Djokovic Unmasked

The number four seed Meritt Saffin of Russia against a qualifier Novak Jovic of Serbia and Montenegro accompanied out for his big moment by Paul McNamara. There'll be a few butterflies in his tummy as Jovic makes his entry onto Rod Laver Arena at just 17 years of age. What a moment for him!

2005, I remember I qualified and, uh, played Marat. I did color part of my hair just especially for that match. It was the first time on Center Court, so I did enjoy it. Didn't spend too much time on the court; I lost to the eventual champion in straight sets very comfortably, but still enjoyed my time. It was, uh, a match that, um, you know, gave me a lot of experience and served well for the rest of my career here and, uh, 6-6, 6-1 about as comprehensive as it gets in 1 hour and 14 minutes. The number four seed hardly raises a sweat, and he says well done to the young man in his first outing in the big time.

[Applause]

He'll be [Applause] [Music] back. Take that! I'm kind of a person who likes to make things, uh, look perfect, and, uh, not just in tennis but some other things I want to win and that's what it is all about. Mar, you've got this huge match against Roger Federer. Roger is number one in the world, uh, almost unbeatable. You know, just lost four or five matches last year, and, uh, you know, I'll just play my best and try to be aggressive and try to win.

Another critical performance by W only takes 1 hour and 50 minutes; he marches into the quarterfinals in Melbourne without dropping a set. The young man from Serbia is out of the hands of the master. I knew it was going to get tough at times and that's what happened in the second set, and, um, especially against young players, you know, who take a lot of chances, who are new, who I don't know so well.

A fitting way to end it; it's the perfect moment for Roger. Emotion overcomes him as he takes his 10th Grand Slam championship, and it's his third in Australia. No questions for Col L. H. T. S. Do you feel the pressure when you read quotes like, "He can be the future number one. Him and Andy Murray can be the new people on the block." Do you feel that? Do you think about it?

Yes, well, when you hear those comments, uh, first of all it's very, very flattering, you know. It makes you smile.

[Music] [Applause]

Besides the victory in straight sets today, I gained another experience, a good experience which is going to help me in the future. Yeah, he's a lot better player than he was 12 months ago, I think, when he lost to Roger here last year. Um, and yeah, he's got a great all-court game. Usually by this stage, we're talking about Roger being on behalf as long as everyone else.

Story this is—well, yes, you know the players start to feel that he's beatable, and of course, nobody's unbeatable, but he was very, very dominant. I have absolutely no problems with what's been said or apparently been said, and I really don't care because he cares about his game; I care about mine.

It's good when we play each other. The family can hardly believe it; Jovic can believe it. He's been telling everyone he's going to arrive at this moment. Listen to the crowd as the champ says goodbye. I'm looking forward to playing my best tennis against Novak Jovic. I look forward to playing to win, you know. And that's what my mindset is really.

He's been the number one player in the world for a while, and the players, uh, you know, started playing in a different way against him, you know, with more belief that they can win. So it's a good thing for all of us. And your thoughts on Jovic being there tomorrow?

I don't know; he won yesterday, played well. It's never easy to beat Federer, and, uh, we will play tomorrow in the final, and it's going to be a big moment of sports. For the first time, Novak Jovic is a Grand Slam champion after a magnificent final against a gallant opponent. Two young men who freshened up this Australian Open all the way to late on the second Sunday night. The title goes to Serbia; Jovic wins in four!

I'm very, very happy that I won my first Grand Slam here, so hopefully, we'll see you here on this stage more often in the future. Thank you very much. The crowd really got into the match and, um, you know, it was a huge relief when I won the last point. It was like a dream come true. All the memories from childhood and growing up playing tennis came back to me.

And, uh, you know, I won the Grand Slam—I'm going to be here with you. You know, I never had the role of a defending champion in any Grand Slam, so it's a new experience, but it's a challenge I continue on playing, thinking that, uh, something could help me out, maybe a treatment and things like that. But, uh, just kept coming back.

You know, I looked over, I was confused 'cause I thought it was one injury per timeout, and I saw a calf, a neck, and an arm. But I guess cramping is one condition; you know there's obviously some wiggle room and a little bit of gray area there.

