
Novak Djokovic's victory this past Tuesday at the Australian Open against Carlos Alcaraz has made headlines around the world for several reasons. At 37 years old, he continues to impress both fans and skeptics alike with his performance, defeating one of the biggest stars of the new generation tactically and on the tennis court. However, this feat has not been without criticism from certain circles, something that is usual when discussing Nole.
Speaking to the Serbian press in Melbourne, Djokovic addresses the ongoing criticism he faces. "Many people have doubted me my whole life. People are constantly trying to downplay my achievements, but this is part of the life of a successful athlete," Novak begins, as reported by Sasa Ozmo in Tennis Majors.
"With me, even more so, because of where I come from and a million other reasons. This doesn’t discourage me. On the contrary, it motivates me to prove to others and myself that I can still win on the big stages. Today, I proved it again," continues the Belgrade native, who is facing one of the toughest paths in recent memory to secure a Slam victory. If he wants to win in Melbourne this year, apart from the number three seed, he will have to defeat the number two (Zverev) and probably the number one (Sinner).
"This is not the end of the tournament yet. Perhaps what lies ahead may be even tougher. To win the title, I will have to beat the three, the two, and maybe even the one. I love challenges because I see them as opportunities. It's for these types of things that I keep playing," Djokovic asserts.
Days of Necessary Rest
On days like that of the Alcaraz match, which ended around 1 a.m. in Melbourne, Djokovic acknowledges that he doesn't get much rest. "On nights like this, I go to bed around 3. Today, it will be even later because I have work to do with Amanovic (his physio). It is necessary to treat the injury. The work I can do now can be beneficial. This is my main concern for the next match, being in condition, because these kinds of victories lift you mentally and emotionally," he concludes. Now, the Serbian will have 72 hours between one match and another, a necessary break to face such a serious test as Alexander Zverev in the semifinals.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic, contra sus haters: "Intentan minimizar mis éxitos continuamente"