Novak Djokovic reveals worrying health issues after Australian Open win
Novak Djokovic recorded his second win at the Australian Open, but he admits health issues are affecting his performance in Melbourne.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic survived a scare for the second match in succession to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
Djokovic, who came through the longest first-round match of his grand slam career on Sunday, had to save four set points on his serve to avoid falling 2-1 down to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin on Rod Laver Arena.
The world number one eventually took the third set on a tie-break and appeared to be inspired by an exchange of words with a spectator in the fourth on his way to a 6-3 4-6 7-6 (4) 6-3 victory.
It was clear that Djokovic was not in the best of form or mood for long periods in his latest match and when asked whether he is suffering problems with his health, he offered up this telling reply.
“Look, I haven’t been playing or feeling at my best the last, whatever, week or so,” he admitted.
“It’s frustrating at times with kind of the level of tennis that I’m playing on the court and some uncharacteristic mistakes that I make. At the same time, that’s sport.
“You can’t always feel your best or play your best, and you have to find a way to win, which I did against the two players that possess great quality, who came out on the court knowing that they can win.
“They were both confident. They were both hitting the ball very well.
“Tactically a lot of clarity with what they need to do against me. It was working well.
“Again, another very close match that was decided in that third set, like the first round. He had the three set points. He had a sitting forehand that he missed in 30-40.
“Then I played a solid tiebreak. He dropped his level a bit. I felt it. Momentum shifted to my side. I broke his serve and held my serve until the end of the match.
“Can I be satisfied? I can be satisfied with the win. With my tennis, not so much. But, as I said, it’s normal to go through these kind of periods or circumstances.
“You just have to embrace it, try to accept what it is, and build from there. As the tournament progresses, hopefully things will go in a positive direction in terms of how I feel and play.”
Djokovic also addressed his spat with a member of the crowd and confirmed he offered to get him on the court to repeat his insults at closer range.
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“When you confront somebody, unfortunately for him, he didn’t have the courage to come down. That’s what I was asking him,” he added.
“If you have courage, if you’re such a tough man, tough guy, come down and tell it to my face, and let’s have a discussion about it.
“Of course, it upsets me. I’m frustrated. I don’t want to be experiencing that, but I have to accept it as it is.
“Sometimes I don’t tolerate when somebody crosses the line. That’s it. That’s what happened. People have a few drinks… I guess late at night as well, that probably also has an effect on how they feel and behave.
“That’s okay. People pay for tickets to come and watch us. They want to see the show. They want to have fun. They’re allowed to do that. There’s no issue in terms of I never asked anyone to leave the stadium. I never asked the chair umpire to take somebody out.
“I wouldn’t do that because he paid his ticket, and he has the right to be there and say what he wants to say and behave how he wants to behave.
“But if somebody crosses the line, I’m going to take it to him, as I did to this guy, ask him if he wants to come closer and tell me what he wants to tell me. Offend me, insult me as he did.
“That’s all it is. He was not really keen on coming down. That’s what it was.”
