"I lost three games in a row": Novak Djokovic was left distracted by Andre Agassi presence at Australian Open
ATP
Novak
Djokovic worked hard to secure a first-round victory against Dino Prizmic (No. 178)
with a score of 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4. The Serbian battled for three hours and
59 minutes on the Rod Laver Arena under the watchful eye of the 8-times Grand
Slam champion Andre Agassi, and he had words for the former tennis player.
In the
on-court interview, Djokovic was asked if he noticed the presence of the
American former world No. 1, and he thanked him for attending to watch.
Djokovic successfully began his journey in Melbourne and secured his 29th
consecutive victory in the tournament, where he holds 10 titles.
Read also
“I lost my focus” – Novak Djokovic
Djokovic
joked about the long time since seeing Agassi and teased him after hitting a
winner: "Of course [I noticed him]. Andre, great to have you, thank you so
much for gracing us and the Australian Open with your presence. We haven't seen
you in years. Actually, 4-0 and deuce, and I made a forehand winner, I smiled
at you and I said, 'It's almost like your return,'" Novak Djokovic said.
"After
that, I lost three games in a row, not your fault, my fault. I lost my focus,
but you know, I was inspired by your presence and overwhelmed to see you.
Thanks for coming out," he added. In the second round, Djokovic will face
one of the locals, Marc Polmans (No. 156), and Alexei Popyrin (No. 43), which will take
place on Tuesday, January 16.
During his
stay in Melbourne, Andre Agassi responded to an interview with The Age and
Sydney Morning Herald, where he positioned Djokovic as the man to beat in the
tournament: "The only thing I’m absolutely convinced about is Novak will
not beat Father Time. It’s just a question of how long you can postpone it. I
definitely see a few more years of him being the one that has to be dealt
with," the American former world No. 1 said.
"How
can you say something isn’t possible? Records are meant to be broken, right?
Obviously we’re just speculating on so many things, which includes health, and
that’s going to start to rear its head," he added.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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