Australian Open chief Craig Tiley wants to see a Novak Djokovic statue at Melbourne Park

Novak Djokovic arguably deserves a statue at Melbourne Park more than anyone, but calls to give him one have divided the tennis world.

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has called for Novak Djokovic to be immortalised in statue form at Melbourne Park, despite the Serbian star’s relationship with Aussie fans arguably at a new low.

According to Tiley, several stars such as Djokovic, Serena Williams and Roger Federer should all receive statues at Melbourne Park in the coming years as part of a brand new ‘tennis legends’ attraction.

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“I’d like to have a whole precinct full of statues of the great tennis players,” Tiley told Code Sports.

“Every year we put up a new statue of an Australian and this precinct is about tennis. 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.”

Novak Djokovic is a 10-time Australian Open champion. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

And Tiley believes a statue of Djokovic is the right place to begin.

“I mean, he’s won this event 10 times and I still think he can win it again,” he said.

“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.”

Novak Djokovic could be immortalised in bronze at Melbourne Park. Image: Getty/Grok AI

Novak Djokovic’s rocky relationship with Australia

Djokovic has endured a rocky time in Australia since he was booted out of the land down under and banned from competing because of his vaccination status in 2022.

And while Australia has been by far his most successful grand slam, with 10 of his 24 grand slam titles coming at Melbourne Park, Djokovic has regularly clashed with fans, officials and media for almost two decades.

He was first met with hostility by the Aussie public after he accused fans of wanting exciting Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to “win more” in 2008.

Several dummy spits and controversies then occurred in the decade that followed. But as a whole, the Australian public was slowly warming to the Serb,

However, that changed in 2021 when he wrote a formal letter to Tiley asking for Covid restrictions to be eased, before his eventual deportation.

But it wasn’t the letter or the decision to not vaccinate that irked the Aussie public.

It was the fact he later claimed he was ‘poisoned’ down under while he was kept in a luxurious Melbourne apartment, at the same time most of Australia were largely confined to their homes for several months.

While Aussie fans see Novak Djokovic’s greatness on the court, the Serb has never been overly loved and appreciated. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)

His relationship with Aussie fans has continued to deteriorate in recent years on the back of cases like his father waving a Russian flag and arrogant ‘banter’ with hecklers and fans.

And arguably this year he has done more to get Aussies off-side than ever before.

On the back of the bizarre poisoning claims, his beef with Channel 9 broadcaster Tony Jones resulted in him not addressing loyal fans who paid hundreds of dollars to watch him in action in his fourth-round Australian Open win over Jiri Lehecka.

And those who again coughed up several more hundred dollars to watch his one set against Alexander Zverev felt short-changed after he withdrew with a leg injury.

Does Novak Djokovic deserve a statue at Melbourne Park?

All those controversies have left a sour taste in many Aussies’ mouths and therefore it is no surprise the calls to immortalise him have not been met with overwhelming support.

While it would ultimately be up to the state government and the Olympic Parks Trust if Djokovic is to be given a statue, the calls from Tiley to immortalise the Serb have received mixed reactions.

“He deserves it but the funny thing is that in the country where the most grand slams don’t love you, a statue does not replace the love of the public,” one tennis fan wrote on X.

While others commented “No thank you” and “Totally unnecessary”.

While others believe it simply has to happen.

“A totally deserving and brilliant idea. No matter where you stand on liking him or not, it cannot be disputed that Djokovic absolutely deserves to be commemorated at Melbourne Park with a statue,” one user wrote on X.

“It is something the Serbian truly deserves, having already won the tournament 10 times, as well as reaching the semi-finals this year, with further opportunities to lift another trophy and expand his collection. There must be a statue of Djokovic there,” another said.

Originally published as Australian Open chief Craig Tiley wants to see a Novak Djokovic statue at Melbourne Park