Joker is back! No, not the would-be Batman killing Joker. Rather, tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, also knows as “Joker” by people that can’t pronounce his name.
Since being bounced from international competition in many countries due to his refusal to take experimental medicine, Joker has been relegated to small, satellite tournaments. Now he is back in the big time, and ripping through the field at Stade Roland Garros in France, as the French Opens enter its mid round competition.
The legendary Serb endured a marathon opening set before dusting Hungarian Marton Fucsovics 7-6, 6-0, 6-3 to advance into the third round. However, after the grueling 7-6 opening set, Joker took his shirt off, and fans and cameras both noticed an odd, round disc taped to his chest, directly over his heart.
Commentator and former champion Jim Courier said:
“Something taped to Novak. Have you ever seen Robert Downey Jr. in the same room as Djokovic? Maybe Novak is Iron Man,”
The thing is, 22 time champ Djokovic is no longer a young man. In fact, most professional tennis players are long done by Joker’s age of 36. Tennis, at even the club level is a high-energy, dicey proposition physically. If you are gifted and lucky enough to compete at a world class level, there’s a very good chance things are going to hurt.
Novak Djokovic currently has a clear piece of tape on his chest with something in the center.
Is this possibly another tennis player superstition?
I want to know how that little piece of tape stays on when he’s running at full speed & sweating 😂
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 31, 2023
There has been rampant speculation on social media. Is it a superstition? Is is in fact an artificial power source Ala Iron Man. The best explanation lies in what happened when Joker took his shirt off to put a new disc on.
The commentator noticed that Djokovic initially struggled to get to his chest, adding: “Novak a little confused as to whether to go over the top or under the bottom. He did change it in the end.”
Likely, the disc was a magnet. Many people into alternative therapies believe magnets can help ease pain , increase flexibility, and increase blood flow. Ever pull a chest muscle? makes it har to reach that particular area, no less swing a tennis racket.
The Chinese have used therapeutic magnets for thousands of years, and our own horse industry regularly uses them as well. Pro golfers? Yes, they also regularly utilize them on backs, elbows and shoulders.
The fact is, using magnets for health reasons is a billion dollar industry, but most people don’t know about it because they can sometimes provide relief without drugs. We all know how much big pharma loves money!
For his part, Joker played coy in the post match presser:
“When I was a kid I liked Iron Man a lot, so I try to impersonate Iron Man,” Djokovic said with a smile before he took his response a step further.
“My team delivers an incredibly efficient nanotechnology to help me deliver my best on the court, so that’s the biggest secret of my career,” Djokovic said sarcastically. “If it wasn’t for that, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here.”
Joker is known for his quirkiness and insistence on doing his own thing, whether it be his own health, or being outspoken about his home country of Serbia. Wearing magnets is right on brand for Joker, and tennis fans are happy to welcome him back.
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