This secret garden may hold the key to Djokovic’s success

Long a secret, Novak Djokovic’s visits to the Royal Botanic Gardens are now part of Australian Open lore.

The controversial tennis legend, going for his staggering 11th Open title, has made a habit of visiting the gardens to decompress between games.

Novak Djokovic poses with his Australian Open trophy in the Royal Botanic Gardens in 2020.Credit: Simon Schluter

“I do obviously like to visit certain places that have brought me luck and made me feel good,” Djokovic said when quizzed about game prep.

“For example, [the] botanic gardens just nearby — it’s a wonderful park where I like to spend time and just be by myself in nature ... hugging trees and climbing trees and stuff.

“I love to do that, so I’ve done that for the last 15 years, and whether that’s a secret of success here in Australia or not, I don’t know, but it has definitely made me feel good.”

The revelation harks back to one year on the day of the men’s final some years ago when astonished patrons of No.179, the cafe on Domain Road near the entrance to the gardens, saw Djokovic emerge from a giant Morton Bay Fig opposite after a sunrise commune with nature.

Not just the GOAT, but a tree-climbing GOAT at that. Perhaps it is the secret to his success.

WHOLE LOTTA LOVE AS TILEY AND POLLIES GUSH AT OPEN

After years of the slam in the slammer, it appears to be love all between the government and Tennis Australia.

For political junkies, the thrilling match-up between AO director and Tennis Australia (TA) chief executive Craig Tiley and any politician from Spring Street has been one to behold.

For years, Tiley has tirelessly duked it out with the state government to pry open the public purse to assist the gradual transformation of Melbourne Park into the southern hemisphere’s biggest tennis theme park.

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley (right) opens this year’s tournament with Victoria’s acting Premier Ben Carroll (left) and Sports Minister Steve Dimopoulos.Credit: Daniel Pockett

Sunday’s presser on day one of the 2024 Australian Open seemed different, with acting Premier Ben Carroll taking the opportunity to thank Tiley, and Tiley reciprocating, indicating public snipes might be a thing of the past.

A little context for the uninitiated.

Tiley has been a thorn in the side of the government for the past few years by constantly alluding to the prospect of uprooting the Open and moving elsewhere, should support be insufficient.

When then Victorian premier Daniel Andrews skipped the Open last year, people raised eyebrows.

Then, at the end of the tournament, then-TA president Jayne Hrdlicka thanked everyone under the hot January sun except for, of course, the state government.

This was interpreted by Labor heavyweights as a deliberate, unforgivable slight.

So it’s interesting to see Carroll not just in attendance, but spruiking the festival and praising Tiley’s role in “making sure that our economic and our physical and emotional and cultural strength … continues to get stronger every year”.

“So thank you, Craig,” he finished.

Ben Carroll, Andre Agassi, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Steve Dimopoulos and Craig Tiley at Sunday’s trophy arrival ceremony.Credit: Getty

Tiley, for his part, returned the lob with an optimistic volley of his own.

“We love the relationship we have with the Victorian government,” he said.

Melbourne Park has been confirmed as the site for the open until 2046.

Also in attendance at the presser were tennis legends Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Andre Agassi.

At the end of the day, Carroll repaired with his new buddies to the O room – Hrdlicka’s very own TA version of the Chairman’s Lounge – for an exclusive knees-up. Carroll even gave a speech, as did Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

The ambitious politicians, as well as the aviation executive, have each at times been subject to Andrews’ infamous deep freeze. It struck us as the perfect chance to compare notes.

Andre Agassi once again embracing his inner mullet.

AGASSI’S MULLET SUMMIT

Speaking of Agassi, he is reprising his trademark role as tennis’s bald man by bemoaning his inability to grow a mullet on behalf of Uber.

Though he never graced the Open with his own trademark mullet (he refers to his debut appearance at Melbourne Park as his “first bald slam”) his much-anticipated ad, shot last year in Sydney for subscription service UberOne, is due to hit screens shortly.

In it, he’ll don a newly minted mullet worthy of Warwick Capper.

Agassi’s prior appearances at Melbourne Park have been somewhat inconsistent.

Getting frank in a panel discussion with Dylan Alcott, Agassi said he would sometimes give the Open a miss to take a break around the holidays in the US, rather than get pulled into the post-Christmas scramble.

Matthew Dellavedova, Christian Petracca, Andre Agassi and Mark Webber at Novak Djokovic’s round one match against Dino Prizmic.Credit: Getty

“I was a bit of an asshole,” he said. “We love arseholes, you know,” Alcott quipped.

Also making appearances at the opening day of the Open were actress Pallavi Sharda, influencers Demi Brereton, Valentina Attard and Ruby Brownless, broadcaster Georgie Tunny, presenter Darren McMullen, multicode sportswoman Sarah Rowe and celebrity chef Andy Allen.

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