Novak Djokovic is all set to get Rafael Nadal-like honour at Melbourne Park as Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has given the inexperienced mild to immortalising the Serb in statue type. The choice comes amid Djokovic’s rocky relationship with Aussie followers, who booed him out of the Rod Laver Area after he retired from his semifinal match on the Australian Open final Friday.
Novak Djokovic statute will get inexperienced sign at Melbourne Park(AFP)
Tiley revealed that the decision to have a statue of Djokovic is a part of a model new ‘tennis legends’ attraction, with a number of stars like Serena Williams and Roger Federer additionally set to be honoured within the coming years.
“I’d like to have a whole precinct full of statues of the great tennis players,” Tiley instructed Code Sports activities. “Every year we put up a new statue of an Australian and this precinct is about tennis. It was built with tennis in mind and we have so many people that come here from right around the world. And I think there is more we can offer those fans from the tennis precinct.”
Tiley feels the statue of Djokovic, who received an unprecedented 10 Australian Open titles, claiming a document 99 wins, would be the proper participant to begin with.
“I mean, he’s won this event 10 times and I still think he can win it again,” he stated. “I think any time we can recognise tennis or the champions of the game I’m going to go for it. Whether it’s Novak, Roger Federer, Serena Williams – the list goes on.”
Australian Open’s name divides tennis world
Regardless of his stellar document on the Melbourne Park over time, Djokovic has not had the very best time in Australia just lately. In 2022, the 37-year-old, who arrived in Melbourne because the defending champion, was not allowed to enter the nation due to his Covid vaccination standing. However it was his determination to not vaccinate that angered followers. Forward of the beginning of the 2025 version of the Slam, he claimed that he was poisoned throughout that incident in 2022.
Furthermore, Djokovic additionally boycotted an on-court interview after his fourth-round win as a protest towards Aussie reporter Tony Jones. He additionally discovered himself amid an issue after many tennis consultants claimed that his harm throughout the quarterfinal match wasn’t real.
Whereas Tiley must get clearance from the state authorities and the Olympic Parks Belief in a bid to get a statue for Djokovic, the decision acquired combined reactions from followers.
“He deserves it but the funny thing is that in the country where the most grand slams don’t love you, a statue does not replace the love of the public,” one tennis fan wrote on X.
One other stated: “No thank you” and “Totally unnecessary”.
“A totally deserving and brilliant idea. No matter where you stand on liking him or not, it cannot be disputed that Djokovic absolutely deserves to be commemorated at Melbourne Park with a statue,” one consumer wrote on X.
“It is something the Serbian truly deserves, having already won the tournament 10 times, as well as reaching the semi-finals this year, with further opportunities to lift another trophy and expand his collection. There must be a statue of Djokovic there,” one other stated.