French Open 2012: History in the Making - Of Nole and his Fans

Playing in his first – not maiden, first – French Open final, reached after three failed semi-final attempt, Novak Djokovic has added a new meaning to the term, ‘to come a long way.’ 2012 isn’t as perfect as 2011 was; he has lost matches instead of winning them all, has lost titles which he should have defended and yet he stands tall, almost on the verge of creating – or rather re-creating – tennis history.

In this whole context of Nole winning his version of the Golden Slam, the juxtaposition of his fans amidst his critics – especially those bordering on disparagement – is an important area to consider. Between 2008, when he won his maiden slam and 2011 when he started to reign all over, Nole was the poster-boy example for parody under the guise of gags. To state metaphorically, Nole became the ultimate two-minute, heat-and-eat recipe for those making or wanting to make hyperbolised jests. And alongside him, bearing the brunt of brackish humour, were his fans, vacillating between emotions of anger and frustration – but never questioning or swerving in their fervour.

There exists a unique camaraderie between fans and their idols, irrespective of the distance separating them. The idolatry that fans display towards their paragons is indefinable yet potent, invisible yet obvious and occasionally, unjustifiable yet validating. It’s perhaps this bond between idols and their rooters that makes the latter scream for blood as though challenged personally, whenever their favourites are lashed out at. And it is indeed this bond that makes the rooters feel vindicated in front of detractors when their idols produce a coup worthy of their true potential.

In terms of vindications and justifications, 2011 was as much the year for Nole’s fans, just as it was the year for him. It was the year they finally could talk about the Joker without any boorish taglines attached to the nickname and it was the year when they could roar themselves hoarse, without anyone even attempting to tone it down. And while they have continued to holler throughout in 2012 thus far, the bellows have risen in their volume in these two weeks at Roland Garros.

Just one more enlivened performance separates Nole from re-defining history at the 2012 French Open. For his fans the wait is gruelling, but alongside the wait comes the knowledge that this is one victory that they’ll live, relive and savour forever ­– a most-awaited coup d’état, a twist of events, long past due.