Rory McIlroy looks to Novak Djokovic for inspiration in dealing with Bethpage Black’s hostile Ryder Cup crowd

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There’s never been a GOAT in any sport quite as polarising as Novak Djokovic. Over the course of his 22-year professional career, Djokovic has appeared in 37 grand slam finals, winning 24, the most in men’s tennis history.

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But the overwhelming popularity of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, whose peaks overlapped with Djokovic’s, meant the Serbian faced hostile crowds nearly every time he took the court. The mental and emotional toll of playing the heel wore on Djokovic at times, but his game thrived on the adversity, as he proved the doubters and haters wrong time and time again.

As an eight-time Ryder Cup veteran, Rory McIlroy certainly knows the feeling. Ahead of the Amgen Irish Open, Team Europe’s elder statesman was asked how he plans to handle the pro-American crowd at Bethpage Black later this month. Though McIlroy’s own resume speaks for itself—he was instrumental for Team Europe during the last Ryder Cup road win by either side at Medinah in 2012—he tipped his cap to the Joker, detailing that the tennis legend even spoke to the Euros before their victorious romp in Rome two years ago.

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“I watched a little bit of Novak Djokovic last night [in the US Open quarterfinals] playing in his match against [American] Taylor Fritz,” McIlroy told reporters. “It was a very pro-American crowd. He’s been the best at handling that sort of — he’s had to deal with it his whole life, whether it’s playing against an American in New York or playing against Roger or Rafa.

“He came and spoke to us a little bit about that stuff last time in Rome. So maybe taking a leaf out of his book and channeling that energy the right way, but again, all we can do is control our reaction and our emotions to it. I think the less we play into it, the better it is for us.”

McIlroy’s last sentence seems telling. Some players, such as Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka, thrive by playing with a chip on their shoulder, but McIlroy and co aren’t buying into the bulletin-board approach. Instead, they want to put their head down, tune out the noise and execute.

Love him or loathe him, Djokovic has been a master of that throughout his career. His desire to win has always been greater than desire to be adored, and that drive has carried him through countless gauntlets over the years. Whether that approach can lead Team Europe to glory at Bethpage Black remains to be seen, but if Djokovic’s deep run in Flushing this year is any indication, the Stars n’ Stripes better watch out.