Former British No 1 on why Novak Djokovic gets different treatment from Australian Open fans

Novak Djokovic has not always been a favourite of tennis fans around the world, but all that changes when he takes to the court at the Australian Open. 

That’s the verdict of former British No 1 Laura Robson, who believes the support of the Melbourne crowd has been one of many reasons why the Serbian has reigned supreme in Melbourne time and again.

Djokovic has embattled negativity from crowds around the world over the course of his career, with the world No 1 responding to the taunts of his detractors by cupping his hand to his ear and shouting back in anger after a Davis Cup tie against Great Britain in November.

While Djokovic received a hostile reaction from sections of the Australian Open when he was thrown out of the country amid a Covid vaccine storm in 2022, Djokovic retains strong support from the crowds in Australia.

A vocal band of Serbian supporters will add to his backing as he aims to win an 11th Australian Open title this month and Robson believes Djokovic is close to unbeatable at a tournament he has dominated for so long.

When Tennis365 asked Robson if anyone could beat Djokovic a the first Grand Slam of 2024, she offered up this emphatic answer.

“It’s hard to see anyone beating him in Melbourne,” Robson told Tennis365 at a Eurosport event.

“There is something here that works for his game and the fans are just crazy Novak Djokovic supporters here. You don’t really see that anywhere else in the world. I just feel he loves playing here.

“He is struggling with this forearm issue at the moment, but he has had that before. So I assume he knows how to manage it and will be ready in time.

“Given that it is Djokovic, I would think that he can request a late start, given that he has won this tournament so many times.”

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Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev appear to be the three biggest threats to Djokovic’s hopes of another title in Melbourne, with Robson torn on who will have the best chance to upset the 24-time Grand Slam king.

“It’s hard to know who will have the best year outside of Djokovic,” Robson told Tennis365 as she prepares to join the Eurosport and discovery+’s team during their live coverage of the Australian Open.

“It’s impossible to guess who will stay healthy and that will be crucial.

“If you had to pick someone who may struggle given the way he plays, I’d say Alcaraz may struggle given the way he plays.

“Honestly, who knows, I’d say both Alcaraz and Sinner will have a great year.

“You look at who can beat Djokovic in a Slam and it’s hard to see who can do it.

“Sinner beat him in the group stages at the ATP Finals, but if felt like a no-brainer who was going to win when they met again in the Final.

“I hope the younger guys take a lot of confidence from the matches they have played against him and take that into a best-of-five situation in Slam. It is very different than a three set match.

“Hopefully we have a few more players who can challenge Djokovic this year and maybe there will be some more names to throw into the mix.”

Robson will be part of the Australian Open coverage on discovery+ and Eurosport and she will be joined on the team by outspoken Aussie maverick Nick Kyrgios.

In addition to wall-to-wall main draw coverage, Eurosport and discovery+ will show all qualifying rounds (from 8 January) as well as junior, wheelchair and legends matches. Eurosport’s live coverage each day will begin from 01:00 CET with a morning news show and pre-night session show from 08:45 CET each day.

Every moment of the Australian Open is LIVE and exclusive on Eurosport and discovery+ from 8-28 January