Novak Djokovic didn’t play like a person affected by a hamstring grievance as he humiliated Australian Alex de Minaur.
In truth, he ‘felt fantastic’ through the straight units demolition that lasted barely two hours.
And such was the ruthlessness of the efficiency, and the way free Djokovic regarded as he glided throughout the courtroom, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than sceptics popped up and puzzled simply how unhealthy that hamstring damage may have been.
During Djokovic’s final look at Melbourne Park – in 2021, when he claimed a file ninth Australian Open – the Serbian star revealed he competed with a torn stomach muscle suffered within the third spherical, and was hampered by it all through the second week of the match.
But the fixed hypothesis in regards to the severity – and veracity – of his accidents is beginning to put on skinny with Djokovic, who took outing within the Serbian phase of his post-match press convention hit again.
“I leave the doubting to those people – let them doubt,” he mentioned in Serbian to his nation’s media.
“Only my injuries are questioned. When some other players are injured, then they are the victims, but when it is me, I am faking it. It is very interesting… I don’t feel that I need to prove anything to anyone.
“I have got the MRI, ultrasound and everything else, both from two years ago and now. Whether I will publish that in my documentary or on the social media, depends on how I feel. Maybe I will do I it, maybe I won’t.
“I am not really interested at this point what people are thinking and saying.
“It is fun, it is interesting to see how the narrative surrounding me continues, narrative that is different compared to other players that have been going through similar situation. But I am used to it, and it just gives me extra strength and motivation. So I thank them for that.”
8:30AM AUS OPEN WILL IGNORE JAN 26
The Australian Open will probably be an Australia Day-free zone, with Tennis Australia to disregard Thursday’s public vacation as a consequence of “differing views’’ on the date of the national celebration.
The Open organisers have this year gone to great lengths to support social issues and equality, with a three-day “Glam Slam” for LGBTI+ gamers and a Pride Day this Friday.
A First Nations Day was staged on the primary Wednesday of the match to have fun Australia’s Indigenous historical past, and an All Abilities Day will happen on Tuesday.
Two devoted days to advertise main sponsors Emirates and Kia have been additionally scheduled as a part of the match.
But nothing has been deliberate to have fun Australia Day this week, with Tennis Australia confirming the day would as a substitute deal with celebrating ladies’s tennis.
7:45AM STAR’S WEIGH IN ON THE FAKE INJURY FURORE
Tennis and Netflix star Taylor Fritz has weighed in on the faux damage furore on the Australian Open revealing some gamers amp it up whereas others are extra discreet.
The American, who was surprised within the third spherical of this 12 months’s Australian Open by Aussie battler Alexei Popyrin, mentioned for some gamers, stretching the severity of an damage can assist ease the strain they really feel.
Mentioning no names after all (however come on, it’s pointed).
“My opinion that probably nobody cares about…. 80 per cent of players are always dealing w something (severity levels differ) but everyone is honesty always a little banged up,” he wrote on social media.
“The media is only ever focusing on the top guys so there issues get more attention.
“Also some players are more vocal talking about injuries then others. I don’t think people fake injuries, I do think sometimes players stretch the severity of the injury because it depressurizes them and helps them play better (which honestly is fine, do whatever works).
“I don’t think it’s done in a bad sportsmanship kind of way, and before people get defensive, “I’m not talking about anyone in particular this is just what I see as a player, sometimes there r (sic) serious injuries, sometimes there (sic) over exaggerated ones from people 1-500.
“I’m not taking shots at any players so please don’t get defensive.”
Fritz shouldn’t be the one identify in tennis to solid doubt on what is occurring.
6AM: UNTOUCHABLE? HISTORY BECKONS FOR DEMOLITION DJOKER
Alex de Minaur says Novak Djokovic might be untouchable if he reproduces the extent of tennis he delivered to oust the Aussie in straight units on Monday evening.
The nine-time Australian Open champion crushed the Twenty second-seed Aussie 6-2 6-1 6-2 in a show which put his rivals — together with quarter-final opponent Andrey Rublev — on discover.
Rublev mentioned earlier on Monday he anticipated to be dealing with Djokovic and his prophecy regarded sure to be fulfilled inside quarter-hour of the primary recreation of a match the Serbian dominated.
Such was his superiority as he moved one win nearer to Andre Agassi’s file of 26 consecutive singles wins at Melbourne Park, de Minaur mentioned Djokovic was sure for a tenth Australian Open.
“I think what I experienced today was probably Novak very close to his best, I would say,” de Minaur mentioned.
“To me, if that’s the level, I think he’s definitely the guy that’s going to take the title.”
Djokovic mentioned post-match that his confidence ranges had risen after getting via the de Minaur match unscathed.
And along with his physique bettering and turning into much less of a spotlight, he can begin to hone in on his ambition of one other Melbourne Park triumph.
De Minaur added he felt like Djokovic may hit winners from anyplace on the courtroom through the three-set blitz.
“He hasn’t done what he’s done in this sport without knowing how to play this level,” he mentioned.
“Look, I knew what to expect. Ultimately you go out there with a plan, you try to execute it. “At times your opponent makes it pretty difficult to execute a plan. I think today that’s what he was doing.
“He was what felt like on another level to mine. I was just trying to hang on there. At the start was very solid, then he loosened up even more and started swinging. It felt like he could hit
winners from every place in the court.”
Originally printed as Australian Open Day 9 stay scores: Schedule, order of play, highlights, outcomes
