Tennisstar Novak Djokovic has complained to the Serbian media about unequal treatment and that his thigh injury is sometimes called into question. “If some other players are injured, then they are the victims, but if it’s me, I’m faking it. It’s very interesting,” the platform “tennismajors.com” quoted the 35-year-old as saying. These statements were said to have been made in conversation with Serbian journalists after Djokovic’s round of 16 victory at the Australian Open against local hero Alex de Minaur on Monday evening.
However, Djokovic also emphasized that he did not feel that he “had to prove anything to anyone”. Nevertheless, he is considering publishing pictures, for example of MRI and ultrasound examinations: “Maybe I’ll do that, maybe not.” Actually, he would “not be interested” in what other people say about his injury. He “got used to it”, it even gave him “extra strength and motivation”, claimed the 21-time Grand Slam tournament winner, “so I thank them for that”. Djokovic meets Russia’s Andrei Rublev in the quarterfinals match on Wednesday.
“You get the impression he’s bluffing”
Djokovic had requested a few breaks in treatment in the first laps and repeatedly grabbed his thigh with a pained face and also hobbled after rallies. In the game itself, however, the injury was hardly noticeable. “What always bothers me a bit: He runs straight to the ball and then he hobbles – as if he wants to demonstrate: ‘Hey guys, I’ve got something there.’ That annoys me a bit,” national coach Barbara Rittner criticized at Eurosport.
His former coach Boris Becker explained that Djokovic’s behavior was “difficult” for opponents. “Sometimes you get the impression that he’s bluffing. Sometimes you get the impression he can’t finish the match,” said the Eurosport expert: “It’s kind of between heaven and hell.”
Meanwhile, the Russian Karen Khachanov stopped the run of the ailing young US star Sebastian Korda and reached the semifinals at the Australian Open for the first time. The Olympic finalist won the quarterfinal match on Tuesday after the submission of his opponent with a score of 7:6 (7:5), 6:3, 3:0.
Korda injured his right wrist and took a break from treatment in the second set when the score was 3-2. The 22-year-old was taped but the problem clearly affected him badly. Korda had won the junior title five years ago and had previously hoped for a sensational coup with the professionals with his performance. Korda’s father Petr won the Australian Open in 1998 for the Czech Republic.
“To be in the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the second time in a row feels great,” said US Open semifinalist Khachanov: “But it’s not the way you want a match to end wishes.” On Thursday, the Russian will fight for the final ticket against number three seeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas or Czech outsider Jiri Lehecka.
Meanwhile, Wimbledon winner Jelena Rybakina became the first tennis player to reach the semi-finals of this year’s Australian Open in Melbourne. The 23-year-old Kazakh defeated former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-2, 6-4 in her quarter-final match on Tuesday. The match had been temporarily interrupted in the first set due to rain. After the roof in the Rod Laver Arena was closed and the place had dried again, the game could continue.
“I am very happy to be here in the semifinals for the first time. I was a bit nervous, but I played very well,” Rybakina said. Rybakina had never progressed past the third round in her three previous appearances at the Australian Open. Born in Russia, she has been playing for Kazakhstan since 2018 and gave the country its first Grand Slam title by triumphing at the Wimbledon lawn tournament last year.