Well, I mean, it's happened before, so I mean it's not, it's not the guy who's never given up in his career, you know, so that's kind of, um, disappointing to see, you know, when you got two top guys playing each other and you give up. It's another five-set epic from the two best players in the world. Rafael Nadal wins in Melbourne at the Australian Open for the first time.

[Music]

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is in the last four in Melbourne for the second time in his career. I don't want to find excuses for my loss, but, uh, you know, I went to war it and I had diarrhea before the match and was, you know, it's just a bad way to, uh, not to be able physically to go through the whole match. It's 16 for Roger for the fourth time.

Roger Federer will wear the crown in Melbourne, Australia. Well, I mean he's amazing; Roger obviously is the guy to me, the greatest player that ever lived.

I'm up for always some side activities, you know, and this is obviously great to meet her and learn some dance moves, and of course just keep your mind off tennis, you know. It's a long tournament, it's two weeks; you know, dedication every single day on the practice court. We're on the practice court right now, but you know just for fun, so it's...

[Music] [Applause]

Good! You ready? I definitely feel more comfortable with the racket in my hand, just striking the ball. But, uh, this is something new that I've done, and, uh, it's really fun. Do you have any experience with dancing before?

Actually, one time I've done a couple of years back—the waltz, really. But that's, that's something else. Yeah, this was more moves...more...I like it! I like this one. Exactly! Perfect!

I got rare and up winning this tournament. Australia is here and holds all four Grand Slams. How big of an achievement do you think that would be? I mean huge. Just a couple of guys in the history of this sport have made that, so, uh, he's definitely the number one of the world, and probably, next to Federer, the biggest to win the tournament. But, you know, it's, uh, it's still a long way to...

[Applause] [Applause] [Music] go.

Many regard him as the greatest player of all time. Is he going to add to his legend in Melbourne? Is it going to be a 17th Grand Slam championship? Well, before he can even contemplate that, Roger Federer’s got to get over the top of the inform Serb, the man who has been the top of the game in 2008.

This man...

[Applause]

Novak Jovic, and it seemed as though Novak Jovic had to win the first set—that was going to be his best chance of winning the semi-final. That's just what he's done, an extraordinary turnaround just inside of two hours. Novak Jovic says to Roger Federer, "You are going to have to do what you've done six times before in your illustrious career, but it's going to be tough."

Federer takes a break away from the spotlight; Jovic is in complete command. Match point number three, a third opportunity of going to the big dance on Sunday night!

[Applause]

Three hours exactly, Novak Jovic is the only Serbian man to win a Grand Slam title, and on Sunday night he's got a chance to take another step to glory. What a performance! Roger Federer's quest for Grand Slam title number 17 ends at the semi-final stage.

Magnificent! I think it's, on one side, it's good for the sport to have more players being able to win against Federer and Nadal. Um, all the credit to them for what they have done in the last five, six years. They've been very dominant, and now these things are changing a little bit, so from that perspective, it's good for the sport.

Roger’s match said he was sort of suggesting that was Rafa injured and you out now. It was something of a passing of the torch. Your thoughts on that?

Yeah, I mean, they say that very quickly. You know, let's talk in six months again. Yeah, there's a lot of similarities there; you know, we grew up playing in the juniors together, we're a very similar height, similar build, obviously very similar in age. So I'm hoping we're very similar in standard tomorrow, and it's a match—we grew up together. We know each other since we were 12 years old. We played a couple of times in the juniors and a couple of times in the ATP Tour.

It's going to be really interesting playing him, you know, for a long time. But we know each other's game really, really well, and, uh, it's a Grand Slam final. He has never won a Grand Slam, and I think he's trying to be very, very much motivated to do so this time because I think he feels that he has more chance to beat me than maybe, you know, facing Roger at this stage.

And he's one point away from doing what seemed inevitable since early in the second set. For the second time, Novak Jovic ascends the mountain and reaches the summit in Melbourne—the only Serbian man to win a Grand Slam championship. Novak Jovic is once again the king Down Under!

[Music] [Applause]

No, I don't want to stop here definitely. I want to keep my body healthy, fit, and, um, ready for more challenges to come. Now, 2011 was a really good year, I think; one player did unbelievable. Noak had a fantastic season—one of the best seasons ever in the history of tennis.

