Australian Open men’s final: Novak Djokovic sponsor congratulates him on victory before match
The last thing Novak Djokovic needed on the eve of the Australian Open final was another PR disaster which will ensure a majority of tennis fans support Daniil Medvedev.
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Novak Djokovic is the last player who needs a PR disaster on the eve of the Australian Open final.
The world No. 1 is already waging a battle with tennis fans in the popularity stakes which he consistently seems to be losing.
Last year was a disaster for the Serbian, the highlight being his ridiculous COVID-19 faux pas regarding the tournament he hosted, the photos of him partying with his shirt off and subsequent positive tests.
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Things didn’t really improve when he arrived in Australia and started whinging about the strict quarantine restrictions in his role as head of a breakaway players’ union.
Asking Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley to find mansions with tennis courts attached for the best players was probably a stretch, as was telling the Victorian Government to change their rules.
Then he pulled out at the last-minute of the exhibition event in Adelaide because of blisters only to return – clearly for PR purposes – to play a set.
By the time he arrived in Melbourne to defend his Australian Open crown, Djokovic was already scrambling and then an old wound was reopened in the third round against American Taylor Fritz.
Before he became a world beater – from 2011 onwards – Djokovic’s mental strength was questioned given his penchant for pulling out of matches midway with mystery injuries.
It seemed the harder things got on court, the more severe these injuries became.
Against Taylor Fritz Djokovic strained something in his side and for a couple of sets looked like he would leave Rod Laver Arena in a body bag.
But then there was a trademark resurrection which saw him come back and win the match in five sets.
Fritz certainly didn’t miss him afterwards, suggested the world’s best player may have been faking the severity of his injury.
Djokovic certainly put some mayonnaise on it, claiming he was most likely going to be out of the tournament pending the results of scans.
He soldiered on and declared after his semi-final wiping of Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev that the injury – which he refused to identify specifically – was the best it had been.
So despite his brilliance on the court and even without fan favourite Roger Federer around and Rafael Nadal out of the tournament, the love for Djokovic just isn’t there.
Which brings us the PR disaster by his racquet sponsor Head.
On Saturday an email circulated from Head congratulating Djokovkic on a “record-breaking” ninth Australian Open title under the heading ‘Relentless Speed’.
Social media blew up with words like arrogance getting thrown around about the 17-time grand slam winner despite it clearly not being his fault.
Head quickly apologised and said they meant to say “good luck” but the damage was done.
To be fair to them given his record at Melbourne Park — eight finals for eight wins — they’re most likely on the money.
Djokovic, 33, explained his theory on his love affair for Rod Laver Arena this week.
“I think it’s several different elements that contribute to my success here,” he said.
HEAD getting aHEAD of themselves... #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/hJSxPaQuC2
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) February 19, 2021
“First, I think as any other tennis player at the beginning of the season I really want to get off the blocks and start the season in the best possible way.
“So I’m fresh, I’m motivated, I’m inspired to play my best tennis. It’s one of the reasons.
“Then of course the surface, the conditions, especially night matches are very suitable to my style of play, and I just somehow always manage to find the best game when it mattered the most.
“The more I win, the better I feel coming back each year. I think it’s kind of logical to expect that. The love affair keeps going.”
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