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Nine times open from Australia champion Novak Djokovic says he is “hurt” by constant criticism and “unfair” treatment.
Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the Sunday night Open final, a triumphant end to a tumultuous journey Down Under.
The world No.1 sparked an uproar by posting a list of demands, including the reduction in quarantine time, at the start of his stay. He claimed the list was “misinterpreted” as his own demands, rather than a representation of the concerns of locked-out players.
He was also accused of playing a mid-tournament injury, which he revealed after the final as “a muscle tear, of the abdominal oblique muscle”. It was a legitimate problem, Djokovic insisted, but has become a conspiracy theory.
Djokovic could have 18 Grand Slam titles but he remains a polarizing figure. It is not a status that appeals to him.
“Yeah sure it hurts. I’m a human being like you, like anyone else,” he said at his post-final press conference.
“I have emotions. I don’t like it when someone blatantly attacks me in the media and stuff. Of course, I can’t say that I don’t care or anything.
“Of course he does [hurt]. I have to be honest. But I think I’ve developed thick skin over the years to avoid these things and focus on what matters most to me. “
Djokovic certainly did that, emerging from the criticism and injury that plagued Medvedev in what most expected to be a close final. The Serbian great needed the victory, according to coach Goran Ivanisevic.
“In fact, he needed this win so badly. There’s someone upstairs who sees all of this injustice with a lot of the media and the people they’re doing to him,” Ivanisevic said.
“He’s been going through a lot, you know, especially after the US Open last year. [disqualification], then rather mediocre final of Roland Garros, and it is not easy.
“Coming here he spent 42 days in quarantine. Again he tried to help the players. Again, he’s just him. It’s his fault, as everyone attacks him. No one else to attack, so let’s attack Novak.
“So this injury came out of nowhere. Unbelievable. To be honest, I can’t believe I’m sitting here today talking to you as a member of the team of the guy who won the Open. Australia No. 9. “
Djokovic’s mental toughness has become formidable during his career. He said he had been unable to block “unfair” criticism entirely and forced himself to focus on the task of winning the Open again.
“For me, the main thing was to really direct all my thoughts, attention and energy to what matters most to me, which is trying to recover, doing everything right, sticking to the routines. , things that put me at ease, and put me in the best shape, the best conditions and the best possible position to win matches, ”he said.
“That’s what I did. It’s a lot easier said than done. I put a lot of energy, especially mental energy, into it. My team who stayed with me the last few weeks in the house we’ve been watching tennis, but we weren’t following – at least when i was with them maybe they were following when i wasn’t with them – the news and stuff like that , get involved and speculate, discuss, have conversations between us about what someone has said in the media or whatever.
“I know it’s completely unnecessary for me. It came to me. I mean, sometimes it’s really hard to avoid it in a way. I mean, some of the things some people say, well sure end up here and there when you watch a tennis match, a commentary, someone talks about it, whatever.
“Somehow it comes to you. Of course, it’s not nice to hear that. I mean, it also seems unfair from some people who criticize and judge without really checking it out. before.
“But like I said, it’s not really the first time. I’ve had so much experience with it because it’s happened so many times in my life, in my career, that I do. experience It will probably not be the last.
“Look, at the end of the day, everyone in the scene has a right to say what they want to say. It’s a question for me of whether or not I’m going to react, how I’m going. react I didn’t let it interfere with my performance, I think winning the trophy is kind of my answer.
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