Roger Federer had a fantastic season, a little bit unlucky in a few matches during the season. I am really happy about my season playing three finals of Grand Slams, finishing the year number two in the world, and winning the Grand Slam, you know, was a positive result for me.

And 2012 will be, for sure, hopefully an exciting season. One of sports' great modern rivalries produces yet another epic clash. Nadal emerges on top once more and is on the way to the final in Melbourne in 2012.

It's going to be Nadal against either Jovic or Murray. In my opinion, Andy, if he wants to win that match, I think he has to play more aggressively than usual, and that's what—that's my advice; but my advice probably does not work very well because I lost the last six times against him.

The two great friends embrace after 4 hours and 50 minutes of the most unpredictable, unbelievable tennis you can imagine. Jovic will go to the final in Melbourne again. Rafael Nadal awaits; what can be a bigger challenge than playing against Rafa Nadal?

You know, one of the greatest players ever. I mean, the guy who's been playing so well on this court. So you never know. I mean, I'm going to try to recover and, uh, obviously, he's going to be physical as well, so I need to do some push-ups tonight. Going to be a different situation for both of us, and let's see. I’m going to try to play my best, to give my best, and to bring my tennis to the next step, to have my chances.

[Music]

That's unbelievable! Jovic is down. Normally players only collapse to the court when they win the championship. His body? Well, you wouldn't blame it for failing him. 31 points in the rally, and the crowd just standing and applauding. They're standing up!

Here, so special; probably the toughest final that, uh, probably we have played in terms of mentally and physically, but have been a great, great show. No, I went back home with a big personal satisfaction for the way that I played that final. Nothing negative to say about that match. I gave it my best, and him too, so it was a great final.

Sometimes in the sport of tennis, the phrase "epic contest" is overused—not this time! When they write the story of the great tennis matches ever played, this one has got to be right up the front of the book. 5 hours and 53 minutes, Novak Jovic is the champion in Melbourne for the third time.

That was simply extraordinary! Yeah, it was a remarkable match. It was the longest match I ever played in my career, and it was just an incredible occasion, you know, to play almost 6 hours at the finals of the Australian Open against one of my biggest rivals. So, you know, I didn't sleep that night until 8:00 a.m.

So, yeah, it was probably the best match I ever played, the most exciting one! I'm on a high!

"Can I have a part with you?"

Sure! Sure!

[Applause] [Music]

[Laughter]

Given that has been the discussion of the last few years of what a great era this is, he's had the Nadals and the Federers and now the Murays, and, uh, he’s risen to the top. It is logical, in a way, to expect the top four players to always be the main contenders to win the trophy.

But I never want to underestimate the rest of the field, the rest of the players, especially those in the top 10 or 15. And I was a few points away from losing the match against Winka in the fourth round here. So, I mean, that says enough about the competitiveness of the sport. It is possible, you know?

It is possible for them to make a breakthrough to win against the top guys in major events. I guess the top four are the most dominant ones in the last 5 years. One thing I can say is that I try to enjoy what I do, and every moment of the life that I have is a blessing.

So, you know, there's so many athletes and professional tennis players around the world because it's such a global sport, that they want to be the best in what they do. They want to succeed, and many of them, they don't succeed in the end.

So I'm fortunate to have this opportunity and to succeed. I feel when I go on the court, I have less to lose and more to gain. You know, sometimes, you know, when I played the finals here, I just felt going in I had a lot to lose—it wasn't really the right attitude to have in the matches.

So, you know, I think now, you know, mentally, I'm going in with a better attitude and hopefully, I can play better. He’s on the verge of doing something that nobody has done in the Open Era.

Novak Jovic heads another page to the proud history of the Australian Open Championship. He collects it for the fourth time and becomes the first man in the Open Era to do it three times in a row.

Firstly, uh, obviously I would like to congratulate Novak. I mean, his record here is obviously incredible. There are very few people who have managed to do what he's done here. So, you know, he's a very well-deserved champion, and well done again! And nobody has their name engraved three times in a row—a great achievement from a great player.

I'm full of joy right now, and, uh, it's going to give me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season, that's for sure! Every tournament, especially the major tournaments, is very special. I'm aware of the fact that it's been an incredible trip for me, you know, being a professional tennis player, to be also mentioned in the history aspect, you know, and winning three in a row is a huge achievement.

