Even as he confirms his favouritism for the 2015 Australian Open, Novak Djokovic continues to dance around the issue of his health. It was a curious spectacle, watching the world
number one hit the ball with much of his old assurance in dismissing the challenge of Aljaz Bedene in the first round yet answer queries about a virus he picked up in Abu Dhabi as if he had leprosy.
“They’re fading away,” he said reluctantly of the flu-like symptoms that have dogged him the past fortnight. If they are not disappearing, however, he might be in trouble in the second round on Thursday, when he meets the accomplished 23-year-old Russian Andrey Kuznetsov, who won the boys title at Wimbledon in 2009 and is ranked 88 in the world.
“It hasn’t been an ideal couple of weeks in terms of health and preparation,” Djokovic admitted. “But I have fought my way through. Now it’s behind me. I’m only looking forward. I think I did well in terms of responding to the slow start, feeling a little bit rusty on the court. Hopefully the next one will be even better.”
Last minute
Djokovic pulled out at the last minute ahead of his scheduled final against
Andy Murray
in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi and lost to Ivo Karlovic the following week in Qatar.
This is the age of the walking wounded in tennis as well as the upset, yet Djokovic has largely avoided the curse that has befallen fellow members of the Big Four – Djokovic, Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray – a group whose rule is challenged by the day. They have suffered occasional early losses in slams; Djokovic has not. He lost only six of 43 matches in winning four titles in 10 visits to Melbourne, and he kicked off his latest campaign with an untroubled three-set win against Bedene, the Slovenian who wants to play Davis Cup for Great Britain once he gets British citizenship.
Yet, although Djokovic’s face dominates blanket television advertising for the tournament and he is ritually feted by fans, and the media, he is not the automatic darling of the crowd. That crown still sits on the regal head of Roger Federer, and will do so until he retires.
They respect Djokovic and a lot of fans find him amusing and engaging. What journalist, for instance, could not like a player who hands out chocolates at the beginning and finish of each season? Nevertheless, nearly every other player struggles for adoration space around the great man’s hem.
Odd question
A Serbian journalist inquired here in 2011, the best year of Djokovic’s career, why he was not more popular. It seemed an odd question. It was not an issue in the eyes of journalists outside his country. He was the best tennis player in the world at the time and, with a few dips, would remain so all the way up to this fortnight.
But maybe Djokovic should not worry about all of that. There are more important matters for Djokovic to attend to, meanwhile – such as his son, Stefan, who arrived in 2014.
All of a sudden, Djokovic was transformed from freewheeling international sports celebrity to responsible parent. Might this prove to be the trigger to move him closer to Federer as a celebrated sports star? And could he become the first father to win the title since the Swiss did so five years ago?
Before them were Jimmy Connors, Pat Cash, Andrés Gómez, Boris Becker, Petr Korda, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Albert Costa and Andre Agassi, with only Connors and Federer going on to add further titles.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams celebrated her 100th consecutive week as world number one by taking a step closer to another milestone in the Australian Open. Williams joined Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert on 18 grand slam titles with her US Open victory last year and a 19th would take her within three of Steffi Graf's record.
The top seed will face far tougher challenges than that posed by Belgian world number 106 Alison Van Uytvanck as the tournament progresses, but she was nevertheless delighted to secure a 6-0, 6-4 win. Guardian Service
