He was overcome with emotion after his Australian Open victory.Credit:AP
There were,however,challenges in Melbourne,including allegations of faking the hamstring injury he suffered in Adelaide;accusations of receiving illegal messages taped to a bottle containing a mystery concoction;disobeying an umpire to take a toilet break;and,finally,his father being recorded with Vladimir Putin supporters.
Srdjan,Djokovic’s father,did not sit in his son’s player box in his semi-final or final after the controversy,but embraced him in the bowels of Melbourne Park once official proceedings ended.
“We talked[before the final]. I thought things will calm down,in terms of media and everything,but it didn’t,” Djokovic said.
“We both agreed it would probably be better that he was not there. That hurts me and him a lot because these are very special,unique moments. Who knows if they repeat again? So,it was not easy for him.
Djokovic after climbing up into his player’s box.Credit:Eddie Jim
“I saw him after the match,of course. He was not feeling his best,let’s say,even though he was very happy to hug me and,of course,with everything. I could see that he’s a bit sad.
“Look,it is what it is. I think in the end also what he told me is that it’s important that I feel good on the court,I win the match,and he’s here for me. If it’s going to be better for me as the outcome of the match that he’s not in the box,then so be it ... in the end we have a happy ending.”
Ivanisevic said Djokovic’s huge release of emotions was understandable after everything he endured across his past two Australian summers.
Loading
“He’s keeping everything inside[and] sometimes you have to explode,” Ivanisevic said.
“Surprisingly,he was very quiet for one set and a half. He didn’t say one word for the final[then] he let everything out.
“It was very emotional for us,very emotional for him. It’s a great achievement. It was a really tough three weeks for him. He managed to overcome everything.”