So, uh, I'm always motivated for every match that I play. I mean, but of course, Grand Slam finals always bring something new, something special to every player, and that's where you want to perform your best.

[Music]

Stan Wawrinka equals his best ever Grand Slam performance and goes to the semifinals in Melbourne in 2014. The defending champion bows out! There's nothing I can say! You know, I gave my best; I gave it all. I tried to, you know, come out as a winner.

I tried to, you know, fight to the last point as I did in a very similar match that we had last year in the fourth round on the same court, but it wasn't to be this time after a final that was dramatic and bizarre and puzzling—it all ends well for Stan. He is the man in Melbourne—the 2014 Australian Open Champion!

The Australian Open has always been the slam of my career—the first Grand Slam that I won back in 2008, and that opened many doors for me and allowed me to have that confidence and necessary belief that I can keep on doing this and I can challenge the best players in the world. So, uh, I love coming back.

I have great memories from Rod Laver Arena, and hopefully, I can have another great tournament here. To be in the final four times here is, I mean, because I'm surrounded by guys like Roger, Novak, and Rafa, doesn't look like much, but that doesn't happen that often, so I'm very proud of that.

[Applause]

This is the match for which you have worked for now two months, and, uh, this is where you want to be. This is why you put all these hours on and off the court—trying to get yourself in a position to win a Grand Slam trophy because that's what matters the most, and I’m going to give my best, of course.

All I can do is give my best, and if it's enough, great! If not, I literally couldn't have done anything more to be in a better position come, uh, come Sunday. Jovic wins again, wins a fifth Australian Open Championship, an eighth Grand Slam title. He is in elite company. Jovic flings the racket into the stands, congratulated by Boris Becker and the rest of his team.

Isn't it great that we have Roy Emerson and Novak here tonight—the two men that in over a hundred years of the Australian Championships have won more titles than anybody else on the same stage tonight? His first major as a father—Novak Jovic!

[Applause] [Music]

Incredible! I love my time being here, and winning the eighth Grand Slam title and being mentioned in this elite group of legends of our sport is a huge privilege and an honor. You know, I can't say how proud I am; and, and that's going to serve definitely as a great deal of inspiration for the rest of my career.

It's been an amazing, amazing 10 years of tennis, the sport that I love. I've been trying to cherish every tournament, every moment that I spend on the court because, you know, that's something that I work for—to be on these courts, to play in front of the crowd and to compete.

I, you know, I love the sport! Jovic is the great story spoiler. Yeah, uh, you know, we've seen this before. We get psyched up for Federer winning another Wimbledon title or another US Open title, and Jovic is just that much better, clinical, and, uh, it spoils the story.

But you have to take your hat off to Jovic, serves the forehand of Federer off the frame at Justin. Now back up from Federer, it's netted. Jovic raises his arms and it just shows that Federer had to be at his absolute best just to stay with Jovic there.

A little bit of a smile there. It's a rueful smile; it's a sort of "sorry I couldn't do better." Each time I come back to this tournament, I step on Rod Laver Arena. I, uh, I have this, um, this beautiful memory from 2008 and, and of course, over the years, I've been playing some of my best tennis in this tournament, and hopefully, I can keep on going.

What done, Novak? Jovic now serving for the championship. Six points to three in the third set tiebreak. The crowd hushes.

Again and again, Novak takes his time as he prepares—he serves down the T. Eight, six, and the best from Novak Jovic. He wins here in straight sets. He continues to dominate this circuit; he continues to dominate men's tennis.

[Applause]

I feel like I've been here before. Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Novak. Six Australian Opens is an incredible feat and also for what he's done the last year—so it's been incredible consistency, and, um, yeah, just want to say well done to him and all of his team.

And he continues to be right at the top of the men's game; he's setting new markers all the time.

[Music] [Music]

Every tennis match is a blank canvas, and this is Denis Shapovalov's masterpiece. Novak uttering the words "unbelievable," and it certainly was! Someone said at the beginning of the year, "Hey, you're going to beat Novak at the Aussie Open!" Now, what would you say to this?

