Tennis

You need to give credit to the Australian sporting public – Craig Tiley gives credit to the Australian crowd for welcoming Novak Djokovic

Australian Open director Craig Tiley gave credit to the Australian public for welcoming back Novak Djokovic with open arms. Tiley revealed the Serbian was nervous when he was coming to Australia given what happened in 2022.

Djokovic was deported from Australia ahead of the Australian Open 2022 due to controversy over his visa documents and his unvaccinated status. However, Djokovic was able to hit the ground running in Australia as he won the Adelaide International.

The veteran suffered a hamstring injury before the Australian Open but he defied all the odds to win his 22nd Grand Slam title. The Australian crowd was supportive for Djokovic and there was no booing but only applauding for him, which he truly deserves.

Speaking to the AO Show podcast, Tiley said, “This was a particularly emotional year for Novak. I could see the tension on his face when I saw him the first time,” Tiley said.

“We had met a few times last year and I knew that he was feeling nervous about coming back to Australia. He was very nervous when he first arrived and flew directly into Adelaide. There was a lot of press and talk around him coming in and being booed.”

“You need to give credit to the Australian sporting public that enjoys the sport. We are the fairest in the world. When we are observing greatness, we respect it and cheer accordingly. That’s exactly what happened and he was really welcomed back.”

“He went through a tough time last year for a number of different reasons, primarily driven by his own choice. But he came and once he got settled in Adelaide, South Australia did a magnificent job in welcoming him,” he added.

Tiley showered praise on Djokovic’s mental strength to come up with goods at the Happy Slam.

“It’s kind of like Rafa winning 14 at Roland Garros on the clay but this is remarkable, it’s a hard court at the beginning of the year,” Tiley said. “There’s a lot of variables that can make that change and he’s [Djokovic] remarkable. I haven’t been around an athlete so maniacally focused on performance every single minute of every single day as he is. The results speak for themselves.”

 

About the Author


Written by DafaNews

DafaNews brings you the most highlighted news in the world of Sports. It serves you up-to-date matches, scores, live streams, fantasy games and quizzes. Our news covers prestigious leagues and events – Premier League, Champions League, World Cup and many more.

Related Post
Share
Published by
DafaNews

Recent Posts

NBA: Warriors’ De’Anthony Melton to Miss Season with Knee Surgery

Golden State Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn… Read More

November 21, 2024

Juan Mata Becomes First Active International Footballer to Join MLS Ownership with San Diego FC

World Cup-winning Spanish footballer Juan Mata has joined the ownership group of Major League Soccer’s… Read More

November 21, 2024

Millot may join PSG as French champions react to Yamal link

Since joining VfB Stuttgart from AS Monaco at a young age, Enzo Millot has thrived… Read More

November 21, 2024

Top three talking points for Premier League’s return

With the final international break of 2024 done and dusted, league football can resume across… Read More

November 21, 2024

PGA Tour introduces new changes ahead for 2026

The PGA Tour has announced significant changes to its eligibility criteria and tournament structures, set… Read More

November 21, 2024

Barcelona to endure lengthy Yamal absence

Spanish La Liga club Barcelona may have to endure a lengthy absence for Spanish winger… Read More

November 21, 2024