Novak Djokovic has described his ninth Australian Open championship win as one of the “most challenging” of his career, revealing he was hurt by the criticism he received prior to the tournament when he suggested player quarantine conditions be relaxed.
Key points:
- Djokovic says his Australian Open triumph was a “roller coaster ride”
- He was publicly criticised when he recommended Australian Open organisers ease quarantine restrictions for players
- The world number one says he did not let the criticism affect his focus during the tournament
Djokovic was speaking after clinching his third consecutive title at Melbourne Park when he defeated Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in the men’s final on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night.
It was the Serb’s 18th major singles crown, leaving him just two shy of the men’s all-time record held by his rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic found himself in the media spotlight last month when he wrote a letter to Australian Open organisers recommending the easing of quarantine restrictions for players.
He faced intense public criticism and was even labelled a “tool” by Nick Kyrgios on Twitter.
During the tournament, the world number one also had to contend with speculation about the severity of an abdominal injury he suffered in the early rounds.
Djokovic said he had to clear several emotional hurdles on his way to winning another Australian Open.
“Each one (Australian Open wins) is different, it’s hard to compare,” Djokovic said in his post-match media conference.
“But it has been definitely emotionally [one of] the most challenging grand slams that I ever had with everything that was happening — injury, off-the-court stuff, quarantines.
“It has been … a roller coaster ride in the last four weeks.”
The criticism Djokovic faced before the Australian Open followed widespread disapproval of his behaviour last year when he organised the Adria Tour exhibition event in the Balkans during the coronavirus pandemic.
Multiple players, including Djokovic, ended up testing positive for COVID-19,
Djokovic said he had “developed a thick skin over the years” when it came to dealing with his critics but their comments could still carry an emotional impact.
“Of course it hurts,” he said.
“I’m a human being like yourself, like anybody else. I have emotions. I don’t enjoy when somebody attacks me in the media openly and stuff.
Djokovic said he never allowed criticism to affect his performance on the court, pointing to his Australian Open win as an example of his unwavering focus.
“I didn’t allow it to hinder my performance,” he said. “I think winning the trophy is in a way my answer.”
Claiming another trophy on Sunday night meant Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have won 15 of the past 16 majors between them.
Djokovic and Nadal have won nine of the last 10, with Dominic Thiem — last year’s US Open champion — the only other player to have lifted one of the major trophies during that run.
The presence of Nadal and Federer drives the 33-year-old Djokovic, who said the ‘Big Three’ were not prepared to relinquish their stranglehold of men’s tennis to the younger generation.
“Roger, Rafa, myself are still there for a reason,” said Djokovic, who won his first Australian Open in 2008.
“We don’t want to hand it to them and we don’t want to allow them to win slams. I think that’s something that is very clear.
“Whether you communicate that message or not, we are definitely sending that vibe out there. I’m sticking to that.”
Medvedev praises ‘cyborgs of tennis’
Medvedev has long been touted as one of the genuine threats to the dominance of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer.
Many seasoned tennis commentators considered the 25-year-old Russian a strong chance of breaking Djokovic’s hold on the Australian Open and he described his comprehensive defeat as tough to handle.
Medvedev said Djokovic, Nadal and Federer were unquestionably the “toughest opponents” he had faced during his career.
“We’re talking about some cyborgs of tennis in a good way,” said Medvedev, who lost to Nadal in the 2019 US Open final.
“They’re just unbelievable.”
Medvedev said it was difficult to compete with Djokovic, Nadal and Federer when they produce their best tennis.
“When they’re in the zone, and I’m not shy to say it, I feel like they’re just better tennis players … than the rest of us,” he said.
Medvedev, who was the fourth seed in the men’s draw in Melbourne, acknowledged he underperformed in the final.
“He (Djokovic) was better than me today,” he said.
Medvedev is set to climb to a career-high ranking of three when the ATP standings are released this week.
