Novak Djokovic on Australian Open: It feels like home

Defending champ Djokovic reminds opponents about his profound memories of Melbourne; warns them he gets better with every outing at Laver Arena

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic declared himself “home” on Sunday as he gears up for an unprecedented ninth Australian Open title, warning he grows in confidence the more he plays at Melbourne Park. The Serbian star won the first of his 17 Grand Slam crowns in Australia in 2008 and Rod Laver Arena has since become his most successful court. 

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Fit to fire

After struggling with blisters during an exhibition in Adelaide on Friday, playing only one of his two scheduled sets, he said he was now fine ahead of his season debut in the ATP Cup this week then the Australian Open on February 8. “It does feel like a home for me in Australia, in Melbourne, particularly in Rod Laver,” said Djokovic. 

“That is by far my most successful tennis court in my career. Had some profound memories in the last 15 years, and you know, won my first Grand Slam back in 2008. Had probably the most exciting matches played on this court, and definitely the longest match ever that I played was in the finals, almost six hours with Rafa [Nadal] in 2012.” 

And he said being back on Rod Laver Arena rekindled beautiful memories, which he plans to use to his advantage when the opening Grand Slam of the year gets under way. “Each year that I come back to the court, it feels even better,” he said. “The more you win obviously on the court, the more confident you feel coming back to it.” 

Djokovic was one of the lucky few to quarantine in Adelaide rather than Melbourne, playing a set against Jannik Sinner in an exhibition on Friday in front of a near capacity 4,000 fans at Memorial Drive, an experience he savoured. 

Fantastic feeling 

“I had goosebumps coming into the court playing in front of the fans again after 12 months of not experiencing that,” he said. “It feels like ages, you know, playing without fans. Hopefully this is all temporary, that we will be able to experience everywhere we go the fact of playing in front of the fans, not just here in Australia.”

17
No. of Grand Slam titles won by Serbia’s Novak Djokovic

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