The only thing Novak Djokovic has more of in Melbourne than controversy is titles. The 35-year-old has won the Australian Open a whopping nine times, but in recent years his trips Down Under haven’t been all about tennis.
In fact, last season there was no tennis involved. Djokovic, who was and still is unvaccinated, arrived in Australia thinking he would be able to play the Aussie Open. Following a wild week of detention and legal battles, the Serb’s visa was revoked and he was deported out of the country on the eve of the tournament.
Now allowed to play thanks to a change in Victorian government’s policies, this year’s controversy is on a much, much smaller scale. There is still noise, though, as Djokovic is apparently dealing with a leg injury but the validity of it is in question. Invoking memories of a 2010s Andy Murray, Djokovic in the first few rounds consistently looked like a wounded animal during changeovers and in between sets but would run like a gazelle during points.
There was no sign of any injury in the fourth round on Tuesday night against Alex de Minaur, who had been critical of Djokovic’s 2022 Australian saga. After getting clobbered by the 21-time Grand Slam winner, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2, De Minaur commented on his opponent’s physical state.
“I think everyone’s kind of seeing what’s been happening over the couple weeks,” the Aussie said. “It’s the only thing everyone’s been talking about. I was out there on court against him. Either I’m not a good enough tennis player to expose that, or it looked good to me.”
De Minaur certainly isn’t alone as a skeptic, but Djokovic doesn’t mind.
“I leave the doubting to those people; let them doubt,” the world No. 5 quipped. “Only my injuries are questioned. When some other players are injured, then they are the victims, but when it is me, I am faking it. It is very interesting…. I don’t feel that I need to prove anything to anyone.
“I have got the MRI, ultrasound and everything else, both from [an injury in 2021 that still didn’t stop him from lifting the trophy] and now. Whether I will publish that in my documentary or on the social media depends on how I feel. Maybe I will do I it; maybe I won’t. I am not really interested at this point what people are thinking and saying.
“It is fun; it is interesting to see how the narrative surrounding me continues–narrative that is different compared to other players that have been going through similar situation. But I am used to it, and it just gives me extra strength and motivation. So I thank them for that.”
As De Minaur found out the hard way, it may not be wise to make Djokovic mad.
In 2022 the current world No. 24 referred to the visa drama as a “circus” and that Djokovic had “taken a lot of spotlight away from us competitors.”
De Minaur added, “Look, Australians have gone through a lot. There’s no secret about that. They’ve had it very tough. They’ve done a lot of work to protect themselves and their borders. When you’re coming in, as well as every other tennis player, if you wanted to come to the country, you had to be double vaccinated. It was up to him, his choices, his judgement. Here we are.”
“I respect him as a rival, a colleague, as I respect everyone,” Djokovic said following Tuesday’s result. “I have no problem contacting him, congratulating him, etc. But I don’t have any other relationship (with him); I don’t have any communication with him. He showed in 2022 what he thinks about me.”
thoughts?
he is right. that ass picker can do whatever he wants and is always media darling. Djokovic pays the price for being outspoken and using his own head and mind.
You are wrong and so is Novak. Rafa has been criticized many times from the media in regard to faking injuries.
Anyone who has personally experienced a serious hamstring injury knows that Djokovic does not have one–nor can massage or a week of facing low-ranked players fix a tear. He may have had some extended soreness or a minor strain, so he used some security taping and was a bit more tentative for a match or two. No big deal there, par for the course of pro tennis, but the media and others are simply pointing out that he seems unimpaired and is the obvious front-runner of the tournament, and isn’t facing imminent peril. Who could possibly disagree?
The weird part is that Djokovic never seems to learn that you can’t make people love you more by chastising them for not loving you enough.
Can you please give us link where Nole explicitly says its a hamstring, not what reporters and media say and ask but what he says?
Maybe I missed, but Nole was talking about problems with thigh muscles, you should be familiar with that since permanently injured one had a problems, between many others, with thigh muscles too, no?
Here is how he described the injury when he received it in early January: “I felt a pulling on the hamstring and I needed some medical timeout and I got one. After that when the pills kicked in, I guess, after few games when it was warm enough, it felt okay.”
https://www.aap.com.au/news/unstoppable-djokovic-guarded-on-injury/
If he now has a separate injury, OK, but he has not given that impression in any of many press conferences and interviews. On the contrary. Anyway, if he wants to correct the media perception of his injury he has had ample opportunity, as has his entire team (who are also in contact with members of the media). He doesn’t, so we can only leave it at that.
