Death Of NBA Legend Kobe Bryant Sparks Outpouring Of Grief At Australian Open - UBITENNIS
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Death Of NBA Legend Kobe Bryant Sparks Outpouring Of Grief At Australian Open

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and others react to the devastating news of the death of an all time great in the world of sport.

By Adam Addicott
8 Min Read
Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant gestures during the first half of Bryant's last NBA basketball game, against the Utah Jazz, on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has said his heart is in mourning following the death of basketball icon Kobe Bryant on Sunday.

The 41-year-old former LA Lakers superstar was killed on Sunday in a helicopter crash along with his teenage daughter. Bryant was one of the world’s most famous NBA players throughout the past two decades and achieved a series of accolades. Including being named the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and two-time NBA Finals MVP. A two-time Olympic gold medallist, he was also selected to play in 18 All Star Games.

“My heart truly mourns over the news today. Kobe was a great mentor and friend to me. You and your daughter will live forever in our hearts. There are not enough words to express my deepest sympathies to the Bryants and every family suffering from this tragedy. RIP my friend.” Djokovic said in a tribute on social media.

Bryant’s death came just a day after the 16-time grand slam champion praised him as a ‘one of his mentors.’ During Djokovic’s elbow injury problem and subsequent drop in the world rankings, the Serbian said Bryant helped him get back on track. Reflecting on the conversations the two have had in the past, he said he received some ‘valuable guidance.’

“Kobe has been one of my mentors,” Djokovic told ESPN on Saturday. “I’ve had several phone conversations with him and also of course when we see each other live in the past couple of years. When I was going through the injury with my elbow and struggling to mentally and emotionally handle all of these different things that were happening to me and dropping in the Rankings and then having to work my way up, he was one of the people who was really there for me to give me some very valuable advice and guidelines to kind of believe and trust in myself, trust the process that I’ll be back.

Despite being renowned as one of the greatest basketball players in history, Bryant also showed a love of tennis since retirement. Attending the US Open multiple times, he once said that the sport helps people cope with the inner emotions on the court.

Tennis has those qualities, those challenges. If you look at my daughters at home. I’m trying to teach them how to navigate through society as they get older. What are some of those sports that can really teach them? You said earlier, you’re out there on your own, you have to figure out, I just hit three bad shots, what those have to do with the next shot. I need to put those behind me and move on. Same thing with great shots—I just played a great set, won the first set. You can’t dwell on that, you have to move on to the next. So how do you navigate those inner emotions? Tennis is a great metaphor for that.” – Bryant last August

Djokovic’s tribute is just one of a series to come from the world of tennis. Rafael Nadal, who will play Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Monday, has said he’s been left in ‘shock.’ The King of Clay once spoke about the NBA Great in a four-minute tribute video. Describing him as a ‘fighter.’

France’s Gael Monfils said he was sad to lose somebody ‘very special.’ The world No.10 spoke out following his three sets loss to Dominic Thiem in Melbourne on Monday.

“It was really tough this morning. When I woke up, I received a bunch of messages. Definitely when I found out that, I was really, really sad, because it was someone that for sure I looked up to growing up and someone very special.” He said.
“To be honest with you, I’m really devastated by this because it means quite a lot for me, and I know also for Elina (Svitolina), and definitely all my thoughts and prayers for his family.”

In the world of women’s tennis, world No.4 Naomi Osaka has posted a heartfelt open letter on social media. Describing Bryant as both her mentor and big brother. The two had known each other on a personal level and have met multiple times. Last August Bryant hailed the two-time grand slam champion after saying it is ‘very rare to find an athlete at that age to be so trusting of her skill.’ Osaka was knocked out of the Australian Open by Coco Gauff.

Simona Halep has described the loss as a ‘tough moment for the world.’ She spoke out about the death following her 6-4, 6-4, win over Elise Mertens on Monday.

“I feel really sad about this. It’s a huge loss for the world, for the sport. I mean, for the family, I cannot described the of lose one person. It’s terrible to lose more than one. It’s a tragedy.” She said.
“So all my thoughts to the family, and I don’t know how they can feel a little bit better, but it’s a tough moment for the world. I feel so sad about it.”

The tributes

https://twitter.com/alizecornet/status/1221621590712102912

https://twitter.com/KaPliskova/status/1221572758032855042

https://twitter.com/CocoGauff/status/1221570921896374272

https://twitter.com/MariaSharapova/status/1221569870422138880

https://twitter.com/karenkhachanov/status/1221656390466449410

https://twitter.com/denis_shapo/status/1221549185658281984

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