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By Alberto Amalfi
(May 28, 2010) Novak Djokovic has never won the French Open, but he's already solidified his status as the cross-dressing karaoke champion of Paris.
Djokovic let loose in his pre-tournament preparation by channeling an international star — Shakira.
Clad in a blond wig and performing a hip-writhing wiggle, master mimic Djoker played Shakira and Serbian Davis Cup teammate Viktor Troicki played the part of Rafael Nadal as the pair performed a wild, hilarious parody of the Shakira video "Gypsy."
Djokovic, who swept Kei Nishikori, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in the French Open second round today, said his performance was a stress reliever.
"It make me relax a little bit," said Djokovic. "You know, I was nervous before the match, and then I was laughing unbelievable for two minutes.What we have done? It's just crazy."
Djokovic, who famously performed initiations of the service motions of Nadal, Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova during the 2007 US Open, said he can become so consumed with his performance he becomes oblivious to his own antics.
"Sometimes I'm not aware of the things that I'm doing," Djokovic said. "I think you have to ask Troicki, as well, my partner in that video. We are very proud. I haven't spoken to Nadal still what he thinks about it. I think he would be proud of my performance of Shakira. I really put a lot of energy and effort into that. I've tried to, you know, impress my partner who was sitting on the chair and playing a little guitar. I was shaking whatever I had in there.Yeah, it was fun."
It is the second parody of the Rafa-Shakira video in the last two months. At the Monte Carlo player party last month, Feliciano Lopez and Eduardo Schwank performed a stage production of the parody.