Novak Djokovic withdraws, then returns to play in the Day at the Drive event in Adelaide

He was not playing, then he was. He was a villain, then a hero. Novak Djokovic’s first day out of quarantine was something else.

Novak Djokovic during his hotel quarantine in Adelaide. Picture: AFP Photo

The No.1 tennis player in the world, walking barefoot by himself through a North Adelaide park.

It’s a sight that could only be seen to be believed, but that’s what happened on Friday morning in Wellington Square when Novak Djokovic was freed from 14-days of quarantine.

He had joked on radio that the first thing he would do upon being able to leave his North Adelaide hotel room for a reason other than training would be to run in the Square nearby, but the Serbian superstar took a more relaxed approach to his first moments of freedom.

With a large group of fans looking on the 17-time Grand Slam winner took his morning stroll in the park before finding a bench for some time to himself.

“Will I have some time by myself is the first thought,” Djokovic said.

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Novak Djokovic is out of quarantine. Picture: AFP Photo

“I think we take it for granted these days to be free to be able to walk on the ground.”

The moment was broken by Andrew Fantasia offering the World No. 1 a couple of bottles of Hustle and Vine Still I Rise shiraz from McLaren Vale.

“About 10-years ago I was involved with another wine brand and he bought about a dozen from us from a shop in Melbourne so I thought I’d sling him the new booze,” Fantasia said.

“He was pretty accepting to it.”

Fantasia wasn’t the only one who came or has come with a gift for Novak in his two weeks in Adelaide, with his local fans bringing him poetry and paintings.

The poetry was supplied by Vanessa Blain, who provided Djokovic with three books written by her father - a famous Serbian poet - upon one of her many visits to the hotel over the past two weeks.

“I’ve come here nearly every night to see him,” she said.

“I speak to him in a bit of Serbian and then in a bit of English.”

The painting came from Dawn Likouresis

Novak Djokovic hands with blisters.

“He added me on Instagram, I don’t know how it came about. I just checked it and it said Novak Djokovic is following me,” she said.

“I came out and sat here for about four hours and he came out and I said my name is Dawn and I have a painting for you.

“Because of the quarantine requirements I couldn’t give it to him then and he just said come out 10am on Friday and meet me in the lobby.”

But Djokovic’s bizarre day was only just beginning.

It then featured a shock last minute withdrawal from the opening match of the Day at the Drive exhibition event against Jannik Sinner, before an even more surprising return to the court at Memorial Drive for the second set.

He went from hero to villain, to hero again in front of 4000 tennis fans in a sequence of events no-one saw coming.

Novak Djokovic hands with blisters.

Just minutes prior to the first set against the rising Italian star Sinner, tipped to taste Grand Slam glory, it was announced that Djokovic was a withdrawal from the match - just over 12 months after he pulled out of the Adelaide International.

Fellow Serb and World No. 31 Filip Krajinovic was shuffled in, with “multi-layered” blisters given as the reason for Djokovic’s withdrawal.

And Krajinovic started well in the place of his superstar countryman, getting a break in the fourth game and then taking first 6-3 on the back of some strong serving.

But then another twist as Djokovic emerged with two racquets in tow to play the second set, to the delight of the crowd.

Sporting no tape or bandages on his blister, on the palm of his right hand, Djokovic then went about showing why he is the World No. 1.

His back hand was sublime at times, and his defence rock solid as always as he broke Sinner in the 7th game and then again in the 9th to claim a 6-3, 6-3 win for the Serbians.

After the match Djokovic said he had not been feeling his best over the past couple of days, but “emotion” led him to returning to the court.

Novak Djokovic after returning to the court. Picture: Getty Images

“I had to have some treatment from the physio. I haven’t been feeling my best over the past couple of days and I didn’t know how I was going to react,” he said.

“It is not easy (the blister) but we are professional athletes, we learn how to play through the pain and it was just a question of whether that pain is bearable or not.

“Obviously coming off a hard training block and having the ATP Cup and Australian Open I didn’t want to risk it so much.

“But the emotion was so strong, seeing the full stands here I had to play.”

At just 19, Sinner’s time will come but the Italian conceded he had a tough day at the office.

“It is hard enough playing one of them (a Serbian),” he said.

DJOKOVIC QUIZZED ON KYRGIOS ‘TOOL’ SWIPE

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic wasn’t interested in engaging in talks about a feud with Aussie Nick Kyrgios after being let out of hotel quarantine.

Djokovic along with Dominic Thiem, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka have exited their 14-day quarantine from a North Adelaide hotel.

Earlier this month Djokovic sent a letter to Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley, which included a list of “suggestions” for easing restrictions for those players in hard lockdown in Melbourne.

Kyrgios responded by calling the Serbian a “tool”.

It was one of many swipes Kyrgios has taken at Djokovic throughout his career.

The Serbian superstar even had a crack a handballing a footy with Crows AFLW champion Erin Phillips. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dean Martin

However, now free of restrictions, Djokovic wasn’t buying into the Kyrgios talk.

“The letter that I sent to Craig that was leaked was a private letter with suggestions, I see it was portrayed as demands and that is not true,” Djokovic said on Friday.

“I just suggested a few things for the guys stuck in Melbourne like equipment.

“But it was misconstrued and I understand that there is a lot of anger and suffering happening at the moment for people inside and outside of Australia because of what everyone is experiencing.

“So many people are losing their jobs and all you can do is have compassion and send them my support.”

Well this is something you don’t see every day. Novak Djokovic on a park bench in North Adelaide pic.twitter.com/IAxSKnlr2F

— Simeon Thomas-Wilson (@Simeon_TW) January 28, 2021

Djokovic said it was a strange feeling to now be out and about in Adelaide.

He walked barefoot in the park at Wellington Square and was gifted bottles of wine and a painting by fans.

“I think we take it for granted these days to be free to be able to walk on the ground,” he said.

“It’s great to be out. We had to do it. It was fine here in Adelaide. I must say we trained well. We had four and half hours to train and be outside with the fresh air.

“We are just thrilled to be out. It feels just a little bit strange to be honest.

“Will I have some time by myself? (That) is the first thought.

“I’m just trying to go about everyday life.

Djokovic on his balcony during quarantine. Picture: AFP Photo

“At the end of the day we are out, we are trying to play tennis and bring some good positive emotions to people, that’s why we are here to provide entertainment, passion and fun.

“Comparing to quite a large group of players who are still in full lockdown I empathise with them.

“These guys and girls will definitely have a disadvantage, they have done some training in their rooms.

“It is great the ATP, WTA and Tennis Australia have moved the start date of the lead up tournaments back.

Meanwhile, world No. 3 Dominic Thiem says he feels sorry for his counterparts who have had to endure a hard quarantine in Melbourne.

Thiem said he was hopeful the players would be ready for Grand Slam tennis despite having to quarantine.

“Yeah we have been practicing for a few hours a day so we are ready,” he said.

“It is unlucky that they are in hard quarantine but I wish them all the best.”

Originally published as Novak Djokovic withdraws, then returns to play in the Day at the Drive event in Adelaide