Novak Djokovic had no difficulty getting rid of Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Australian Open. As had already happened against de Minaur in the previous round, the Serbian phenomenon immediately shifted into high gear leaving the crumbs to the Russian.
The match didn’t have the slightest pathos and confirmed – if anything were needed – that Nole is the big favorite for the final victory. We recall that the 35-year-old from Belgrade is hunting for his tenth title in Melbourne Park, which would allow him to catch up with his eternal rival Rafael Nadal at 22 Grand Slams.
The former number 1 in the world wants to take revenge after the events of last year, which led to his expulsion from the country after a soap opera that lasted about ten days. If he were to win the tournament, the ‘Djoker’ would also return to the top of the ATP ranking by undermining Carlos Alcaraz.
In the last week, the 21-time Grand Slam champion has received numerous attacks from the international press. Some insiders questioned the extent of his left knee injury and Djokovic decided to take some pebbles out of his shoes.
Nole Djokovic defeated Rublev
In the last week, Novak Djokovic has had to go out on several occasions to defend himself against attacks from the international press. Either because of problems during his matches or because of those who question his injuries, the Serb has decided not to keep quiet about what he considers an injustice.
Today, he was asked about all this and if he thinks it’s possible that the press could treat him more fairly. His response, polite and accurate, has been highly applauded. “For me personally, what I like to see is respect, and not a one-dimensional narrative that focuses only on one part of the story and only writes in that direction.
I like when you take a different perspective, trying to be a little more objective. I respect your profession and understand that without you, our sport would not be as global as it is. In the end, we are all part of the same team.
I also understand that there are people who are more biased and like me less. It is really difficult to define the right path,” he noted. In his post-match press conference, Djokovic said that he’s super pleased with his performance this fortnight, especially in the last two rounds: “Last two matches, playing against two guys that are really good players, in-form players, to beat them dominantly in three sets is something that is definitely something that I want in this moment, something that sends a message to all my opponents remaining in the draw.”
