Serbian Novak Djokovic is an incredible tennis player, but his likeability rarely goes through the roof. At the Australian Open, too, he caused turbulence again this year. It's about Russia, Ukraine and his father. In terms of sport, however, he remains on course.
Novak Djokovic patted his heart twice, pointed to the sky and sent kisses towards his mum Dijana, who came without dad Srdjan. "I have a vivid imagination, but I didn't imagine that," said Djokovic when he reached the final of the Australian Open for the tenth time 15 years after his first triumph in Melbourne. Djokovic triumphed in his first nine attempts.
Despite the noisy unrest surrounding his father, the Serbian tennis star took the penultimate step towards his 22nd grand with an ultimately secure 7:5, 6:1, 6:2 victory against the clear outsider Tommy Paul from the USA -Slam triumphs that would put him on par with record champion Rafael Nadal. Djokovic has to complete his masterpiece on Sunday (9.30 a.m. / Eurosport and in the live ticker on ntv.de) against the strong Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who after his 7: 6 (7: 2), 6: 4, 6: 7 (6: 8), 6:3 against the Russian Karen Khachanov.
"I'll take the chance and get ready for the big day," said the 24-year-old, adding that it was a childhood dream. "It's a dream final. When it comes to number one in a Grand Slam final, it's the ultimate," said Boris Becker at Eurosport: "One way or another, tennis history will be written." The winner will lead the world rankings from Monday.
Before it gets down to business on Sunday between the title favorite Djokovic, who doesn't seem entirely unassailable, and his wildly determined challenger, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and Wimbledon winner Jelena Rybakina from Kazakhstan will fight for the women's crown and around two on Saturday (9.30 a.m. / Eurosport). million euros prize money. In Sabalenka, for the first time, a player can win a Grand Slam title under a neutral flag, her home country, like Russia, is subject to sanctions.
After Djokovic's semifinals, the topic was suddenly very present in Melbourne. Djokovic's father had himself filmed in Melbourne Park with people who, among other things, displayed a Russian flag including Vladimir Putin's likeness. On Friday, Srdjan Djokovic then announced at short notice that he would not be able to play his son's match. One place in the box remained empty.
"I had no intention of causing such headlines or disruption," wrote Srdjan Djokovic in a statement. His family have "experienced the horrors of war and we only wish for peace." The Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, had previously demanded that Djokovic senior's accreditation be revoked. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who watched the match from the stands, said he wanted "no support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine".
So there was a lot of unrest, which initially did not seem to pass Djokovic without a trace. In the first set he seemed agitated at times and gave a 5-1 lead. "There are many side-war scenes that disturb his concentration," said Djokovic's ex-trainer Becker at Eurosport. But Djokovic struggled in a typical manner and made the dream final perfect - for Djokovic it is already the 33rd Grand Slam final.
