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Sure they were white. Sure they were probably expensive. Sure they were nice, BUT they were still tracksuits pants and Novak you were meeting the Queen of England. Even Andy Murray and Jarkko Nieminen managed to change shirts and look less like they were heading down to the gym, and they had just played three sets of tennis.
Roger Federer, Jelena Jankovic, Martina Navratilova, Andy Roddick, Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki dressed appropriately to meet the Queen but Novak seemed to forget that his appearance showed a lack of respect to a Queen who religiously wears white gloves.
Maybe Novak got a bit confused in terms of proper protocol after seeing a dirt covered Rafael Nadal reach up and kiss Queen Sofia of Spain, but there is some familiarity and friendship between Nadal and the Spanish royalty, whereas Novak was meeting the Queen for the first time.
Queen Elizabeth has not attended Wimbledon since 1977 and after hearing that Andy Murray was worried about what the appropriate bowing protocol was, and that Serena Williams had been practicing her curtsy, only to be moved to a court the Queen was not watch (although she did get to meet her), Novak should have known how important the event was.
Maybe in another few decades he’ll be get it right with Charles or Wills.
To meet a Queen who wears white gloves and prides herself on tradition, etiquette and everything, even butter at the table being immaculately presented, tracksuits simply ain’t gonna cut it Novak.
‘Aussie Kim’ needed her fans today after a nasty tumble at 3-3 in the first set against Li Na saw the Australian Open defending champion roll the ankle she struggled with last year. After halting play immediately Clijsters returned with a heavily strapped ankle and impaired movement and it looked as though Kim’s final day as a professional athlete at the Australian Open was over.