This isn’t about anyone else’s injuries. All players have injuries and they occur on a scale–obviously, some stop you from playing, others keep you from playing at your best, and still others might be a bit of a worry in your mind but don’t hamper you. All that De Minaur said was that Novak appeared completely unhampered. As for my post above, I didn’t say and am not saying that Djokovic has had no pain or that he didn’t feel something that made him nervous. Only that he clearly does not have a serious hamstring injury (as in a tear) and I stand by that 100% because he doesn’t display the signs. The end.
We have seen this movie before. Same old, same old. Yet Novak is surprised that people are skeptical of his injuries.
Rafa’s foot problem is incurable. It has plagued him at times in his career. Try living with an injury that cannot be cured. Novak has injuries that pop up and suddenly disappear. His defensiveness about it speaks volumes.
Rafa foot problem is not an ‘injury’ but a congenital thing like the female tennis player who has only three fingers. Its unfair to compare the two. What about Rafas other catalogue of injuries such as the stomach one (iirc) at AO last year against Shapo?
It happens all the time on tennis why single Nole out.
Are we really going to argue about Rafa’s foot problem? It nearly ended his career before it began. It is a congenital problem. The fact that Rafa has done what he has done in this sport is a testament to his courage and fortitude. Rafa had a form of heat stroke which caused an upset stomach and weakness and dehydration. After being out fir six months with very little preparation for the AO, it was not surprising that Rafa had this problem.
The issue with Novak is that he seems to have an injury that ends up disappearing. When he won 3 slams two years ago, he always said he had injuries. Yet he kept winning. This went on through the whole year. Shoulder, arm or elbow problems. Whatever.
‘We have seen this movie before. Same old, same old’.
Yeah. Especially the last bit about your age
And how old are you? Five? Sexist creep!
Rafa also makes miraculous recoveries from injuries such as the AO one last year and I wouldnt even mention the foot one. Its too nauseating to discuss and we disagreed over the ethics of painkillers so I leave it there.
But , I read somewhere that Zverev plays with type 1 diabetes. No doubt false rumour .
De Manure didn’t and still doesn’t know why Nole was deported, same as Ricky and rest of MSM brainwashed sheep.
Did is very rich coming from Novak who in the beginning of his career would feign injury when he felt he was losing! How quickly we forget. His reputation precedes him…..and yet he remains a drama queen!!!!
While on the other hand ppl always chastised Rafa for his injuries due to his style of play and even projected that his career would not last bcoz of his history of injuries. NOW when he does get injuries they are ready to doubt he gets them at all! Phew!!!!!! Some of us just can’t win, eh?!!!
I think the demolition of Demon the other day were from ‘revenge mode’😀(tho even novak don’t hold a grudge over Demon,i still think he will beat him in straights nonetheless!)
Also i don’t think what Demon said a year ago was bad..i think it’s an honest opinion from him..and it’s very unusual for novak to talk like that..he’s usually were very gracious when speaking about someone esp his colleagues..
Novak was ticked off that he did not get special treatment last year at the AO. He decided he did not have to get vaccinated like everyone else. Oops, sorry! Wrong! So he got deported. De Minaur did give his opinion. That did not sit well with Novak.
Old lady with drinking problem, Nole wasn’t deported because he wasn’t vaccinated, get your facts right. He entered the country on invitation with valid visa which he proved in court and his visa was reinstated and Australian government had to pay $500K court cost.
Hey Molefarm loser,
You get your facts straight! He was deported! End of story! Stop spreading lies and hatred.
You have a mental problem. Try living in the real world instead of your delusions.
Hello my old friend, why so defensive, ok, you’ve been caught lying, no biggie, you are accustomed to it.
Yes, Nole was deported but not because he wasn’t vaccinated, his vaccination status had nothing to do with his deportation as you falsely claimed. Just by repeating it it won’t become a truth.
How is your life in caravan park treating you, have you qualified for aged care facility yet, dont give up, I am sure you’ll make it at the end, nothing worse than loneliness but that’s not a reason for excessive drinking.
PS
You can relax, I don’t think Nole is winning AO, I have my money on one of two Russians, Butt picker is safe at 22….atm.
Have the courage to say it to their face. Wimps troll through a computer screen.
Thank you! Cowards insult people through a computer screen becatse they don’t have the guts to ever do it in person.
