Bill Simons
Everybody knows that Serbia is a tough and proud nation that doesn’t take a lot of guff. It’s best not to mess around.
In fact, you can’t write European history without telling the story of this small but important nation. The only European region that NATO has ever bombed was the Balkans. And there was a skinny kid who was taking it all in.
It’s no accident that Novak Djokovic is fierce. The warrior not only embraces conflict, he relishes it – and there are some who claim he needs it to motivate himself.
The best player to ever pick up a racket is complex. He’s smart – he can chat with you in ten languages. He’s kind, curious, funny, a devoted family man and a “Quiet please, I’m meditating,” gluten-free seeker. Then again, he’s bold – he takes chances and stances. He challenges fans to fights. He taunted a Wimbledon crowd, saying “gooood night, and he took on Australia and the world when when stuck to his deeply-held guns and refused to gea a COCID shot.
No other active tennis player has had such a wide range of run-ins.
Plus, he’s a patriot. Serbia, whose population is only 6.6 million, treats him like a king. Thousands greet him when he comes home after triumphs at Wimbledon or the Olympics. The superstar who some day could become president openly opposes Kosovo’s movement for independence from Serbia.
Around the world, passionate fans greet him.
On Friday, outside Margaret Court Arena, Tony Jones, a rather pompous sports broadcaster for Melbourne’s TV Channel 9, was covering a spontaneous, flag-waving pre-match celebration by gleeful Serbs. Jones encouraged them to chant, but then mocked them with a dismissive sing-song chant of his own: “Nooovak’s overrated, Novak’s a has-been, Novak – kick him out!”
He then added, “Oh, I’m glad they can’t hear me.”
But Novak did, and he was livid. So after winning his fourth-round match over Czech Jiri Lehecka, he walked over to the microphone and told the Laver Arena crowd, “Thank you very much for being here tonight. I appreciate your presence and the support, and I’ll see you next round. Thank you very much.”
Djokovic then waved and promptly exited the court, to a mix of some cheers and a smattering of boos.
At some point. Jones did send a statement to the Serbian journalist Sasa Ozmo of SportKlub, stating, “Unfortunately, my ‘humor’ the previous evening was misinterpreted as an attack on Novak. That was certainly not the case. I joke with the Serbian fans throughout the tournament and…at no point did I think to show disrespect to Novak and I apologize – there was certainly no intention to offend him.”
Apparently Novak was unaware of Jones’s statement or didn’t think it was sufficient.
In any case, later in both his press conference and in a video, Novak said he didn’t do the interview because neither the station nor Jones had apologized for the mockery of him and his people. He added that he wouldn’t do another on-court interview until a public apology was made.
Novak made his point. Widespread critics were quick to condemn Jones. Still, a few claimed Novak could have been more clear by explaining to the crowd just why he was leaving. But Novak Djokovic did it his way – he always does.
THAT’S FOR SURE: When reflecting on how the draw might pan out, Jon Wertheim noted, “Learner and Monfils to the semis – that’s something you don’t hear very often.”
SAGE ADVICE FROM GOOD OL’ ALCARAZ: When the AP asked Carlos Alcaraz what advice he’d give young phenoms like João Fonseca, Learner Tien and Jakub Mensik, who have all beaten Top Ten players, the 21-year-old beamed, “I’m talking like I’m 30 years old…I’m just 2 years older than them. What advice? Don’t beat me, I guess.”
So far, none of them have.
POPCORN MATCH: Grab your popcorn. The long-awaited quarterfinal match between Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz is on its way. To win his 100th ATP match, a record 11th Aussie Open and his 25th singles Slam, Novak will not only have to beat No. 3 Carlos, but possibly also No. 2 Alexander Zverev and No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
SPEAKING OF POPCORN: Coco Gauff could play Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.
THE HAPPIEST ROOM AT THE HAPPY SLAM: Gael Monfils’s and Elina Svitolina’s Melbourne hotel room had to be a pretty jolly place after the husband-wife duo both won the other day to reach the fourth round.
MONFILS IS DREAMING OF GETTING OLD: When Monfils, 38, was asked whether he could win the Australian Open, he candidly replied, “Win? No, to be honest. With me, it’s not even a dream to win the tournament. My dream is to be old with a lot of kids, and healthy.”
The reporter wondered, “You don’t want to win a Slam?” Monfils replied, “That’s your dream to win a Slam. My dream is to have an unbelievable family. Tennis is cool. You want to have cool dreams, but my dream is not there.”
GO FIGURE: The best two early storylines of the Aussie Open have come from a kid, 19-year-old Learner Tien, and an elder twice his age, 38-year-old Gael Monfils…With all the heat in Melbourne, there’s been more talk of pickle juice than pickleball.
NEWSFLASH: COCO DROPS A SET: Belinda Bencic came out of the gate quickly against Coco Gauff, and took advantage of the Floridian’s tame short balls, hesitancy, double faults and too-deep-in-the-court positioning to win the first set 7-5.
But 20-year-old Gauff is more confident and mature than ever. She didn’t blink. She upped her aggression. She went on the offensive, improved her serve, made fabulous backhands and stab volleys, and seemed to relish the 93° heat as her Alpine foe melted. Coco prevailed won 12 of the last 15 games to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.
In recent months, Gauff has won the China Open, the WTA Championships, led America to the United Cup title and now is No. 3 Her stats are incredible. She’s won 22 of her last 24 matches. This year she’s dropped only one set, and along with an incredibly elite group – Serena, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Margaret Court – she’s just the fifth woman to start the year 9-0.
Coco, who next plays the resurgent veteran Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals, has won eight of her last nine Slam matches that have gone to three sets, and the charismatic star doesn’t hesitate to tell us that she’s the only WTA player with her own signature shoe.
WHAT A SURPRISING COINCIDENCE: After one of her early matches, Gauff was asked about her elaborate New Balance dress. She went into a detailed analysis. Sunday afternoon, she was asked about her New Balance shoes. She offered a giggly explanation. Observers were quick to note a not so surprising coincidence: New Balance is the gear sponsor of the Australian Open.
AIN’T THAT THE TRUTH? When reflecting on the effort by America’s cadre of male stars to break our country’s 22-year Slam losing streak, James Blake commented, “One of these times it’s going to fall the right way, and Andy Roddick will stop being mentioned as the last American man to win a Slam.”
CAHILL TO DEPART: Jannik Sinner has gone through many changes in his support team. He parted ways with his foundational coach, Riccardo Piatti, and when he tested positive for clostebol he dismissed his trainer. Now his coach, Darren Cahill, who previously coached Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Simona Halep, will be retiring at the end of the season.
RAFTER HIRED: The Laver Cup’s Team World is going from one good Patrick to another. Aussie icon Patrick Rafter, who twice won the US Open, will be replacing Patrick McEnroe as the vice-captain of Team World. Andre Agassi and Yannick Noah are the new captains of Team World and Team Europe.
DON’T FORGET IGA: Five-time Slam winner Iga Swiatek may never have gotten beyond the semifinals of the Aussie Open. But beware the Pole who has lost only ten games in her first three matches in Melbourne.
QUOTEBOOK:
“I’m quick on a tennis court – but only on a tennis court.” – Alexander Zverev
“I’d pay a lot of money to watch Monfils play, and I’d pay a lot of money to not coach him.” – Jim Courier
“I think you party too much. Your voice is hoarse.” – A joking Alexander Zverev to on-court interviewer Andrea Petkovic
“How can you not enjoy Alcaraz? He’s smiling and he’s winning.” – The Sit Down podcast