I would say, "Are you crazy or what? I'm not used to losing in the Australian Open in the second round." I mean, I've always played so well throughout the last 10 years. I've won six titles here, and you know, it's disappointing. But at the end of the day, I have to accept it.

That's why we love live sports, you know? That's why we watch it; that's why people come to the stadium. People watch it on TV—you just don't know the outcome. Even though the odds are crazy in somebody's favor, um, there's always a chance for the upset. And that's why I'm a big sports fan.

Well, victory for Federer! He's champion in Australia for a fifth time, and it's major number 18 for the Swiss maestro, and to deliver on the big stage against Rafa—that's his greatest win!

[Music]

I never missed a Grand Slam in my professional career, so it was a bit strange, I must say. I'm very excited to, uh, to get back on the court and, uh, and compete. Match point! Jovic serves back, and return from Chung, forehand.

Jovic tips his one back, a slice from Chung, and then retreats to his baseline. Jovic misses his backhand, and Chung has beaten the former champion! There'll be headlines of a generation shift. This is a breakthrough performance by Hyeon Chung!

At least I wanted to challenge him to earn it without me handing it to him, and that's what he has done. So, yeah, I don't know what he's going to do, but, of course, he's going to fight for the most important things—he's too good to not fight for it.

He has done it—a sensational six for Federer!

[Applause]

It's been a long break—unfortunately, a forced break due to an injury. You know, expectations are there, I think, because also partly because I've had a great record here in Australia, but also I have, you know, managed to win, you know, most of the tournaments around the world and the biggest ones and, uh, so I've been in, you know, in the situations where I was raising the trophy of this tournament six times before.

So I, you know, that gives me enough reason to believe that I can do it again. Guys like that—same for Rafa and Roger; I mean, they all want to win, and especially Novak. Sometimes finals are not good enough, especially the Grand Slam finals. Nobody's going to remember how many finals you played; they're going to remember how many titles you have.

Jovic demolishes Puy. He has his eyes on a bigger prize, and the master says to the apprentice, "It's not your time just yet." It's a race as well, in a way, you know, and who's going to improve more, who's going to stay more?

I guess determined to be the best player in the world. He's my biggest rival. You know, in my career, I've played so many matches against him—epic matches on this court, plenty of occasions that we met in the important stages. So, uh, yeah, have been special.

Yeah, he's an unbelievable competitor. These are the kind of matches that you live for—the finals of slams, playing, uh, the greatest rival at their best. Just game—it's just a tennis game. The only way to have a chance against a player like Novak is to play at the best level that you have.

It's been an annihilation this evening. There's no other word. I am aware that making history, you know, of the sport that I truly love, is something special.

And of course, it motivates me!

[Music]

Jovic's journey ends with a substantial victory over one of his great rivals, and he enters the record books with a historic seventh Australian Open title. Well, no one can argue he's not the best player in the world right now.

I don't say I have been destroyed; I have been, uh, playing against a player that was at the highest level possible—in my opinion. Playing like this is difficult to win.

What's your favorite part about celebrating a big title?

Uh, it's just a huge relief, first of all. You know, I think everybody goes through it differently, but, um, you know, one thing I think we all share in common is the tension, the pressure, the expectations, and just all of these things and emotions that you go through.

My favorite part about winning it is seeing my family and sharing this trophy with them, and that's, for me, the favorite part. We are playing in tough times. We young players always have to beat all these unbelievable legends.

Yeah, well, Novak is part of three guys who are by far the best players ever who play tennis. If you play a Grand Slam final against them, I mean, it's always going to be a match where very small details are deciding. To beat the best, you have to beat the best, and that is what we and everyone inside the stadium have come to witness.

Wow! Well, right now Jovic has to do something different. He's got it all going on—love, flow, and Team Tennis! Two sets to one to the Australian.

I definitely did not feel good, and I didn't know what the next moment brings. It's something that you have to accept that you're going through, and those kinds of circumstances really kind of force me to let things go and really try to be in the moment and fight my way back.

Jovic infuses belief in his supporters with a rally like that. And calmly, as you like, Jovic takes us into a fifth and deciding set.

We are going to see the agony and ecstasy etched on not just the players' faces but the fans as well. Now he believes absolutely that he's going to win this!