This mole farm group is particularly pathetic. What a bunch of losers trashing other people out if their own misery
Hey Nny!..Please ignore WB…the more u showed yor anger,the more stronger he will feel..he feeds from yor anger Nny..stop giving him that..he just toyed with u & i bet,he laughs hard too..
I think life is too short to be bothered by this meaningless encounter Nny and we need something meaningful & happy instead of this..hey!..how about watching yor favourite Rafa’s classic old match?It’s always a cure for me!..I love watching AO 2009,USO 2010,2013..God!..That matches were AWESOME Nny!..Enjoy!😀🥰
I’m sorry mira but the hate speech directed towards nny goes way beyond acceptable boundaries. The day before yesterday someone wrote a post on another thread which finishes: “GTFO and die already” . You can’t just let that go and call it meaningless.
I have said before that it’s better just to ignore this crap but there are lines which can’t be crossed. Writing that people should die is definitely one of them.
After I wrote my post most of the harassment of nny has stopped. There were countless posts before that!!The group as a whole has to step up against bullying otherwise they are allowing someone to be targeted endlessly.
Mira,
I get where you are coming from. I try to ignore this trash. But sometimes it goes too far. This idiot doesn’t know me at all. Yet he talks about me being so old and drunk and lonely. It bothers me because he targets women. At some point I felt that it this harassing and abusive behavior towards women, is just wrong and unacceptable,
I will do my best to ignore this piece of garbage. Watching one of Rafa’s matches is a great idea!
❤️😘
“dont give up, I am sure you’ll make it at the end”
Whether they do or dont make it, what’s it to you? you’ll never be a part of it.
It was easy to see against Rublev today that Djokovic’s leg was bothering him a bit, not massively (and certainly not something you’d guess from the scoreline), but hampering his movement on some points. There doesn’t seem to be any reason to think he’s faking that.
The best thing is when the dust settles, many years from now, all this narrative will be irrelevant.
He will only be remembered as the undisputed greatest tennis player of all time.
Just wait and see…
Agreed Djoko is well above even the other two legends. The final slam count in 2030 will be good enough evidence.
I’m sure it wont be the first time there was a lie in the history books that we all admired and it wont be the last. How many majors did Djokovic hook again during the peak of the big four? Doubt there’s been a player that has broken a leg as many times as Djokovic and miraculously turned a match around in 5 minutes later.
Lies?
No Lies. Just raw facts that can be easily checked.
Otherwise, one can claim that Andy Roddick is the greatest tennis player of all time, and that all the records about his achievements that prove otherwise are mere lies…
Rublev does need to add variety to his game if he wants to win 1000 series events or get to a GS final. Rublev is a good man as he is. He might get lucky if he can’t add the skills that would make him dangerous in Grand Slams and 1000 events.
Novak does not fake injuries and
Rafa does not fake injuries.
Not now because he doesnt need to.
Who, Rafa?
Might be nice( sarcasm intended) if people could actually speak out against the rotten and shameful comments addressed to nny.
Wog boy and Someone from the crowd should have no place on this site.
Pathetic woman-hating at its finest.
amy,
Thanks for the support! It is a shame that these misogynistic comments are permitted to stand. The Molefarm trash is here to do what they do best – lie, attack and prove what a waste of life they are.
PS in case you didn’t see someone was pretending to be me on another thread again yesterday.
If any bizarre posts appear with my name then it’s not me!
That was me above though…
This is me, as well…
Don’t pay attention to this troll.
He/She is not me, obviously.
Hello comrade amy, my commie friend, how is it going in the West, good to hear from you?
Beautiful morning in Sydney, public holiday too, time for throwing some lamb (and pork) on barbecues, how is the weather in UK?
Nny, you’re welcome my dear!
I have your back!
I see more posts have appeared pretending to be me.
Ie at 4.16 and 4.47. It’s pretty obvious that they are written by w.b. Or maybe it is anonymous/ guest again? Sigh.
This should have appeared below nny’s post…
amy,
So you are a commie and I am a drunken old woman! The haters from Molefarm are out in force. When Rafa beat Novak last year at RG they all disappeared. Cowards!
Someone is impersonating you. This is what their lives are about. Just spewing out garbage. But I am deeply offended by their sexist, ageist, misogynistic comments.
Joker…maybe the best player on tour….but also maybe the least well-liked player on tour.