"We've moved on as an organisation": Australian Open Tournament Director responds to Novak Djokovic food poisoning accusations

“In my case, nothing is impossible... When I was saying I wanted to be No. 1 in the world, and I was seven or eight years old, most people were laughing at me because it seemed like I had a one per cent chance to do that, and I did it.” This quote encapsulates Novak Djokovic's unwavering determination. His resilience, belief, and will to win set him apart from exceptional players who have faced off against the Serb.

Regarding tennis, it's challenging to find a player who has achieved more with a tennis racquet than Novak Djokovic. The Serbian has a remarkable career adorned with trophies, titles, and a rich pedigree. The day Djokovic eventually retires from the game, he can proudly say nobody did it better.

At 37, Djokovic is hunting for his 11th title Down Under. A victory in Australia would be a fitting culmination of his career, especially after the events of three years ago. While questions still linger, everyone involved is eager to move forward and witness Djokovic's pursuit of another title.

The Legendary Career of Novak Djokovic

Born in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, in 1987, a prodigy was born. Picking up a racquet for the first time at age four, it is hard to believe the success he would go on to have. Learning the art of the game at the Niki Pilic Academy in Munich at age 12 gave him a strong foundation on which to build.

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As stated before, nobody has had a career like Djokovic, with 24 Grand Slams in his name and an Olympic gold medal. Nobody has been ranked number one more than the player from Serbia. It hasn't always been easy, as he worked hard to master his craft. The evidence for this is his back-to-back Most Improved Player of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007.

Djokovic’s rare emotion is palpable whenever he steps on the court, regardless of the surface. Even as one of the more experienced players on the tours, you would still back him to get a 25th Grand Slam.

Last of the Old Guard

For a long time, the game of tennis was ruled by talented individuals: Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray, and Djokovic. The four shared the stage for over a decade, taking the game to new heights.

However, time catches up to you, like everything, even if you are one of the greatest athletes. Federer, Nadal, and Murray have all said goodbye to the game recently, with Djokovic being the last one standing.

The Serbian has shown he can still compete at a high level and keep up with young guns such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Daniil Medvedev. The 37-year-old wants to add another Australian Open to his trophy case, as he put on a heartfelt display in the first round when securing a victory against Nishesh Basavareddy.

It wasn't as straightforward as Djokovic would have liked, as the young American provided a stern test for the world number seven. The prospect even took the first set and showed he deserved to be in the match. However, Djokovic's experience and resilience ultimately shone through as the Olympic gold medalist secured a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory to book his place in the second round.

After the match, he admitted he was second-best in the first set. "Yeah, in the end, it was great," Djokovic said. "He was the better player for a set and a half, and he deserved every bit of applause when he exited the court. Great performance."

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Australian Open 2022

 Novak Djokovic in Australia 

2022 marked a time when the world was still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike today, where players worldwide can travel freely to Australia, that wasn't the case three years ago. There were heavy restrictions when travelling Down Under. Djokovic suffered the full force of those restrictions and was deported from Australia in 2022 due to his COVID-19 vaccination status.

In a recent interview with GQ magazine, Djokovic claimed that the food in the immigration hotel was poisoned, which led to him feeling unwell when he returned home to Serbia. After claiming that there were bound to be follow-up questions from the press, Djokovic had this to say when asked about it. "

Look, the GQ article came out online yesterday. It's a February issue, so it's coming out in print. I've done that interview many months ago. I would appreciate not talking more in detail about that, as I would like to focus on the tennis and why I'm here. If you want to see what I've said and get more info on that, you can always refer to the article."

Chris Tiley's Response

When asked about it, tournament director Chris Tiley said there is no point in talking about something that has already happened and that Djokovic's primary focus is capturing another title in Melbourne.

"I only found out today that he said that a while ago; it was ages ago. I'm around him often, and he's moved on. He's thinking about what he needs to do this week and what he needs to do tomorrow. He wants to win this event. Every conversation is focused on that."

He continued, "I honestly look at that as in the past, and even myself personally, I don't go back there. I'm not interested in going back there, but I'm more interested in my role to deliver an awesome event in the next two weeks." The director also emphasized that Djokovic is free to talk about whatever he wants, adding, "Absolutely. He can say what he wants, but he knows that I've moved on, and we've moved on as an organization, and I believe he has, too."

Djokovic’s Legacy

Djokovic is an incredible player who has done much for tennis and the sporting world. It'll be interesting to see if he can go all the way in Australia again, capture another title, and enrich his legacy even more. It is going to be a challenge, but wouldn't bet against him winning title number 11 in Australia.

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