[Music]

[Applause]

It's the miracle in Melbourne! The Jovic dynasty down under is still intact. It's an eighth Australian Open! Once again he’s the last man standing. The first time I stepped on Rod Laver Arena to play a match was against Marat in 2005, so it's been 15 years.

Um, quite unreal that that much time has passed. It was easier, for sure, in a different era to win big titles—that's 100%. But, um, I'm happy that I can compete with this guys on the best level, and I really hope also that I win my maiden slam when they are still around because it just counts more.

Yeah, definitely my favorite—my favorite stadium in the world, and I'm blessed to hold this trophy once again! Thank you very much!

We've been on a long journey. The Australian Open is going to go ahead, and there's been many times over the past eight months where that would have been in doubt. We have now a chance to showcase our—it's the major events capital of the world—our capability on delivering these events in what is a very challenging time for all of us.

By my challenge is, as a coach, to stay in the team with Novak and try and witness him to be the best tennis player in the history of tennis.

Oh, absolute genius from Jovic! Gets the way to seal the deal. Jovic, ruthlessly efficient! Novak just slipping down in the painted area there. This doesn't look great for Novak right now. Maybe that's Rod on the hip flick, so that...oh, even higher—it seems to be above the hip.

But the replay of the slip looked like it wouldn't have been up that high. Really, I just tried to stay in there, you know? And I was hopeful that, uh, whatever is happening there is going to feel better. And towards the end of the fourth, it started to feel better.

His will to win remains undiluted today! He dug deeper than he's ever had to dig before as anybody else. I want to start a season in the best possible fashion. I've been fortunate to do that in the past many times, and that kind of sets the tone for the rest of the season.

So hopefully, I can have the same success I've had, uh, for many, many years. I didn’t know—few hours before I stepped on the court tonight—whether I was going to play or not. If I am part of any other tournament other than Grand Slam, I definitely wouldn't be playing.

But it's a Grand Slam; it matters a lot to me at this stage of my career! Amazing, truly amazing! His desire is unquenchable, and he is through to the quarterfinals for the 12th time at the Australian Open!

He's the eight-time champion here! The level of the pain was bearable, so I could actually play, but I somehow managed to find a way and win, and that's what matters the most.

Now, I got another 40 hours or something like that until the next match. Of course, I'm not proud of these kinds of moments, you know, when I break the record; of course, I'm not proud of that. To me, it happens, and then, uh, today it actually helped even though I don't intend to do it.

And fittingly, he finishes with an ace.

[Music]

In the end, it was Novak who produced a 24-carat gold performance to make his ninth final. The way I felt today, I like my chances, and I'm definitely going to go for a title.

Daniel is the man to beat, without a doubt! I mean, over 20 wins in a row! He's on a streak; out of those 20 matches, I mean, almost half of them—those wins came against the top, top 10 players—I mean, it’s really impressive what he's doing.

And he's like a master chess player, as Jim Courier called him a few days ago—a very smart player who knows tactically how to execute the game plan very well. I'll say he's a man to beat, so—and to beat Novak for sure here in Melbourne, you need to be at your best, you need to show your best, and that's what I'm going to try to do.

Novak takes the opening set; it's two sets to love. He has a stranglehold on the final. You know, Roger, Rafa, myself—we're still there for a reason. You know, we don't want to hand it to them, and we don't want to allow them to win slams.

Oh! Standing ovation! Please! How complete a player he is! And he has championship point! For Novak, it's nine Australian Open titles—the world number one, majestic in Melbourne again!

I'm proud. I'm, you know, happy, of course, but also I feel a huge relief as well. He really was very motivated from the moment we stepped into Australia. Practiced 14 days in Adelaide. He was really keen to do well here.

He knows this is his court; this is his tournament, and he proved it. You know, these two weeks with injury—with everything—he is the nine-time Australian Open champion. And, uh, well, beating Medvedev like this? Unbelievable! Unbelievable performance!

Grand Slams are what you dream about winning when you are a young tennis player! So I dreamed of winning Wimbledon, becoming the number one player in the world, um, when I was five—when I took the racket for the first time in my hands. Managed to achieve those dreams in, uh, Wimbledon!

And then after that, of course, the love affair and the relationship with tennis in terms of joy that it brings me when I play is still there, of course. That's an important, very important aspect for me.

