Novak Djokovic unleashed 12 months of pent-up emotion during extraordinary scenes in the minutes after winning his record-extending 10th Australian Open title on Sunday night.
The Serbian legend, in his own words, “emotionally collapsed” after his 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) triumph over Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas a year after he was holed up in a detention hotel then unceremoniously kicked out of the country for being unvaccinated.
He made a beeline for his player box, climbing like a first-time winner into the stands, where he was surrounded by his team, including his mother Dijana, brother Marko, coach Goran Ivanisevic and agents Edoardo Artaldi and Elena Cappellaro.
A tearful Djokovic collapsed with his team around him after what he described as the “biggest victory in my life”. He then buried his head in his towel and sobbed for a couple of minutes after returning to his courtside chair.
“[It was] just a huge pride and satisfaction that I felt in the moment,” Djokovic said.
“Of course, when I went into my box, I just think I emotionally collapsed there and teared up – especially my mother and my brother – when I gave them a hug.
“Up to that moment, I was not allowing myself to be distracted with things off the court, or whatever was happening in dealing with [my hamstring] injury [and] things happening off the court as well.
“That could easily have been a big disturbance to my focus, to my game. It required enormous mental energy to stay present, to stay focused, to take things day by day, and really see how far I can go.”
Djokovic was nervous about the reception he would receive on returning to Australia in late December, starting in Adelaide, but he went on to win his 92nd career title there after receiving a hero’s welcome from the city’s Serbian contingent.
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.
“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.”
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