New Delhi: Australian Open organisers are keen to erect a statue of 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at its premises in Melbourne Park. With 10 singles titles, the Serb is the most successful tennis player across genders at the major.
Retired American Serena Williams is the most successful female tennis player with seven triumphs in Melbourne. Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has given the go-ahead at the project aimed to immortalise Djokovic in Australia.
“I’d like to have a whole precinct full of statues of the great tennis players. Every year we put up a new statue of an Australian and this precinct is about tennis,” Tiley told Code Sports.
“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 believes Djokovic deserves the statue for what he has achieved in the first Grand Slam of the tennis season and overall in his career.
“I mean, he’s won this event 10 times and I still think he can win it again. 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,” he said.
But since Djokovic’s relationship with Aussie fans has been rocky over the years, it has led to a section of fans not warming up to the idea.
Djokovic’s decision to withdraw midway from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev with a hamstring strain was questioned as fans at the Rod Laver Arena booed him when he left the court abruptly.
Djokovic later posted a photo of his injury scan on his X social media account in an attempt to silence injury ‘experts’.
Sabalenka set for heavy fine
Aryn Sabalenka could be fined $20,000 for her conduct after going down in the Australian Open final to Madison Keys.
The Belarusian smashed her racquet after getting beaten in the final, falling short of completing a three-peat, which would have made him the first female player to achieve it since Martina Hingis (1997 to 1999).
Bt after failing in her attempt, she let her emotions get the better of her and smashed his racquet courtside. Now she is likely to be fined around $15,000-$20,000.
“There definitely was a bit of frustration because I was so close to achieving something crazy. When you’re out there, you’re fighting, but it seems like everything going not the way you really want to go,” she said after her loss.
“I just needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech, not stand there being disrespectful. I was just trying to let it go and be a good person.”
Daniil Medvedev was handed a $16,000 fine for his behaviour in the first round when smashed a camera placed on the net.
With 10 singles titles, Novak Djokovic is the most successful tennis player across genders at the Australian Open. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
