"My household was watching, so I had to follow it" - Djokovic admits to not watching the Australian Open final
ATP
After his first match and win of the 2022 season at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Novak Djokovic admitted to having no interest in the recent Australian Open following his deportation.
The World No.1 claimed he found no joy in following the tournament, but had no choice as his entire household seemed invested in the outcome.
"I wasn’t enjoying watching the tournament knowing that I’m not able to be there," the Serbian revealed. "So the finals, I was trying not to watch it, but then I had my household was watching, basically everyone was watching, my wife and my kids, so I had to follow it."
“But congratulations to Rafa. I mean, incredible performance. Amazing fighter he is. He said it, I mean, definitely one of the biggest wins of his life, in the circumstances, coming back after an injury.”
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Rafael Nadal fought back from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev and win a record 21st singles Grand Slam title. Nonetheless, Djokovic revealed that he apparently exchanged texts with Medvedev over how the crowd treated the Russian at the end.
“I relate to that,” said Djokovic who has also played the role of villain against Rafa/Roger. “We spoke. Actually we texted after the match. I really felt sad that he was experiencing those kind of emotions because the inner kid is the reason why we are playing tennis. I mean, at least in my case and I think in his case.
“Obviously losing, being two sets to love up in the finals, it’s tough one to swallow. Of course, I’ve been in those shoes before. I understand how he feels.
“I wish him all the best. I think he’s a great champion, someone that is mentally very strong, already consistent with his results, soon to be No. 1 in the world as well. I can relate to that. I felt sorry for him that he commented the way he did after the match. But I do understand.”
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
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