that I was ready for the end of the season.”
âThe work that we have done over the last month was aiming at making me more precise, more accurate, because I knew that I didn’t have so much time afterwards for the end of the season. So I’m quite satisfied with all these weeks of free time that I spent,â Novak Djokovic added.
Djokovic has maintained an almost flawless record of 26-1 since May this season. His only loss occurred at the Wimbledon championship, where he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in an epic five-set match lasting four hours and 43 minutes, with a final score of 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. The Serbian also boasts a 28-1 record on hard courts this year, with his only defeat happening in March when he lost to Daniil Medvedev with a score of 6-4, 6-4, in the semifinals of the Dubai Open.