Novak Djokovic, the greatest tennis player ever to wield a racket, is already in Melbourne for the Australian Open (January 18 to February 1). Djokovic, who has not played a match since winning his 102nd title in Athens last November, withdrew from Adelaide after not feeling fit enough to return to competition.
The Serb had an emotional reunion on Tuesday with the Rod Laver Arena, the most successful court of his career and where he won 10 of his 24 majors. ‘Nole’, after touching the ground with his right hand, put his hand on his heart before his first practice in the city from which he was expelled in 2022 for not having the coronavirus vaccine.
His particular relationship with the Australian public had a new episode in the last edition when he was booed off the court after being forced to retire through injury in the semi-finals against Alexander Zverev.
Please don’t whistle at him, show him some love
It was Zverev who had to step in and ask the crowd to stop booing Novak: “Don’t boo a player when he retires because of an injury. I know you paid for the ticket, but Djokovic has given everything for tennis for 25 years. He won this title with a tear in his thigh and abdominal. Show some love towards him.”
The 38-year-old, who is ranked fourth in the world, arrives in the Antipodes with one last record that no one will beat. He has been ranked in the top 40 for 1,000 weeks
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