But, professionally, you know, looking at things, you know, I feel always it's important to set your goals—set your long-term goals, short-term goals. So, of course, the two biggest goals were to reach the longest number one in history—weeks as number one in rankings—and that's something that I'll be able to reach now in several weeks' time.

And once that's done, obviously I'm going to focus mostly on the Slams, you know, trying to play my best tennis, peak at the right time in majors. Roger and Rafa, they have their own trajectory and journey; I do have mine. And, uh, it's wonderful to be part of the same era with them, and very challenging as well.

But, uh, I'm enjoying it! Everybody has been distracted by this, and unfortunately not all parties involved—there's been no winners. Uh, it's hard to describe the feeling, you know? I never had it, never faced anything similar. We're all humans, and we all make mistakes, and, you know, I try to learn from them.

Jovic's visa was canceled at 7:29 a.m. I respect, uh, you know, the Australian government's decision. You know, whatever is going to unfold from this moment onwards, I'll have to deal with it.

The Jovic drama has finally come to a head—the world number one kicked out of the country on the eve of the Australian Open. When everything is said and done, I'll definitely take some time to reflect on everything that has happened.

What a night! What a morning! Melbourne, you are amazing! Nadal will serve for the title for a second time. It's the miracle in Melbourne—21 major titles from one of the greatest players of all time!

[Applause] [Applause]

Of course, you know, the events of last year did affect me last year. But, you know, this year I was just looking forward to coming back to a place where I, you know, I’m overwhelmed with more positive memories, you know, of all these years that kind of overwrite what happened last year.

So the way people received me in Adelaide the last couple weeks—it was very emotional for me. I was very, very happy to be received in such a way, and hopefully, I can give them some good emotions watching me play live and on TV.

Just keeping an eye on him here, he tries to shake it off. Yeah, he hasn't tweaked a hamstring, has he? Unfortunately, this year, just a few days before the tournament started, I injured myself, and I kind of had to deal with that throughout the entire tournament.

I do feel that Jovic is hampered a bit, right? I mean, you can see it in some of his breaks to the ball—the movement—but it’s so impressive the way he is still able to manage a point, manage a match.

He understands the strengths of his game and how to play to that and kind of minimize those areas of weakness. One of the most dominant performances of Novak's career, anywhere—let alone here in Melbourne where he has been the finest of all time.

You know, he just has such a pedigree as one of the all-time greats already, and I think it's going to be tough for anybody to dethrone him!

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Novak through to the last four, and you won't find too many here in Melbourne who don't believe Novak won't be the last man standing come Sunday.

I'm just very grateful that I'm actually able to play, you know? The way it looked just before the tournament started, I thought that it wouldn't be possible, so I'm still here and still holding on!

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Novak Jovic looking to continue his quest to climb into a galaxy of his own! He will be going for title number 10 at the Australian Open on Sunday. One of the herd of GOATs—now, so it's not that shocking that he's going for a double-digit number of victories here in Australia.

Australia has been very good to him. Just like you said, I mean he basically owns this court. He walks on this court, I think with an extra sense of pride and commitment to the fact that it is his house, and he's not going to let anybody invade it!

So, we’ll see how it goes.

[Music]

He's a perfect 10—not only champion of Australia for a 10th time, but he is the best player on the planet again! It was just a moment where I put down my mask of a warrior and became a brother and a son, and just teared up.

The message really for any young tennis player around the world who is watching this now and dreaming to be where Stefanos and I am—is dream big, dare to dream because everything is possible. Don't let anybody take away the dream.

Doesn't matter where you're coming from. Um, I actually think that the more disadvantaged childhood you have, the more difficulties and more challenges you have, the stronger you become.

I don't say 100%, but 97% of the players, if on Saturday when you get the results of the MRI, you go straight to the referee's office and pull out of the tournament! But not him! He's from another space; you know, his brain is working differently.

He gave everything, you know—therapies—77 therapies a day! But, you know, he got through and, uh, in the end, he won a tournament!

[Music]

I don't know how long I'm going to still be competing and playing. I still feel good about myself, my game. There's no reason to think about an end to my career, so I’ll keep going and take it slowly and see, you know, see what happens next.

Thank you so much, and hopefully, see you next year!