Depressed from Australia more than a year ago, Djokovic deeply felt the meaning of the Australian expansion title just won. The 22nd Grand Slam in his career, Nadal's record balance and he called it 'a great relief'.
Tears
Melbourne, Australia, Sunday … One Sunday more than a year ago, Dkjokovic received a decision on being banned from entering the country of kangaroo. Now, he returns and crowned men's singles on Sunday (January 29).
The 10th victory at Australian Open, the 22nd Grand Slam and the No. 1 position in the world, Djokovic cried in the way he had never cried before at Melbourne Park or any tournament: with great and painful sobbing when lying in bed. Back to the area for the players after hugging the family and the colleagues and then falling down, overtaking all.
Finally, when Nole got up and returned to his seat, he buried his face in a towel. He sobbed again: “I just felt this great burden was released after what we had experienced. It was a great salvation and also a sigh of relief.”
Djokovic has experienced many strong emotions in Rod Laver Arena: The dizziness of adolescence when he got the first Grand Slam in 2008; The sweetness of winning the longest single in history against Nadal in 2012 – the 5 -hour test that lasted 53 minutes made both of them too tired to attend the awards ceremony.
But last Sunday certainly occupied a special item. Not because of the final that he did not face many difficulties before Stefanos Tsitsipas, but because of everything that led to the match and how Djokovic reacted.
“He is holding everything inside. Sometimes you have to explode,” Goran Ivanisevic – Djokovic's coach – shared.
The decision not to vaccinate Djokovic's Covid-19 vaccine has caused great consequences. Back to kangaroos can be considered a adversity with a 35 -year -old player. Trauma with his left leg fell, causing him to practice sometimes in the first matches.
Ivanisevic said that 97% of players will withdraw from the tournament if they receive magnetic resonance results like Djokovic. “But not him. He comes from the universe,” Ivanisevic said and pointed to the temple. “His brain is active.”
Djokovic admits he will give up if this is not a Grand Slam. He revealed that he did not practice on any holidays. He followed the same pattern by 2021 – won the title after his abdominal muscles were torn.
“Look, many people have doubted and still suspect that I was injured. But again I didn't feel I needed to prove anything to anyone. The problem really affects me, especially in the first week. From the first week onwards, I feel everything seems to be left behind,” Djokovic said.
Nadal challenges
The championship of the men's singles expansion 2023 helps Djkovic balance the achievement of 22 Grand Slam of Nadal. A new race between these two great players began.
“I still have a lot of motivation, see how far I go. I don't know how many more years I will play or how many Grand Slam awards. It depends on many different things, not just my body.
I think what is extremely important to myself is that you first need love from close people, keep the balance between competition, practice and private life. But at the same time must have a clear spirit – how to say – the desire really strives to pursue titles.
Physically, I can keep myself healthy. I was 35 and of course no longer a 25 -year -old tennis player – even though I wanted to believe it. But I feel I have a lot of time ahead. ”
Roger Federer, 41, retired in September 2022. Nadal, 36, is definitely a threat when healthy but has to play for at least a few weeks. This time with hip injuries caused him to lose to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of Australian Open.
Djokovic expects Nadal to return to the competition season that he is really the king. He wants to compete with Nadal in Roland Garros – the tournament he has 14 times crowned, more than any other player who has won any Grand Slam tournament.
“What I feel Nadal and I do, what we still fight and still motivate us to win the biggest titles in our sports and keep up with younger players. I think tennis is belonging to great characters, great personality and great players but we still haven't gone anywhere.”
The race towards the player who won the most Grand Slam or the greatest player of all time between Nole and Nadal has not yet fallen. It was and still a duel, sublimated and sometimes exhausted. Pursuing excellence is difficult, pursuing the title through adversity, regardless of the origin is even more difficult.
Djokovic with the ability to watch the moment and move super elastic can make any difficult match easily. However, the emotion on Sunday has clearly shown this tournament and the present challenge him.
More than a year ago, Djokovic and Ivanisevic were forced to go to Melbourne airport, escorted on the plane to leave Australia. Now, Dojokovic returned and once again reached the No. 1 position on the ATP rankings.
“I can say that this is the biggest victory in my life if I consider the situation.” The expanded Australian trophy has returned to the hands of people who are familiar with it.
